More than 500 guests turned up for a good cause during a fund-raising dinner organised by ACI Singapore – The Financial Markets Association on 29 May, in the last days of the circuit breaker.
It was a novel gathering – everything took place remotely via videoconferencing tool Zoom.
Meals from 23 top restaurants, such as Les Amis and Odette, were delivered to the homes of guests, as were the event T-shirts and door gift of a pot of edible plant.
Mr Leng Hoe Lon, chairman of the fund-raiser, said ACI has organised a charity golf event and gala dinner to raise funds for charity every year since 1994. This year, its fund-raiser was scheduled for last month, but with the COVID-19 outbreak and circuit breaker measures, the event moved online.
The dinner raised over $500,000 for the new ACI Trampoline Fund for projects that meet the needs of vulnerable groups in society.
The usual fund-raising events, from charity dinners to charity runs to flag days, were off limits during the circuit breaker period and are unlikely to be given the go-ahead in the next few months, charities said.
For example, the Children’s Cancer Foundation‘s fund-raiser Hair for Hope, where people shave their heads, will not be held this year owing to safe distancing precautions. This will be the first time the event will not take place in 17 years.
However, those for COVID-19-related causes have witnessed strong donor response.
Beyond Social Services, for example, launched a COVID-19 Family Assistance Fund in February and by last month had raised more than half of its $2 million target.
The Government has also introduced measures to help charities struggling to raise funds.
In May, it announced that the Tote Board‘s Enhanced Fund-Raising Programme will get an additional $100 million, on top of the $70 million already set aside.
Charities will be able to receive dollar-for-dollar fund-matching for eligible donations, capped at $250,000 per charity.
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Source: The Straits Times, 9 June 2020