• Public donation made easier with extension of collection points to 22 FairPrice Xpress stores located at Esso service stations; public can now donate at 140 FairPrice supermarkets and convenience stores
• Members of the public are encouraged to generously donate used textbooks in good condition; project targets to collect 385,000 books this year to help more students

SINGAPORE, 14 November 2013 – NTUC FairPrice (“FairPrice”) today called for members of the public to recycle used school textbooks which are in good condition by donating them to the annual FairPrice Share-A-Textbook project. This year, FairPrice targets to collect 385,000 textbooks, 10 percent more than the 350,000 textbooks collected last year, to meet an expected increase in priority students. To date, some 20,000 students have been registered under the priority student scheme this year – priority students get first pick of the textbooks and will have a separate collection date from the public. To make it even more convenient for the public to donate, FairPrice together with ExxonMobil, announced the addition of 22 FairPrice Xpress stores at Esso service stations as collection points.

Mr Seah Kian Peng, CEO (Singapore), NTUC FairPrice, said, “FairPrice is pleased to be working with ExxonMobil, to bring our partnership to the next level by doing good for the community through our signature FairPrice Share-A-Textbook project. This meaningful initiative not only helps needy students save on their textbook costs but also encourages recycling and thrift among the younger generation. With our increased target to collect 385,000 textbooks this year, we are glad to work with ExxonMobil to expand our collection points so that it is more convenient for members of the public to contribute their textbooks. We hope to rally the community once again to support this meaningful project.”

This is the 31st year of the Share-A-Textbook project which has seen over 2.75 million textbooks collected since 1983 – saving about 33,000 trees . The public can donate their textbooks at all 140 FairPrice supermarkets, FairPrice Finest, FairPrice Xtra and FairPrice Xpress outlets at Esso service stations, from today until 8 December 2013.

The launch of Share-A-Textbook project took place at the newly-renovated FairPrice Xpress store at Esso East Coast service station. The event was graced by Ms Sim Ann, Minister of State, Ministry of Communications and Information and Ministry of Education, and hosted by the CEO of FairPrice, Mr Seah Kian Peng and Ms Geraldine Chin, ExxonMobil Fuels Marketing Retail Manager for South-east Asia and Hong Kong. The FairPrice Xpress store was renovated and expanded to feature a wider range of fresh produce, ready-to-eat meals, freshly-baked pastries from Polar and Delifrance, and a dedicated wine section.

Commemorating 10 years of partnership between NTUC FairPrice and ExxonMobil

Through the alliance between FairPrice and ExxonMobil, which was forged in 2003, a new grocery retail format, FairPrice Xpress, was introduced. These stores offer on-the-go customers a range of daily essentials like rice, groceries and fresh produce; in addition to snacks and beverages. FairPrice Xpress stores also offer value-added services like Quickbill service, an over-the-counter bill payment service; DHL courier services (at selected outlets); and M-Cash, a cash-remittance service (at selected outlets). Today, there are 63 Esso service stations, of which 22 have a FairPrice Xpress outlet.

Ms Chin said: “ExxonMobil is proud to partner with FairPrice, combining our strengths as leading retailers, to offer our customers value and convenience and to make a positive impact on the community. Supporting the FairPrice Share-A-Textbook project through the 22 FairPrice Xpress stores at Esso service stations is an example of how our partnership has grown, as we continue to meet the needs of our customers and the Singapore community.”

In appreciation of our customers’ textbook donations and in commemoration of ExxonMobil’s 120th anniversary in Singapore, Esso will be giving away 120 SMILES points to every customer who drops off textbooks at the FairPrice Xpress stores at Esso service stations.

Greater community involvement to help more students

This year FairPrice is partnering over 110 organisations that will assist in logistics, promotional efforts, mass community collection, sorting and distribution for the FairPrice Share-A-Textbook project. Over 1,000 student volunteers and volunteers from Supporting and Community Partners will be participating in the initiative this year. FairPrice will also work with partners who are Volunteer Welfare Organisations (VWOs) and Community Development Councils (CDCs) to shortlist names of students from low-income families who will receive “priority student” status. Priority students will be given first pick of the textbooks before the books are open for the general public to collect.

Changkat Changi Secondary School, Gan Eng Seng School, Yio Chu Kang Secondary school and West Spring Secondary School are the Community Partners in this year’s project where their locations will serve as sorting centres and distribution points. Staff and students will assist in the collection, sorting and distribution of textbooks. The public distribution day will take place on 15 December 2013 at these four schools.

In addition, FairPrice announced that it is giving away over $590,000 worth of study grants this year to over 900 needy students in primary schools, secondary schools and tertiary institutions. These recipients are children of lower-income FairPrice members and FairPrice employees. The grants range from $200 for primary students to $3,000 for tertiary students. FairPrice has been giving out study grants annually to help its staff and FairPrice members for over 25 years.