COMCARE Transition Scheme come on board as beneficiary for BBSGB 09
Published on
16 November 2009
A total of 28,982 beneficiaries are set to receive some festive cheer this year as the Boys’ Brigade Sharity Gift Box (BBSGB) – one of the largest and longest-running charity project in Singapore during the year-end season – returns once again in bringing Singaporeans together to spread Christmas joy to the less privileged. And for the first time, the 22nd edition of the project will be bringing Christmas cheer to a new group of beneficiaries: those registered under the ComCare Transition Scheme.
BBSGB 2009 aims to fulfil the wishes of 28,982 beneficiaries:
GENERAL WISHES
Public Assistance (PA) Scheme
2,920
151 Voluntary Welfare Organizations (VWOs)
16,174
ComCare Transition (CCT) Scheme
2,020
TOTAL
21,114
SPECIFIC WISHES (from 130 VWOs)
Children
2,200
Elderly
3,430
Special Needs
836
Families
1,402
TOTAL
7,868
A blessed 2009 for BBSGB
BBSGB 09 is also proud to announce a new Presenting Sponsor for the year: Prudential Assurance Company Singapore (Pte) Ltd (Prudential), who has come in with support of S$100,000 towards the project. Prudential’s generous contribution will go a long way in helping out with various operational, logistical and miscellaneous support. The project requires about S$250,000 annually for its operations and depends entirely on corporate donations for such expenses – to allow the project to put every dollar donated by the public for beneficiary.
When asked about the positive developments this year, Mr. Lui Chong Chee, Chairman of BBSGB 09 said: “We’re delighted and grateful to have Prudential on board with us this year. Their contribution is a welcome boost to everyone involved in the project. We are also grateful for the continuous support from our long-term donors like NTUC FairPrice. It is definitely encouraging to see that despite such difficult times, companies and Singaporeans are still committed to helping those in need. We are indeed blessed by the giving attitudes of some of the partners and people that we have encountered along our BBSGB journey this year.”
Sponsors, Co-Sponsors and Participating Organizations for BBSGB 2009 include:
Presenting Sponsor
Prudential Assurance Company Singapore (Pte) Limited
$100,000
Sponsors
NTUC FairPrice Co-operative Ltd
$50,000
United Test and Assembly Centre (UTAC)
$30,000
Co-sponsors
Lee Foundation
$20,000
Paya Lebar Methodist Church
$25,000
Church of Our Saviour
$10,000
Tan Chin Tuan Foundation
$10,000
Officials
MediaCorp Pte Ltd
Contribute towards radio airtime and production of advertisements
AXS Pte Ltd
Provide AXS Machines for Wishes (Monetary)
JCDecaux Singapore Pte Ltd
Provide bus-stop shelter lights advertising space
ST Logistics Pte Ltd
Provide professional sorting service, and transport; premises for sorting exercise and logistics.
Asia PR Werkz
Provide Public Relations consultancy and communications support
XODBOX Design Multimedia
Provide creative and design support
In addition, the project is also very proud to have on board as Ambassador for BBSGB 09, Mr. Seah Kian Peng, Member of Parliament, Marine Parade GRC.
The CCT Scheme
As part of the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) ComCare Fund (CCF) – developed by the Government to help needy Singaporeans who require short-term and long-term assistance, the CCT Scheme falls under the ComCare SelfReliance component of the CCF.
The CCT is specifically for households that have members who are temporarily unable to work and need assistance for the medium term. Benefits could typically take form in assistance such as utility charges vouchers, monthly cash grants (for basic needs) and educational/medical assistance. More information about the CCF and CCT can be found at www.mcys.gov.sg.
On why the project is adopting this new group of beneficiaries, Mr. Lui Chong Chee, Chairman of BBSGB 09 shared, “This global economic crisis highlighted the needs of families who temporarily are unable to work and require temporary assistance for the medium term. Whilst we are seeing signs of confidence and optimism returning to Singapore, there are still many out there who need assistance before they return to economic independence. We believe that there is no better time than now to bring the project to its next level by bringing cheer to these beneficiaries as well.”
Christmas comes early for Mdm Ang Suan Cheok
Christmas comes early today for one beneficiary as presenting sponsor, Prudential, fulfilled the Christmas wish of Mdm Ang Suan Cheok, aged 79. Mdm Ang was identified and referred by the Voluntary Welfare Organisation: Kampong Kapor Family Service Centre. Mdm Ang stays in her three-room flat with two of her unmarried children, Miss Soh Phek Hwa (50 years old) and Mr Soh Kee Seng (48 years old). Unfortunately, Miss Soh is a patient with the Institute of Mental Health and is frequently warded for treatment of her mental illness. Mr Soh also has mental illness and suffers from diabetes since 1996. Mdm Ang’s savings are completed depleted and currently, the family is benefitting from Central Singapore CDC’s Work-Support Transition programme. Through the programme, they receive $400 a month.
