NTUC Charity Golf 2008
7 July 2008
MEDIA RELEASE
1 The NTUC Charity Golf 2008 teed off from Marina Bay Golf Course on 7 July 2008, with Guest-of-Honour NTUC Secretary-General Lim Swee Say driving, swinging and putting away, all in the name of charity. The money raised will go to the beneficiaries NTUC Childcare and NTUC ElderCare.
Tee for a fee
2 Teeing off for a fee of $5,000 per golf flight, the charity event raised more than $300,000 this year. This is about 24% more than last year. About 150 golfers from the tripartite partners – government, businesses and the Labour Movement – lent their strong support towards this charitable cause. Those that literally played a part for charity included NTUC President John De Payva, NTUC Care and Care director Zainudin Nordin, NTUC Central Committee member Lim Kuang Beng, SNEF Vice President Bob Tan and Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Ministry of Manpower & Ministry of Health Hawazi Daipi.
3 Last year, the $243,500 raised was used to fund the NTUC Childcare Bright Horizon Trust Fund and the expansion of NTUC ElderCare’s day-care centres. The donations were also used by NTUC ElderCare to execute programmes that enhanced the physical and mental wellness of elderly folks.
4 This year, NTUC Childcare aims to reach out to more needy children in 2008 with the funds. It is targeting to help 600 children through its Bright Horizons Fund Financial Assistance Scheme (from 477 children in 2007) and 302 children in its Read-to-REACH learning programme (from 174 children in 2007).
5 Mdm Christine Cheam, 40, is a grateful beneficiary of the NTUC Childcare’s Bright Horizons Trust Fund. She works as a cashier at a convenience store, and her husband is a part-time driver. With three young children and a household income of just above $1,000, Mdm Cheam informed the principal that she was unable to afford to send Shermine to pre-school. With the help of the Bright Horizons Trust Fund, she was able to get financial support of $100 per month. Coupled with other government based schemes, Mdm Cheam pays less than 10% of the original fees.
6 Mdm Cheam is also pleasantly surprised by Shermine’s learning progress since she attended pre-school. “She has learnt to be very independent, and is able to wear and change her own clothes. She pronounces words better, sings nursery rhymes and can even read the pledge in both English and Chinese on her own when she gets home!”
7 As for NTUC ElderCare, the money raised will continue to be channeled into the ElderCare Trust which funds its programmes and services such as Day Care services, Care@home services for homebound elderly and wellness programmes to help seniors stay fit and healthy.
8 Mdm Wadiah Bte Rasidi, 51, an NTUC ElderCare Centre (Marsiling) user is one such happy beneficiary. She suffered a stroke in 2007 which affected movement in her limbs. Pessimistic and depressed over her condition, she did not seek any treatment until the centre’s staff cleared her misconceptions about day-care centres. She recalled, “The staff here helped me to overcome my fears and showed me endless support despite my mood swings. I am very thankful to them for their encouragement. Now I am happy again with all the daily activities and friends that I have made. I can also now move about without a walking stick!”
9 Recognising a growing need for step-down care service for the elderly, especially when their families are not staying with them or are at work, NTUC ElderCare set up the Care@home services. Other than serving as an alternate care service to families, NTUC ElderCare has also provided in-house training to more than 40 care-givers. These care-givers are made up of mostly homemakers and/or mature workers, who are looking for jobs that provide flexible hours and are near their home.
10 Wellness programmes have also been set out to engage seniors in meaningful activities amidst community bonding. On 25 May 2008, Wellness Kafe located within Silver Circle, NTUC ElderCare’s social day care centre for the elderly at Jurong Central, was officially opened as a facility to support social interaction. The casual environment allows seniors to spend their time within their own neighbourhood to read, play board games and chat with other seniors.
Mr Zainudin Nordin
Director
Care and Share
National Trades Union Congress
