For the first time, all 61 affiliated unions and association pledged donations to the U Care Fund this year ' a strong show of solidarity among the Labour Movement
For the first time, all of NTUC's 61 affiliated unions and association have come forward to support the NTUC-U Care Fund in a show of solidarity and collectively donated $302,000, marking a key milestone since the U Care Fund's inception in 2009. This amount exceeded last year's donation from 48 affiliated unions and association by about 14 per cent. The strong show of force reaffirms the labour movement's commitment to helping low-income union members and their families. During the U Care Charity Dinner held on 28 August, it was also announced that the U Care Fund achieved its 2013 fundraising target and raised a total of $10,520,200 this year.
With the amount raised, U Care Fund will be able to reach out to and help 40,000 low-income families and some 40,600 students through its various assistance programmes; and 5,000 elderly through its donation to NTUC Eldercare Trust.
NTUC President, Ms Diana Chia and NTUC Secretary-General, Mr Lim Swee Say jointly hosted the dinner, which was graced by some 900 guests comprising beneficiaries, union leaders, management partners, as well as corporate donors, who have in one way or another contributed to U Care Fund or benefited from it.
'It is always a challenge every year to raise the $10.5 million because many factors are beyond our control. Nonetheless, there will always be organisations and individuals that would step forward to answer our call to bring hope for a better life for the needy in our society. Thus, we are very happy to have accomplished it after a seven-month long fundraising drive. We have to thank the Singapore Labour Foundation (SLF), our NTUC social enterprises, all our affiliated unions/association, unionised companies, corporate and individual donors for their strong support. They have selflessly opened up their hearts (and wallets) to support the worthy cause of helping our low-income union members and their families. This is truly the spirit of 'U Care' in action', said Mr Zainal Sapari, Director of NTUC Care and Share.
Continuous Support From The Labour Movement Family
Major donors from the Labour Movement family at the U Care Charity Dinner include SLF 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 earlier this month, before the charity dinner. NTUC Club also sponsored six runs of the Family Recreation and Fun (FRF) Carnivals amounting to $1.5 million in sponsorship value.
This year, the biggest corporate donor is ComfortDelGro Corporation Limited, a long-time supporter of the U Care Fund which donated $120,000. Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd and Singapore Telecommunications Limited increased their donations to $50,000 each this year. Other major corporate donors include New Creation Church, PSA Corporation Limited and CapitaLand Hope Foundation amongst others.
Caring for the Low-Income Members and Families
So far, NTUC-U Care Fund has set aside $2.7 million and $3.875 million this year for NTUC U Stretch vouchers and U Care Back-To-School vouchers respectively. The first of six runs of FRF Carnivals for the year also started in June. The carnival gives our low-income union members and their families the opportunity to have a fun day together at Downtown East.
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 to 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. While these programmes essentially aim to help lighten the load for daily living expenses and school expenses of members' children, they have managed to make a big enough impact for some.
Mdm Lai Yet Eng, 51, a member of the United Workers of Electronics & Electrical Industries (UWEEI) since 2006 said, 'My family's gross household income is less than $2,800 per month, with both my husband and I working. As our four children are still attending school, I am grateful to NTUC-U Care Fund for providing assistance to our family through its various programmes. I use the U Stretch vouchers to buy necessities and groceries at a discount from NTUC FairPrice, which helps a lot in stretching our dollar. I also receive four Back to School voucher booklets valued at $125 each for my four school-going children. I usually spend the vouchers on my children's school shoes, assessment books and other school essentials. As my husband and I have to work, we don't spend much time together with our children. Therefore, we always look forward to the Family Recreation and Fun Carnival each year to have some fun and bond emotionally as a family. I am thankful to NTUC for this.'
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Annex A
More information on key programmes:
NTUC U Stretch Voucher Programme
The U Stretch vouchers, amounting to $2.7 million this year, are discount vouchers that would help low-income union members stretch their dollars on daily basic necessities.
Successful U Stretch applicants are categorised as follows:
The vouchers can be used 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 from 15 November 2013 till 31 March 2014.
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 $3.875 million to potentially help some 31,000 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 November 2013 to 31 March 2014.
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
