Speech by President S R Nathan at PC Thank You Reception and PSSA Award 2009

Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon, Minister of State for Community Development, Youth & Sports,

Mr Niam Chiang Meng, Chairman, President’s Challenge Steering Committee,

Rear Admiral Kwek Siew Jin, President, National Council of Social Service,

Distinguished Guests and Friends,

1. This year marks the 10th year of the President’s Challenge, on which we have all worked together. It is also the 9th year of the Annual President’s Social Service Award. Your presence here this evening is an affirmation of your commitment and generosity towards the President’s Challenge and your unstinting support for the many charities and causes supported by the President’s Challenge.  I am, as always, heartened by the steadfast support of all our regular partners and the participation of so many new supporters – both individuals and organisations – who have come onboard to do their part for President’s Challenge.

2. This year has been an extremely difficult year for all fundraisers, due to the economic slowdown. So has it been for the President’s Challenge. Many fundraising activities by various organisers were also delayed or cancelled due to the H1N1 influenza outbreak in May. But the demands on the social service sector have not remained the same but have increased.

3. I am proud to know how Singaporeans have rallied together and shown compassion when it is most needed.  To date, we have raised $10 million for our 37 beneficiaries, well above the $8 million target I set when we launched this year’s Challenge.  More funds may still come in, since quite a few fundraising events are scheduled to take place in November and December this year. They had to be postponed due to the H1N1 outbreak earlier this year. With the economy looking slightly better now than the first half of the year, I’m hopeful these events will meet their targets.

4. This year, President’s Challenge celebrates 10 years of giving, caring and helping the less privileged amongst us. I am gratified to see that the President’s Challenge has raised $80 million over the past 10 years for some 450 beneficiaries.  I started this fundraising initiative as a month-long activity with a few events in year 2000.  I wanted to raise awareness of the less fortunate among us and get Singaporeans to donate as well as give their time. We raised $3 million in 2000 for 33 beneficiaries.  By the third year, we doubled the amount raised to $6 million, for 45 beneficiaries.  Since the fourth year, we had consistently raised more than $8 million each year. Today, President’s Challenge is a year-long fundraising campaign with more than 35 events throughout the year, engaging an average of 250,000 participants from the corporations, public service, community groups and individuals in a year.

5. President’s Challenge would not have achieved such success over the past 10 years if not for the steadfast support of our committed partners and sponsors.

6. My appreciation goes to MediaCorp for organizing the annual President’s Star Charity. President’s Challenge would not be the same without the entertaining and often touching performance by our MediaCorp artistes each year. The Show gave beneficiaries of President’s Challenge tremendous publicity, raised the public’s awareness of their needs and provided a convenient platform for members of the public to call and make donations.

7. I would like to thank the corporate partners of President’s Challenge, some of which have been volunteering and fundraising for President’s Challenge since its inception, such as the People’s Association, Singapore Press Holdings and MUIS, just to mention a few.

8. I am also thankful to our major donors – Lee Foundation, Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple, ST Engineering, Continental Steel and Mr Stephen Riady. Besides them, our Challenge Sponsors – the Singapore Totalisator Board and Singapore Pools, for their sustained support and generosity of $1.2 million annually to underwrite the administrative cost of organising President’s Challenge.

9. Also deserving to be commended would be the President’s Challenge Steering Committee led by Mr Niam Chiang Meng. Your dedicated efforts at getting various organisations to fundraise year after year, volunteering your time and expertise for the beneficiaries, are very much appreciated.

10. The participation by tertiary institutions and schools in President’s Challenge has provided opportunities for our children and youth to care about the needy in Singapore.  For example, Singapore Polytechnic has been organising Flag Days and musicals to raise funds. On average, more than 60 primary and secondary schools do their part through the ‘Be Yourself Day’ organised by The New Paper every year. 

11. I am glad to note that in 2009, two schools made the most of their musical talent to raise funds for President’s Challenge. Students from Methodist Girls School produced and sold their CD titled “Mplified” [read “Amplified”]. Raffles Girls’ School staged a violin concert featuring Ms Siow Lee Chin. There is nothing more valuable than teaching our young the importance of looking out for our fellow Singaporeans.

12. This being the 10th Anniversary of President’s Challenge, I would like to take some time to commend the organisers and participants of the commemorative events.

13. First, the President’s Command Performance – thank you to our nation’s finest talent in performing and visual arts who gave their time to perform at the President’s Command Performance. Their outstanding achievements are an inspiration to young talents in Singapore.

14. Next, the President’s Challenge Heart Train – a fully decorated President’s Challenge Heart Train has been crisscrossing the island, thanks to SMRT Corporation Ltd and 14 sponsors from the public service, foundations and schools. 

15. Finally, the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre (NVPC), for organizing RUN SINGAPORE and rallying more than 4,000 runners to run for charity. The RUN brought people of all communities together for a good cause. I was told there were many father-child team sign-ups, as well as at least 15 participants from the Society of the Hearing Impaired and Spastic Association of Singapore.

16. The President’s Challenge movement has successfully rallied corporations and individuals to do something worthwhile for the less fortunate.  In fact, it has developed into an iconic series of fundraising events, where people participate fully in the process, from planning and organising the fundraiser events to volunteering with the beneficiary charities. More importantly, I am glad that President’s Challenge has brought people together to chip in for a greater cause, to show that “We Care”.

17. This evening, it is also most appropriate to recognise the efforts of a very special group of individuals and organisations and their selfless dedication towards the less fortunate in our society.  The good work of the winners of the President's Social Service Award (PSSA) is especially laudable and timely, given the current economic climate.

18. Of the 62 nominations received this year, five emerged as worthy winners.  All the PSSA winners are an inspiration and role models, whose work have demonstrated that compassion, volunteerism and the spirit of caring are thriving and well in Singapore. 

19. This year’s PSSA winners champion a diverse range of causes, from a winner who started a support group for widows and their children, to an organisation where many of its staff participated actively in its Corporate Social Responsibility activities for youths, education and the environment.

20. I would like to congratulate the PSSA individual winners – Ms Fatimah Azimullah and Ms Lye Lan Fong, who volunteered selflessly to the cause of women and children. This year’s Informal Group winner goes to Kidz Horizon Appeal, which reaches out to children suffering from chronic or terminal illness such as HIV. I would also like to congratulate Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) for winning the Formal Group Award and MediaCorp for bagging the Corporate Award.

21. Congratulations to all the winners.  I hope that you will continue the good work that you are doing and inspire others to join you as you bring the social service sector to greater heights.

22. I wish you an enjoyable evening.