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Jul 10, 2010
Save and donate to charity
<!-- by line --> By Ang Yiying
Over $30m raised for fund
Over the past 10 years, the ST School Pocket Money Fund has raised a total of $30 million to support 73,542 children.
One of them is Mr Ronn Kay, 20, a polytechnic student who was a fund recipient during his secondary school days.
Both his parents are working now.
But back then, his father had vision problems and had to stop working as a hawker, leaving his mother, then a clerk, to be the sole breadwinner.
Before getting assistance from the fund, he would have to limit spending on his recess and lunch. With the additional money from the fund, he was able to buy himself more balanced meals.
Said Mr Kay: 'It's a small difference that matters - getting a better meal.'
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Siti Umairah, with her brothers, Secondary 2 student Muhaimin (left) and Primary Six pupil Mursyid were recipients of The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund. The fund and other bursaries, subsidies and assistance help them travel to school, get uniforms and textbooks. -- ST PHOTO: LIM SIN THAI
THE Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund, which helps children from low-income families pay for meals and school-related expenses, is now encouraging people to save, while raising funds for the cause. It is selling 50,000 coin banks at $5 each, with the proceeds going fully to the fund. The fund requires $5 million this year to help an estimated 12,400 children and it is still $3.9 million short of its target.
The fund's organising chairman Peter Khoo said the idea of the coin bank encourages Singaporeans to save, and to help the less fortunate. 'When their coin banks are full, they can choose to put the money in their own savings accounts or donate to charity,' he said. To make it easier for the public to chip in, the School Pocket Money Fund is partnering OCBC Bank and NTUC FairPrice.
From July 15, the coin banks will be sold at 40 selected FairPrice supermarkets. Details of the outlets will be released soon. Those who have filled up the coin banks and want to donate the money to the School Pocket Money Fund can do so in September and October at any of the 18 OCBC bank branches that open on Sundays. NTUC FairPrice Foundation - a charity fully funded by NTUC FairPrice - has also donated $20,000 to the fund.
The foundation's general manager Wee Leong How said: 'We are taking positive steps by investing in our children and we call on our shoppers to be our partners in supporting this cause as well.' OCBC Bank is encouraging its younger customers to also get involved. Also from July 15, it will be giving away coin banks to the first 5,000 children who either open a new account or top up their savings account with a minimum $20 deposit. Singapore Press Holdings, NTUC FairPrice and OCBC - are also walking the talk. Together, they have bought 13,000 coin banks to be given to their staff.
