MPA and maritime community raise $400,000 for Community Chest and MPA's adopted charities

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and the maritime community have raised $400,000 for the Community Chest and MPA's two adopted charities - The Salvation Army Prison Support Services - Kids in Play and Lighthouse School. This is also the first time MPA has adopted The Salvation Army Prison Support Services - Kids in Play and Lighthouse School as its adopted charities.

Of the amount raised, $100,000 will be designated to each of the two adopted charities, while the remaining $200,000 will go towards other social service programmes supported by Community Chest.

Mr Andrew Tan, Chief Executive of MPA, presented a cheque for $400,000 to Mr Chew Kwee San, Vice-chairman of Community Chest, at MPA's Family Day at the Singapore Zoo and River Safari today.

The funds were raised from an inaugural MPA Charity Golf event held earlier in November with the maritime community in support of Singapore's 50th anniversary. Eligible funds raised would qualify for dollar-for-dollar matching under the Care & Share Movement, which is a national fund-raising and volunteerism movement led by Community Chest for the social service sector.

Mr Andrew Tan said, "Every year, MPA encourages our employees to give back to society in many ways, be it through volunteering, donations or other meaningful efforts. This time, in support of Singapore's 50th birthday next year, we are delighted to be joined by our partners in the maritime community in making a significant contribution to the Community Chest and our two adopted charities.

Both charities touch our hearts because they have meaningful programmes that empower children with special needs and youths-at-risk to fulfil their potential."

Mr Chew Kwee San said, "We are very appreciative of MPA's long-term support towards Community Chest and are heartened to know that MPA has rallied not just their staff, but also the business community, to show care and concern for the less fortunate. MPA's sustained support will ensure children with special needs and youths in challenging situations will have equal opportunities to succeed in life."

The Salvation Army Prison Support Services - Kids In Play is an outreach programme targeted at children of parent(s) in prison and their next-of-kin, with the aim of reconnecting families even though they are staying apart. Through various programmes and services to the caregivers and children while the parent is in prison, Kids In Play helps to maintain family ties and relationships during the period of imprisonment.

"Kids In Play is an effective programme that aims to keep inmates motivated and prevent the breakdown of the family unit resulting from the effects of parents being held in prison. We are pleased to have the support of MPA to help further our work to care for people in need in the community," said Lieut-Colonel Leopoldo Posadas, Chief Secretary of The Salvation Army Singapore, Malaysia and Myanmar Territory.

Lighthouse School provides special education to children with visual impairment and children with hearing impairment. The mission of the school is to enable the children to acquire skills and develop values that will lead to the highest possible level of academic, vocational and personal success in adulthood.

"I would like to thank the MPA for adopting Lighthouse School as one of its two adopted charities. Lighthouse School is very blessed that MPA still makes time for Lighthouse School on top of its important mission to develop Singapore as a premier global hub port and international maritime centre," said Mr Koh Poh Kwang, BBM(L), JP, Principal of Lighthouse School.

About 80 beneficiaries and their caregivers joined over 900 MPA board members, employees and their family members at the MPA Family Day.

Over the years, MPA has been organising various activities to give back to society as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility programme. Some of these activities include employee outings with beneficiaries, as well as visits and spring cleaning of seniors' homes.

MPA and maritime community raise $400,000 for Community Chest and MPA's adopted charities

Families having fun at MPA's Family Day

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