As at this year’s U Care Charity Dinner, the Labour Movement (LM) raised a total of $10,506,175 for NTUC-U Care Fund, achieving its target of $10.5 million set for the year. The amount raised also exceeded the $10.26 million garnered last year. U Care Fund is on track to reach out to 100,000 low-income union members and families through the assistance programmes under U Care Fund.
Jointly hosted by NTUC President, Ms Diana Chia and NTUC Secretary-General, Mr Lim Swee Say, the event was graced by some 930 guests comprising union leaders, management partners, corporate donors as well as beneficiaries, who have in one way or another contributed to U Care Fund or benefited from it.
“We are really pleased to have gathered such overwhelming support from all our donors. Achieving our fund-raising target would not have been possible without the generosity of the Labour Movement family and our corporate donors. We will continue to reach out to help our low-income union members and their families through our assistance programmes”, Mr Zainal Sapari, Director of NTUC Care and Share commented.
Continuous Support From The Labour Movement Family
Major donors from the Labour Movement family at the U Care Charity Dinner include Singapore Labour Foundation which donated $5.2 million, NTUC Income which donated $500,000 and NTUC Choice Homes which donated $300,000. NTUC FairPrice Foundation also contributed $1.5 million through its “Breadwinners, We Care, U Care” campaign which was pledged before the charity dinner.
“NTUC-U Care Fund serves a vital purpose in assisting low-income union members with their living expenses. Through our contribution, we aim to support U Care in its efforts to help families cope in hard times and ultimately, build a more inclusive society in Singapore. We’re glad to make a difference to this cause,” said Mr Tan Suee Chieh, Chief Executive, NTUC Income.
The biggest corporate donor this year is LM’s long-time supporter, ComfortDelGro Corporation which donated $120,000. Other major corporate donors include New Creation Church, The Singapore Buddhist Lodge, Loyang Tua Pek Kong, Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd, Singapore Telecommunications Limited, Banyan Tree Global Foundation, CapitaLand Hope Foundation and Tote Board and Singapore Pools amongst others.
“We are happy to support the NTUC-U Care Fund as this is aligned with Banyan Tree Global Foundation’s efforts to enable communities via education,” Ms Claire Chiang, Chairperson of Banyan Tree Global Foundation added.
Caring for the Low-Income Members and Families
So far, NTUC-U Care Fund has set aside $3 million and $4.8 million for NTUC U Stretch vouchers and U Care Back-To-School vouchers respectively. The first of six runs of Family Recreation & Fun (FRF) Carnivals for the year also started in June. The six runs of the FRF Carnivals amount to $1.5 million sponsorship value from NTUC Club.
Together with other assistance programmes like U Care Education Co-Funding scheme, donations to NTUC First Campus Bright Horizons Fund and NTUC Eldercare Trust, U Care Fund will continue to reach out the needy members and families of the Labour Movement. (More information on U Care Assistance Programmes under Annex A)
Many of the low-income members and their families have continued to benefit from U Care Fund’s assistance programmes over the years. Whilst these programmes essentially aim to help lighten the load for daily living expenses and members’ children school expenses, they have managed to make a big enough impact for some.
Mdm See Bee Leng, 36, with five school-going children aged 8 – 17 received U Stretch and Back-To-School vouchers in 2011. Her son also received bursary from Mdm See’s union (Food, Drinks and Allied Workers’ Union), with the support from U Care Education Co-funding as well. She shared her experience, “My husband met with an industrial accident more than a year ago and I became the sole breadwinner of the family since. To support my family of seven on a single income is not easy at all. I am very grateful to the help I received through U Care Fund as it has made great impact to our lives, especially with my children’s schooling expenses. Thank you U Care Fund, for improving my family’s life and helping us cope better.”
Annex A
More information on key programmes:
NTUC U Stretch Voucher Programme
The U Stretch vouchers, amounting to $3 million this year, are discount vouchers that would help low-income union members stretch their dollars on daily basic necessities.
Successful U Stretch applicants will each receive a booklet of 40 vouchers worth $100 in total value, for use at four of NTUC Social Enterprises. Each voucher provides the union members a $2.50 discount off every $5 purchase of groceries at the NTUC FairPrice supermarkets; medication or health-related items at NTUC Unity pharmacies and NTUC Unity Denticare clinics; meals at NTUC Foodfare food courts; and day care services at NTUC Eldercare centres. These U Stretch vouchers will be valid for seven months - from 1 August 2012 till 28 February 2013.
U Care Back To School Voucher Programme
The “U Care Back to School” (BTS) Voucher Programme assists our low-income members to defray the cost of their children's school expenses for the new school year. This year, the Labour Movement has set aside $4.8 million to potentially help some 38,000 low-income members’ children.
Each successful applicant will receive a booklet of U Care Back to School Vouchers worth $125 for each eligible school-going child. The validity of vouchers will be from 15 Nov 2012 to 31 Mar 2013.
The vouchers will be valid for use at
For more information on the other assistance programmes under U Care Fund, please go to www.ntuc.org.sg/ucare
