Cost of funding charities rises 68% in 5 years: Community Chest

SINGAPORE — The amount needed by the Community Chest to fund the charities it supports has risen by 68 per cent over the last 5 years, it said.

In FY 2014, Community Chest will be supporting programmes from 83 voluntary welfare organisations that will benefit over 300,000 people, including people with disabilities.

It needs S$92.9 million to do so, an increase of 68 per cent, compared with the S$55.2 million it needed in FY 2010.

This amount is usually donated by individuals and corporate partners, but donations have not grown in pace with the rise in social needs.

To increase awareness of how donations can help them, the organisation is holding public events yesterday and today.

Acting Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin joined one such event yesterday morning, a friendly basketball-on-wheelchair challenge.

The Give-A-Hand! road show featured a variety of talents that people with disabilities have in areas such as arts and sports as well as assistive technology they use to improve their quality of life.

The Tote Board has also stepped in to offer help. Its donations to the voluntary welfare organisations tripled in FY2014 to S$50.9 million. CHANNEL NEWSASIA