Singapore Telecommunications : Singtel Charity Golf raises record S$1.2 million for children and youth with special needs

APSN Delta Senior School joins Singtel Touching Lives Fund as new beneficiary

Singapore, 25 August 2017 - With the generous support of business partners, the annual Singtel Charity Golf, held at the Singapore Island Country Club today, raised a record S$1.2 million for children and youth with special needs from the Singtel Touching Lives Fund's (STLF) beneficiaries.

Singtel's charity golf event is the marquee fundraising event for the STLF. All funds raised will go directly to the STLF's six beneficiaries including new beneficiary APSN Delta Senior School as Singtel bears all fundraising costs. The addition of APSN Delta Senior School, which provides vocational programmes for special needs students aged 17 to 21 years, extends the STLF's support from primary and secondary levels to also cover the post-secondary group.

Mr Yuen Kuan Moon, Chairman of the STLF and CEO Consumer Singapore at Singtel, said, 'We are grateful to our business partners for their long-term support. Singtel Charity Golf has grown to become our largest annual fundraising event for special needs schools in Singapore since we started 16 years ago. The funds raised will certainly help the children and youth that we support to achieve their full potential and lead meaningful lives.'

He added, 'We are also pleased to have APSN Delta Senior School as our newest beneficiary. We have been working with special needs schools from primary to secondary levels over the years so this is a natural progression for us to provide more comprehensive support. It is also part of our overall efforts to strengthen employment opportunities in the disability sector and advance the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the workforce.'

Mr Victor Tay, President of the Association for Persons with Special Needs (APSN), said, 'APSN is heartened by Singtel's efforts in making a real impact to the lives of children and youths with special needs. We envision a modernised, technology-enabled classroom for our students, where we are able to assimilate augmented reality in their learning so that they have a competitive edge in our future economy. We are excited to explore collaborations with Singtel to further enhance the employability of our students and facilitate their transition into the workforce.'

In appreciation of Singtel's efforts to raise funds through this event, 12 students from APSN Delta Senior School served pre-dinner cocktails and the first dinner course to guests. It was a unique opportunity for these F&B service students to put their skills to practice, in preparation for work life after graduation.

Another 15 students from APSN Tanglin School also gave a drum performance as part of dinner entertainment. All guests took home a specially crafted mixed media CD art prepared by students from APSN Tanglin School.

Besides APSN Delta Senior School, the other beneficiaries adopted by the STLF are APSN Chaoyang School, APSN Tanglin School, Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore School, Eden School and MINDS Lee Kong Chian Gardens School.

As part of its community strategy, Singtel has developed a comprehensive programme to empower vulnerable children and youth, including persons with disabilities and special needs. Besides fundraising efforts through the STLF, Singtel set up the Singtel Enabling Innovation Centre in 2015 to train persons with disabilities in ICT and contact centre skills. It also runs Singtel Future Makers, a social innovation programme which helps establish a community of support for social enterprises to address the challenges faced by persons with disabilities. Singtel is also a founding member of the Singapore Business Network on DisAbility, which helps to advance the equitable inclusion of persons with disabilities in the workplace.

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