News

StanChart donates $250k to ST fund for needy students

Standard Chartered Bank (StanChart) donated $250,000 to The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund (STSPMF) at the Singapore Sports Hub's Community Play Day yesterday.

Mr Goh Beng Kim, StanChart's head of transaction banking in Singapore, presented the cheque to STSPMF chairman Warren Fernandez, who is also The Straits Times' editor and editor-in-chief of Singapore Press Holdings' English/ Malay/Tamil Media group.

The fund gives pocket money to students from low-income families.

The cheque presentation was witnessed by Parliamentary Secretary for Culture, Community and Youth Baey Yam Keng, the guest of honour at the event held at the OCBC Arena.

Mr Baey said: "The partnership between the STSPMF and Standard Chartered Bank has better equipped children in need for school, created a better learning environment for them and provided opportunities so they can achieve their dreams."

Added StanChart's Mr Goh: "We are delighted to be here today with STSPMF in support of our children, as well as our seniors from South East CDC (Community Development Council). (The seniors) are the main focus of Silver Lining - Standard Chartered's local community initiative aimed at engaging our pioneers."

At the event, seniors from the Silver Lining programme lined up side by side with STSPMF beneficiaries for a towel-stretching workout.

Thanking StanChart for its generous donation, Mr Fernandez said: "In addition to raising funds for our beneficiaries, we are constantly looking for other ways to help them where we can, and add a bit of joy in their lives. Today's community day is one of them."

He added that ST was pleased to have been able to add a charity element to this year's ST Run, and the organisers will be donating $1 from each participant's registration fee to the STSPMF.

Registration for the ST Run on July 17 is now open and closes on June 28.

Separately, Aquarealm, Singapore's leading ornamental fish and aquarium event, held a live Charity Aquascaping Challenge in support of the STSPMF yesterday.

Aquascaping is the craft of arranging aquatic plants, as well as rocks, driftwood and other ornaments, in an aesthetically pleasing manner within an aquarium.

The challenge featured five top aquascapers from around the world, including the world No. 1, Mr Takayuki Fukada, 47, from Japan.

People can bid for the five completed tanks today. The event is expected to raise $50,000 for beneficiaries under the STSPMF.

The challenge was part of the inaugural Aquarealm conference and exhibition, organised by Essential Global Fairs and held at Temasek Polytechnic. It is open to the public from 8.30am to 5.30pm today.

The Straits Times © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Reproduced with permission.