At the launch of the Family Recreation & Fun Carnivals 2012/13 held at the Downtown East on 3 June 2012, the Labour Movement announced its $10.5 million fund-raising target for the NTUC U Care Fund in 2012. The funds will continue to be used to provide relief for low-income union members and their families through various assistance programmes like U Stretch vouchers, U Care Education Co-Funding scheme, U Care Back to School vouchers, and donations to NTUC Eldercare Trust and NTUC First Campus Bright Horizons Fund.
The Labour Movement kicked-off its fund-raising efforts with the launch of the Family Recreation & Fun (FRF) Carnivals 2012/13. Organised by NTUC Club, who has been a strong supporter of the U Care Fund, this annual carnival lets low-income union members and their families enjoy a day of fun and entertainment for free at Downtown East. Six runs of the FRF Carnivals will be held this year and these amount to a total of $1.5 million in sponsorship value from NTUC Club.
The first FRF Carnival for 2012 was launched this morning by Special Guest Diana Chia, President, NTUC, with over 13,000 low-income union members and their families at Downtown East. At the launch, families also participated in a mass activity to create a giant, multi-coloured collage displaying the number ‘25’. This is held in conjunction with NTUC Club’s celebration of its 25th anniversary in 2012 to commemorate 25 years of providing fun for the well-being of members and their families.
“We would not have reached this milestone without the support of union members and their families; they have shared many of their fun family moments with us at our chalets, theme park and events. The FRF Carnivals are just one way that NTUC Club gives back to them and the Labour Movement. Since 2005, we have committed about $10 million to the FRF programme to promote better work-life harmony and we will continue to uphold the social mission of meeting members’ social needs and bring them affordable recreation for quality family bonding,” said Mr Yeo Khee Leng, Chief Executive Officer, NTUC Club.
Mr Zainal Bin Sapari, Director, Care and Share Department, NTUC, added, “The sponsorship from NTUC Club has given us a good start towards our fund-raising target of $10.5 million for this year. It would not have been possible for the NTUC U Care Fund to reach out to our low-income members if not for the strong contributions from our social enterprises, affiliated unions and association, as well as tripartite partners, and we are extremely grateful to them. Let us continue to work together, to bring about more joy to our low-income members and their families through our various assistance programmes.”
Five more runs of the FRF Carnival will be held in June, November, December 2012, and March 2013, and these would benefit about 60,000 low-income union members and their families. Each family will receive free admission tickets to the Wild Wild Wet theme park, food & beverage vouchers, free playtime at eXplorerkid, free bowling games and unlimited play of games and activities at Downtown East. As an added convenience, free two-way transportation will also be provided at designated locations, including Ang Mo Kio, Bedok, Bukit Panjang, Jurong East and Woodlands.
