Give back regularly under Community Chest’s new SGSHARE programme launched for SG60

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SINGAPORE – Singaporeans are being encouraged to make a small monthly donation under a new national regular giving programme launched on Jan 18.

Called SGSHARE, the programme was launched to commemorate SG60 – the 60th anniversary of Singapore’s of independence.

The new initiative builds on the Community Chest’s SHARE programme, which was launched in 1984 and encourages individuals and employees to donate a small amount of their monthly pay to charity.

The expanded SGSHARE programme will make regular giving more accessible, said Community Chest Chairman Chew Sutat.

The Community Chest will work with government agencies, businesses, community groups, and Institutes of Higher Learning to create more platforms and opportunities for contributions to SGSHARE, said the charity in a press release.

Mr Chew pointed out that under old SHARE programme, donations were facilitated primarily through employers.

The Community Chest, started in 1983, is the philanthropic arm of the National Council of Social Service.

Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong, who launched SGSHARE at the Singapore Expo on Jan 18, said there are about 260,000 donors and 2,000 companies on the older SHARE programme, who contribute more than $15 million annually.

These donations fund over 200 critical programmes for more than 82,000 persons each year, such as counselling services to help persons with disability gain independence, and social service support for lower income families, he said.

DPM Gan said that a spirit of giving should be nurtured and encouraged among Singaporeans, “as we build the next chapter of our Singapore story together”.

Noting that Singapore has made much progress as an economy, society and nation over the decades, Mr Gan said that “across the board, our peoples have seen their real income grow, and their standards of living improve”.

“But as with all societies, some will progress faster and further than others. Therefore, those who have more should give to those who may need more,” he said.

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