COMMUNITY CHEST | NCSS Fund-Raising and Engagement Group 170 Ghim Moh Road #01-02 Singapore 279621 ● Tel: 6210 2500 Fax: 6468 4909 ● comchest.sg

MEDIA RELEASE

CHARITREES LIGHTS UP MARINA BAY FOR COMMUNITY CHEST

Guest-of-Honour Dr Lily Neo Officiates Switch-On Ceremony for ChariTrees

SINGAPORE, NOVEMBER 13, 2013 – The Christmas ChariTrees @

Marina Bay 2013, jointly organised by Community Chest and the Urban Redevelopment

Authority (URA), has raised more than $380,000 for Community Chest at the start of this

festive season. The funds raised this year is almost 60 per cent more than the amount

collected last year, making it the highest since the project was first held in 2011.

A total of 30 ChariTrees, which are mostly adopted by Community Chest’s corporate

partners, will transform and light up the Marina Bay Waterfront Promenade for six weeks

from 15 November to 27 December 2013, adding to the festivities and celebration of the

yuletide season. Guest-of-Honour, Dr Lily Neo, Member of Parliament for Tanjong Pagar

Group Representation Constituency will be officiating the Switch-On Ceremony on 15

November. The programme of the Switch-On Ceremony can be found in Annex A.

The theme for this year’s Christmas ChariTrees is “Story Trees”, where touching and

uplifting beneficiaries’ stories are retold by design students from LASALLE College of

the Arts through the design of the trees. Through these young artists’ understanding of

the beneficiaries’ stories, and using their imagination and interpretation, 20 of the 30

ChariTrees will be transformed into Story Trees, each telling the story of a beneficiary.

This is the first year that Community Chest and URA are working with LASALLE College

of the Arts to present the Christmas ChariTrees and Community Chest welcomes this

group of “artists with a heart” as young partners in its social service engagements

efforts.

“The ChariTrees project has been a great opportunity for our students to give back to

community through creating public artworks that are meaningful as well as beautiful. The

students were inspired by the heartwarming stories of the beneficiaries to make each

design special and unique for the public to enjoy during the festive season. We are

honoured to be part of this collaboration with Community Chest,” said Ms Nur Hidayah,

Dean, Faculty of Design at LASALLE College of the Arts.

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Inspiring story behind every Story Tree

An example of a Story Tree is the “YGOS Nurturing Tree”, which is decorated with

terrarium-inspired ornament balls. Inspired by the self-sustaining ability of plants in

terrariums, the students used the ornament balls to symbolise the lives of youths who

have been helped and the programmes that Youth Guidance Outreach Services

(YGOS) hope to engage youth-at-risk in. The plant inside each ball represents the

youths who have been nurtured and are growing to be independent, self-sufficient adults

who can contribute to society.

Another Story Tree is “Colourfonia”, which is made up of colourful buttons of different

sizes, fishing line, wire mesh, among other materials. The tree depicts the challenges

Mdm Noridah binte Haron faced when her husband passed away and she had to

shoulder her four daughters’ education and living expenses. With the help of PPIS

Family Service Centre (West), Mdm Noridah picked up sewing skills through the

H.O.M.E programme and is now able to supplement family income with freelance

sewing assignments. Descriptions of selected Story Trees can be found in Annex B.

“URA is happy that the ChariTrees has brought the community together to help the less

fortunate. This is a meaningful project that we hope can grow every year, and we are

glad to be part of it. We hope the ChariTrees at Marina Bay will bring good cheer to the

beneficiaries during the year-end festivities,” said Mr Ng Lang, URA’s Chief Executive

Officer.

In conjunction with the Switch-On Ceremony on 15 November, staff volunteers from

Arrowcrest Technologies Pte Ltd, a company which adopted a Story Tree this year, will

be bringing a group of 20 elderly beneficiaries for an evening’s outing to bask in the

year-end festive mood. The elderly from Lions Befrienders, a Community Chest

supported charity, will enjoy a hearty dinner before witnessing the official light-up of the

30 ChariTrees and touring the scenic Marina Bay.

Top Three Most Creative Story Trees

To recognise and encourage the students for their creativity and imagination, the

Christmas ChariTrees @ Marina Bay 2013 organising committee has chosen the top

three most creative Story Trees– Madam Noridah’s “Colourfonia”, Lions Befrienders’

“Hoppipolla” and Chelsea Lim’s “Carnival Christmas”. The teams behind these three

designs will be presented with tokens of appreciation at the Switch-On Ceremony by Dr

Lily Neo.

