Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean officially opens Singapore’s largest Christmas charity project, and launches this year’s BBSG Main Box                                                  

Singapore, 23 November 2015 – This year’s Boys’ Brigade Share-a-Gift (BBSG) project was officially opened today by Mr Teo Chee Hean, Deputy Prime Minister and Co-ordinating Minister for National Security, at Pasir Ris East Community Club. BBSG, one of Singapore’s largest and most highly-profiled Christmas charity projects, will target to reach out to 40,551 beneficiaries this year. Mr Teo also unveiled the BBSG Main Box, which will serve as a one-stop information and knowledge portal until 17 December.

Launch of the BBSG Main Box

Following the success of bringing BBSG into the heartlands in recent years, the BBSG Main Box is located at Pasir Ris East Community Club this year. The Main Box features an informative and interactive installation which has exhibition panels that showcase the history of The Boys’ Brigade and BBSG, as well as the project’s significant milestones achieved since its inception. Mr Teo said, “The Boys’ Brigade Share-a-Gift project is a good example of how individual Singaporeans, volunteer groups and the government can work together to reach out to help the less fortunate. It represents our collective responsibility and willingness to care for those around us, and will help us to build a more caring and inclusive society in Singapore. I encourage more Singaporeans to give generously to help achieve this year’s target of reaching over 40,500 beneficiaries, so that they too can enjoy the year-end festive period.”

In addition, one interesting highlight of the Main Box is a photo corner. It was specially created and completed with props, for members of the public to take pictures with. Individuals can also contribute to the project by posting photos on social media to spread the word. As part of an initiative introduced by one of the project’s sponsors, these photos posted on social media can also garner more funds for BBSG.

Generous donations from sponsors

This year, long-time sponsors NTUC FairPrice and Prudential Singapore have returned with their generous support. Apart from being an official online and collection partner, NTUC FairPrice will be kick-starting an initiative to encourage the public to have greater engagement with the project through social media. From today till 31 December, they will be sponsoring $5 for every photograph posted on Facebook and Instagram with the hashtag #bbshareagift, up to a maximum of $75,000. This is also in line with the launch of this year’s BBSG Main Box, which has a photo corner that encourages individuals to take photos and post them on social media with the hashtag, to garner more donations and to also help spread the word about the project.

CEO of NTUC FairPrice, Mr Seah Kian Peng, shared, “FairPrice has been a long-time sponsor and partner of the Boys’ Brigade Share-A-Gift project for the past 15 years. This year, we will increase our donation to $75,000 and continue to extend our stores as donation points for the community. We support this meaningful initiative as it is aligned with our commitment to care for the needy and promotes community participation. Every year, the community has opened their hearts and given generously to this project; I am confident they will continue to come forward again and make a difference by dropping off their gifts of love at designated FairPrice stores or through our online portal.”

In addition, Prudential Singapore has once again generously contributed $120,000 towards the project. The management, staff and agency force of Prudential Singapore will continue to contribute to the project in a personal way, by adopting wishes as well as volunteering their time to pack and deliver food hampers right to the beneficiaries’ doorsteps.

BBSG will also see the participation of Nestlé Singapore for the second year running. Every $25 spent on participating Nestlé products for food donations will be matched one for one by Nestlé up to a maximum of $100,000 worth of products, so that more families can be blessed this Christmas. These items include MILO® Powder 900g, MILO® 3in1 18s, Nestle OMEGA® Acticol 600g, NESTUM® 3in1 Plain Cereal Drink 18s, NESTUM® All Family Cereal Original 450g, MAGGI® 2MIN Curry / Chicken Noodle 5s and NESCAFE® 3in1 ORIGINAL 35s.

Other cash donors and sponsors include Far East Organisation, Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation (OCBC), Tan Chin Tuan Foundation, Lee Foundation, and Credit Suisse.

BBSG seeks the public’s support to give generously

BBSG aims to fulfil the wishes of 40,551 beneficiaries this year. It is also reaching out to a record high number of 5,445 elderly beneficiaries. The project is appealing for more corporations and individuals to come forward to grant specific wishes of the elderly, and make this Christmas a special one for all beneficiaries.

Mr Lui Chong Chee, Chairman of The Boys’ Brigade Share-a-Gift 2015, said, “This Christmas, let us come together to embrace the spirit of caring and sharing, and bring festive joy to the the beneficiaries, especially to the elderly. We may contribute in different ways, but we all share the desire to make a difference in their lives. This year, we are also asking members of the public to commemorate their BBSG journey with “selfies” or a keepsake photograph as part of the NTUC FairPrice’s photos sponsorship. We encourage everyone to take selfies and spread the word. More importantly, we hope Singaporeans can extend a helping hand in any way they can, to fulfill all the wishes of our beneficiaries this festive season.”

From now till 17 December, donors who wish to fulfil general wishes can drop off their food donations at 12 collection points located at various NTUC FairPrice outlets. Those who wish to fulfil specific wishes can adopt a specific wish from any of the six Boys’ Brigade Share-a-Gift Specific Wishes Trees in Singapore. Wish contributions can also be made through any AXS station located island-wide (Please refer to factsheet for list of BBSG 2015 collection points).

Besides contributing a gift to beneficiaries, members of the public will be able to take part in the project by delivering food hampers to beneficiaries. Members of the public can register and head down to The Boys’ Brigade Headquarters and help out in daily food hamper deliveries from 1 to 31 December (excluding eve of and on Public Holidays). Volunteers can get more information, and register at www.bbshare.sg from today onwards. The public can also call the BBSG hotline at 1800-227-4273 (1800-BBSHARE).

For ease of convenience, individuals can also contribute online through NTUC FairPrice’s portal (www.fairprice.com.sg). The portal is also a part of BBSG’s overseas engagement efforts, supported by NTUC FairPrice. For the second year running, the portal enables purchases to be made outside of Singapore. It will include special donation hampers amounting to $20, $30 and $50 which can be purchased using overseas-issued Visa, MasterCard and American Express credit cards.

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