Into its seventh year, the NTUC-U Care Fund has raised some $10.8 million in donations this year. This amount was revealed at the annual U Care Charity Dinner held on 6 September 2016 at the Orchid Country Club.
The NTUC-U Care Fund was created in 2009 to consolidate the Labour Movement’s efforts to better the welfare of low-income union members and their families by helping them lessen their financial burden.
NTUC Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the Care and Share Department Zainal Sapari said: “We are always grateful for the continued support from all our donors, especially so during this time of economic uncertainty. Their collective effort displays the true ‘U Care’ spirit and greatly helps us in our mission to help improve the lives of our low-income union members and their families.
“We thank the Singapore Labour Foundation (SLF), our NTUC social enterprises, all our affiliated unions and associations, unionised companies, corporate and individual donors for their staunch support year after year.”
Support from Donors
In total, there were 170 donors who contributed to the fund in 2016. Among them, the SLF donated $3.5 million, affiliated union and associations donated $483,833 and NTUC FairPrice Foundation contributed $2.6 million.
Corporate donors included ComfortDelGro Corporation Limited and Singapore Telecommunications Limited who donated $120,000 and $100,000 respectively.
The charity dinner was hosted by NTUC President Mary Liew and Secretary-General Chan Chun Sing and was graced by 850 guests comprising union leaders, management partners and corporate donors who contributed to the fund.
To date, the NTUC U-Care Fund has raised a total of $88.58 million and disbursed over $74 million to its beneficiaries.
Assistance Programmes
This year also saw NTUC U-Care Fund set aside $2.65 million for the NTUC U Stretch Vouchers and $3.8 million for the U Care Back to School Vouchers.
Other assistance programmes include the U Care Education Co-Funding scheme, U Care Caring∙Sharing∙Reaching out (CSR) Grant, and donations to Bright Horizons Fund and Eldercare Trust.
Ms Joanna Yap, a beneficiary of several assistance programme, said: “I am extremely thankful for the assistance I have received. Being a part-time worker and single parent to two children, every cent counts. With the assistance, I am better able to manage my daily expenses, and have greater piece of mind in looking after the needs of my children.”