Mr Tan Puay Kern, Chairman of the Christmas ChariTrees @ Marina Bay 2013

organising committee, added, “Behind every ChariTree lies a touching and inspiring

story where beneficiaries, through sheer grit, determination and the courage to dream,

have exhibited great character and capability to realise their potential and improve their

lives, with the help extended to them by many organisations. Community Chest is very

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grateful to the individuals and organisations for their generosity and continuous support

in our fund-raising efforts by adopting the ChariTrees. We hope that through these Story

Trees, the spirit of tenacity, care and share will warm our hearts and more can join in to

play a part in spreading love and joy during this festive season.”

The ChariTrees, which are fitted with LED lights, will be lit every night from 15

November 2013 to 27 December 2013 from 7pm to 1am.

For media enquiries, please contact:

Ms Heng Swee San

Manager

Corporate Communications

National Council of Social Service

Tel: 6210 2641 / 9222 5896

Email: heng_swee_san@ncss.gov.sg

Ms Ng Jia Min

Manager

Corporate Communications

Urban Redevelopment Authority Tel: 6321 8134 / 91881885

Email: ng_jia_min@ura.gov.sg

Community Chest

Community Chest raises funds on a yearly basis to meet the needs of the social service

programmes we help support. Community Chest ensures that fund-raising and other

operating costs are kept to a minimum. As these costs are covered mainly by Tote

Board and Singapore Pools, every dollar raised by Community Chest will be made

available to social service programmes under its care.

Community Chest has made it easier for individuals to donate from the comfort of their

homes via websites such as comchest.sg and www.vpost.com.sg, through the internet

(DBS, UOB or Citibank) or phone banking (DBS or POSB) and even at SAM machines

and iNETS Kiosks across the island. Individuals can also reap tax benefits on donations

through hassle-free modes like the Community Chest's monthly workplace giving

programme “SHARE”, where employees make monthly donations via GIRO, credit card

or payroll and have his or her tax deductions automatically included in their tax

assessments.

This year, Community Chest is funding 228 critical social service programmes offered by

83 charities, which require a total of $85.9 million of community funding to help over

300,000 people including children with special needs, youth-at-risk, persons with

disabilities, lonely and frail elderly and families in need.

About Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA)

The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) is Singapore's national land use planning

and conservation agency. URA's mission is "to make Singapore a great city to live, work

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and play". We strive to create a vibrant and sustainable city of distinction by planning

and facilitating Singapore's physical development in partnership with the community.

As the main land sales agent for the State, our multifaceted engagement strategy

includes the sale of State land to attract and channel private capital investment to

develop sites for meeting our land use needs. As the place manager for Marina Bay, we

promote exciting activities within Marina Bay in collaboration with other government

agencies and private stakeholders. To create an exciting cityscape, URA also actively

promotes architecture and urban design excellence. For more information, please visit

us at www.ura.gov.sg.

Jointly Issued by:

National Council of Social Service & Urban Redevelopment Authority

Wednesday, 13 November 2013

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Annex A

Christmas ChariTrees @ Marina Bay Switch-On Ceremony 2013

Programme

Date : 15 November 2013 (Friday)

Time : 5.30pm – 7.45pm

Venue : Marina Bay Waterfront Promenade

5.30pm LASALLE students and beneficiaries to add finishing touches to the

Story Trees

Arrival of media (photo opportunity)

6.00pm Arrival of guests

6.30pm Arrival of Guest-of-Honour, Dr Lily Neo, Member of Parliament for

Tanjong Pagar Group Representation Constituency

6.40pm Opening Performance by Singapore Police Force Band

6.45pm Welcome Address by Mr Tan Puay Kern, Chairman, ChariTrees

Organising Committee

6.50pm Presentation of Tokens to Top 3 Most Creative Teams, Donors and

Partners

7.00pm Switch-On Ceremony by Guest-of-Honour Dr Lily Neo, Community

Chest Chairman Mr Phillip Tan, ChariTrees @ Marina Bay

organising committee Chairman Mr Tan Puay Kern and URA CEO

Mr Ng Lang

7.05pm Viewing of Story Trees, media photo opportunity and reception

7.45pm End of Event

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Annex B

DESCRIPTION OF THE STORY TREES

Name of Tree: Colourfonia

Inspired by: Mdm Noridah Binte Haron, beneficiary of PPIS Family Service Centre

(West) Designed by: Lydia Kong, Grace Seng Jyn Wen, Zaw Min Tun, Zhang Xi, Lin Qiang

