SINGTEL, on Friday (Aug 30), raised S$1.48 million in its annual charity golf event to support students with special needs across six adopted special education (Sped) schools.
This marks a record amount raised from the telco’s charity event, surpassing the previous one of S$1.28 million set in the previous year.
The donations will go to the Singtel Touching Lives Fund, which supports about 1,800 students yearly. The fund has raised more than S$57 million since it started in 2002.
Business partners and senior management across the Singtel group, such as from Globe, NCS and Optus, gathered at Tanah Merah Country Club for the fundraiser.
The students from APSN Delta Senior School and APSN Tanglin School – two of the six beneficiary schools – were present to support the post-event dinner.
APSN Delta Senior School’s pupils served welcome drinks and courses, while those of APSN Tanglin School put up a percussion performance.
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The other Sped schools that benefit from the fund are the APSN Chaoyang School, Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore School, Eden School and Minds Lee Kong Chian Gardens School.
Yuen Kuan Moon – Singtel’s group chief executive officer – said the fund has helped to promote the development and inclusion of Singapore’s vulnerable segments, with students securing internships and employment opportunities, as well as enrolling in mainstream higher-learning institutes for further vocational training.
The telco covers all fundraising expenses for the golf event, which means that all of its partners’ donations proceed to the fund. It also matches employee contributions to the fund, dollar for dollar.
From 2002 to 2023, the annual golf fundraiser has contributed more than S$17 million to the fund.
The group also organises other initiatives for the students. For instance, the telco in 2022 launched the Expressions Through Art programme for pupils to display their artwork in public venues. Artworks by the students have been displayed across MRT stations and the National Gallery, among others.
