Welcome
Good evening. A very warm welcome to the U Care Charity Dinner 2013. Let me also take this opportunity to wish all our Muslim sisters and brothers, Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfiltri.
Our Special Guests, NTUC President, Sister Diana Chia and NTUC Secretary-General, Brother Lim Swee Say
Members of the NTUC Central Committee
Chairman Brother David Wong and Members of NTUC-U Care Fund Board of Trustees
CEOs of NTUC Social Enterprises
Advisors, Immediate Past Chairman, Chairman, Co-Chairman, Vice-Chairs and Members of NTUC Care and Share Committee
Valued Donors and Supporters of NTUC-U Care Fund
Beneficiaries of NTUC-U Care Fund
Sisters and Brothers, Ladies and Gentlemen
I am very happy to see so many of you here. Tonight is a very important night for my team as we see the culmination of a 7-month long fundraising drive.
It is also a very important occasion for the Labour Movement as we will announce the total donations raised this year which will allow us to Make A Difference and Touch Many Lives ' this is also the theme of our fundraiser.
In the video you just saw, I am sure many of you would feel the same way as I do. It is certainly not easy coping with life challenges, particularly for a low-income family. But I want to assure you that we at the Labour Movement, will always stand by our members and lend a helping hand in times of need. This is why the U Care Fund has various assistance programmes to assist our low-income union members and their families. More details of the work we do can be found in our 2012 Annual Report which is given out to each of you in the paper bag that was placed on your seat. I would like to encourage you to take some time to read it to understand how your donations have been put to good use.
The stories of Mdm Mercy, Mdm Lai and Mdm Marhaini are just some of the many examples where the U Care Fund has made a difference, year after year. I want all of us here to remember that when we donate to U Care Fund, we are giving more than just money.
We are GIVING a hope for a better future to the children of our low income members;
We are GIVING the families with some PEACE OF MIND to cope with the increasing cost of living;
We are HELPING them to have a SENSE OF BELONGING that they have the LM family to count on;
We are HELPING them strive to have a HAPPY FAMILY and have a MEANINGFUL and DIGNIFIED LIFE.
And it is only with your strong support that we can achieve all these.
Fundraising Effort
It is always a challenge every year to raise funds because many factors are beyond our control.
My team had worked very hard to try to meet our target this year. Every year, we attempt to expand our donors' base and reach out to new donors whom we hope will believe in what we do and support our meaningful cause. Until just a few days ago, we are still calling prospective donors to follow up whether they will be able to donate to us. Therefore, tonight I am very happy to share that seven new corporate donors had responded to our appeal and they are all here tonight with us. So, thank you very much.
Of course, we are also blessed with a large Labour Movement family where we could count on many of our ardent supporters to help us. I am delighted that all of you are here to show us your support.
Highlights & Acknowledgement of Donors & Supporters
Last year, 48 affiliated unions and association donated to the U Care Fund. This year, I am very happy to announce that this number has increased to 61, that is, ALL 61 of our affiliated unions and association have come forth to support us this year! This is indeed a significant milestone and I would like to thank all our sisters and brothers of the 61 affiliated unions and association for showing us that U truly Care.
Here, I would also like to say a special thank you to a few brothers and sisters. Thank you Brother Nachiappan of UPAGE, or Union of Power and Gas Employees, for his relentless efforts in helping us to raise fund from his unionised branches. This year, he helped garner donations from 6 of his unionised companies, of which 2 of them are new donors.
Another union which I would like to show our special appreciation is Reuters Local Employees Union, or RLEU. On top of the union's donation, Sister Charlene and Brother Chee Hong rallied for donations from their members during their annual get-together. They shared with their members how the U Care Fund has helped many low-income families and at the end of it, 44 of their members contributed to U Care Fund. Thank you Sister Charlene and Brother Chee Hong!
One of our corporate donors supported us for the first time last year. Having learnt more about the work we do, they came back to support us again, and this time, with a 12-fold increase in their donation amount. I would like to thank Neo Garden Catering for believing in our cause and I hope we can count you as one of our regular donors from now on. Thank you Mr Neo!
We are also very grateful to the new corporate donors who came forward to support the U Care Fund. They are Shaw Foundation, YTL PowerSeraya, Senoko Energy, United Overseas bank, Cleaning Express, Woh Hup and one company that wish to remain anonymous. Thank you all for your generous contributions!
And our biggest corporate donor is none other than our long-time supporter, ComfortDelGro Corporation. Thank you for always standing by our side year after year.
Acknowledgement of SLF and NTUC Social Enterprises
Tonight, I shall set a personal record on the most number of 'thank you' to be said in 5 minutes. But seriously, the following organisations and individuals which I would like to highlight deserve our accolade for their continued support to U Care Fund year after year, and for standing by us in good times and bad times.
First, thank you Singapore Labour Foundation. Thank you to your Board and Management for believing in us and for being our biggest donor.
Second, thank you NTUC Social Enterprises, whom we have depended upon to give us a boost in our fundraising effort.
Thirdly, thank you to all our sisters and brothers from our affiliated unions and association for your passion and dedication in serving all our members, especially helping our low-income union members, and for touching their lives.
Fourthly, thank you to our management and tripartite partners for your generosity and for showing that U Care as much as we do.
Fifthly, thank you to all our corporate donors as well as individual donors who share in our mission of Doing Good and as our Chairman said in the video, helping to alleviate the inequalities in life.
Conclusion
Lastly, I would also like to thank our Chairman Brother David Wong and Members of the U Care Fund Board of Trustees for your guidance and pro-bono services to provide governance and oversight of the Fund.
And not forgetting our sisters and brothers from the Care and Share Committee, thank you for your unwavering support and for your passion in serving with a caring heart. You are truly living up to the spirit of 'Care and Share'. Many of you are here since this morning to help out in the dinner preparations, and I would like to thank you for all your hard work as well as for putting up a very special finale performance later for us tonight.
Thank you NTUC President, Sister Diana for gracing tonight's dinner and for your strong support as well.
Thank you SG and my fellow colleagues for whom we could count on to Do Together to Do Good. I would also like to thank my staff in Care and Share Department for their relentless pursuit to get the money and making sure 100% of the donations goes to the beneficiaries.
Let me end with a quote by Mother Theresa: 'Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love'. Indeed, with our collective efforts, I am sure we will make a difference and touch the lives of many of our low-income union members and their families. I want to thank each and every one of you for showing that U Care! Thank You Very Much!
Have a wonderful evening ahead!
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