The family’s flat is old and dilapidated. The switches and lightings of the flat were not working well. Mdm Ang could not afford to repair these fittings and as a result, for fear of a short circuit, the family moves around the flat in darkness once night falls. Through Kampong Kapor Family Service Centre, Mdm Ang wished for basic renovation to her home that include:
Refitting of electric cables
Fluorescence lamps
Electrical switches
Mdm Ang’s wishes were adopted by Prudential, whose staff visited Mdm Ang earlier this month to better understand her needs. Their visit to Mdm Ang’s home highlighted other basic fittings which required urgent repairs like dangerous dangling wires in Mdm Ang’s kitchen and a missing door at the bathroom of the flat. Prudential has since helped to engage a contractor to repair these fittings to allow Mdm Ang’s family to enjoy a safer and more conducive living environment.
As Mdm Ang is also a beneficiary under the ComCare Transition Scheme, Mr Tomas Urbanec, Chief Marketing Officer of Prudential, visited Mdm Ang today with Mr Lui and boys from the Boys’ Brigade to present her 2 bags of essential household items and consumables which is estimated to last her family for 6 months.
Mr. Urbanec shared: “Prudential Singapore is privileged to play a part in giving Mdm Ang and her family a safer home to live in. Her response to our gift to her is both heart-warming and humbling. As a company, Prudential Singapore has always been supportive of giving back to society. Here we will be actively involved in various aspects of the project. The Prudential family including the management team, more than 500 staff as well as 3,700 financial consultants will join hands to volunteer for activities such as the packing and delivering of gifts and also fulfilling some of the wishes from the BBSGB Wish Trees.”
How the public can take part in BBSGB 2009
BBSGB 2009 invites contribution for general food and household wishes such as rice, oil, sugar, biscuits, instant oatmeal, powdered milk, canned food, instant noodles, soap, toothbrush and diapers (children and adult).
This year, there are the additions of online and electronic platforms for the greater convenience of the public to do their part! Food and household items can now be purchased and donated via NTUC’s FairPrice Online portal (www.fairprice.com.sg) as well head down to any of the over 600 AXS Machines island wide to make a wish contribution.
And as usual, members of the public who wish to donate can still drop their gifts at any of the project’s 14 gift boxes island-wide. Those who want to fulfil specific wishes can adopt a Wish from any of the 3 Boys’ Brigade Sharity Wish Trees in Singapore.
Every one can play a part in this charity project! Besides gift/cash contributions, the public can also be part of this project by lending their helping hands on packing or delivery of gifts. The duration of BBSGB 2009 is between 28 November and 21 December 2009. Operating hours are from 11.00 am to 9.00 pm daily.
No.
Name of Location
Nature of Collection
1
Main Gift Box (Orchard Road outside Takashimaya Shopping Centre)
General Wishes Collection
2
AMK Hub (FairPrice Xtra)
General Wishes Collection – NTUC FairPrice Outlets
3
Bedok North (Blk 212)
4
Bishan Junction 8
5
Bukit Panjang Plaza
6
Bukit Timah Plaza (FairPrice Finest)
7
East Point Mall
8
Hougang Mall (FairPrice Lifestyle)
9
Hougang Point (FairPrice Xtra)
10
Rivervale Mall
11
Jurong Point (FairPrice Xtra)
12
Tampines Mall
13
Thomson Plaza (FairPrice Finest)
14
Toa Payoh HDB Hub
15
TANGS Orchard
Specific Wishes Tree
16
AMK Hub (FairPrice Xtra)
17
Jurong Point (FairPrice Xtra)
For more information, the public can contact:
BBSGB hotline at 1800 227 4273 (1800-BBSHARE) or visit the website at www.bbshare.sg
Opening Ceremony
The Opening Ceremony for BBSGB 2009 will be held on Saturday, 28 November 2009 at the BBSGB Main Box outside Takashimaya Shopping Centre. The Guest-of-Honour will be Mr. Lim Swee Say, Minister (Prime Minister’s Office).
-End-
About Boys’ Brigade Sharity Gift Box
The BBSGB is a national community service project organized annually by The Boys’ Brigade, and is strongly supported by the National Council of Social Service (NCSS) and Ministry of Community Development Youth and Sports (MCYS). This project is:
• A high profile national community service project that promotes the spirit of caring and sharing among Singaporeans during Christmas season.
• A significant annual event, which mobilizes more than 3,500 BB officers and Boys, and hundreds of other volunteers to collect gifts from thousands of Singaporeans for distribution to the needy in Singapore.
• A unique project, as donors have to go beyond purely financial giving. They would be challenged to make the extra effort to buy presents for the less privileged in our society.
The project’s theme: “Have a Heart, Share a Gift” clearly summaries the project’s purposes. Since the launch of BBSGB in 1988, the objectives of the project are:
• Bring cheer to the less fortunate in Singapore during the Christmas season (by collecting gifts for the less fortunate).
• Inculcate the spirit of community service among members of The Boys’ Brigade
• Promote the spirit of caring and sharing among Singaporeans.