Jie

Adopted by: Real Estate Developers’ Association of Singapore

Mdm Noridah Binte Haron first approached the PPIS Family Service Centre (West) for

financial assistance for her school-going children in December 2007 when her husband

was ill with kidney cancer and had to stop work. When he passed away in 2008, a social

worker from PPIS FSC (West) offered emotional support to help Mdm Noridah cope with

the loss so she could continue to take care of the family. Mdm Noridah also signed up

for the H.O.M.E programme by PPIS FSC (West) and attended a sewing course, which

enabled her to earn some income from freelance sewing assignments to support her

family.

The buttons and spools of thread on this Story Tree are inspired by how Mdm Noridah

had picked up sewing skills to support her family. It symbolises her determination to

acquire new skills to be independent.

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Name of Tree: Carnival Christmas

Inspired by: Chelsea Lim, beneficiary of Early Intervention Programme for Infants

and Children (EIPIC), Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore Designed by: He Jipeng, Chen Zhenpeng, Xiong Suwan, Lu Yao, Huang Yanling

Evelyn

Adopted by: Marina Bay Sands Pte Ltd

Diagnosed with cerebral palsy since birth, 4-year-old Chelsea Lim could only move

around by crawling and was unable to walk and run around like most children of her

age. After receiving physiotherapy, Chelsea is now able to walk with the help of the

Kaye Walker. She hopes that with therapy, she would be able to jump and walk on her

own.

Due to her physical challenges, Chelsea may not have the chance to enjoy and

experience carnivals. A carnival wonderland has been created for this Story Tree to

bring joy to children like Chelsea during this Christmas season.

```

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Name of Tree: Hoppipolla (Jumping Into A Puddle)

Inspired by: Lions Befrienders Service Association (Singapore)

Designed by: Loh Shuxian Samantha Joy, Pang Yan Hao, Nurhisyam Kamasani, Tran

Duc Anh

Adopted by: Arrowcrest Technologies Pte Ltd

Lions Befrienders provides friendship and care for seniors to age in place through

community participation, enabling them to enjoy meaningful and enriching lives.

Turning light bulbs into figurines of interesting characters, this Story Tree seeks to bring

simple childlike joy to our elderly, in the same way as the Lions Befrienders in providing

valuable friendship and assistance to them.

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Other Interesting Story Trees

Name of Tree: Reflection

Inspired by: Mary Kaw, beneficiary of Singapore Cheshire Home Residential Care

Designed by: Yeo Shao Xiang Melvin, Shanice Suah Qian Lin, Huang Jiaxuan Erica,

Tan Choon Wei, Quan Peilun

Adopted by: Rudi's Fine Food Pte Ltd

Born with genetic spinal muscular atrophy, a muscle degenerating disease, Mary was

given up for adoption at birth. Unable to walk or stand on her own, Mary recalls feeling

lost and unloved throughout her childhood. Despite these early difficulties, she has

found a purpose in her life. She designs and makes handicrafts, including making

flowers using fish scales which she collects from the market. Selling these helps to

contribute towards her upkeep at the home.

Mary’s determination to be independent despite her disability has inspired the designers

of this Story Tree. The fish scale shapes and flowers on the Story Tree represent the

wonderful creativity that Mary displays despite her limitations.

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Name of Tree: YGOS-Nurturing Tree

Inspired by: Youth Guidance Outreach Services (YGOS)

Designed by: Sherman Fu Shan'En, Catherine Ng Kailin, Hakim Noh, Nur Esatie Huda,

Nurhanisah Binte Abdul Majid

Adopted by: Sembcorp Marine Ltd

YGOS runs the Enhanced STEP-UP programmes, which support students at risk of

dropping out of schools and out-of-school youth. This Story Tree showcases the core

objective of YGOS – reaching out to youth-at-risk and helping them to adopt lifestyles

that enable them to make a positive contribution to society.