PM Lee urges more Singaporeans to donate
By S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 07 July 2008 2110 hrs

SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has called for more Singaporeans to donate according to their means and from their heart.

Mr Lee was speaking at the opening of the new premises of the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre, called The Giving Place.

Last year, charitable donations to non-profit organisations (Institutions of Public Character) increased by more than 50 per cent to S$280 million.

Every society has to take care of its people, especially the vulnerable groups, said Mr Lee.

He added that this has to be done either by the state or through private initiatives by getting the more successful Singaporeans to help the weaker ones.

"The more they have gained from society, the greater their obligation to give back something to their fellow citizens. They must not allow society to be split between the haves and have-nots, and undermine the whole basis for able people to succeed and create wealth in Singapore," said Mr Lee.

He noted that Singapore has yet to build a strong philanthropic tradition.

However, many Singaporeans are donating generously to good causes, and this started with our forefathers who came to Singapore in search of a world of new opportunities.

So, successful Singaporeans should be encouraged to donate a portion of their wealth to endow charitable foundations.

For this purpose, the Community Foundation of Singapore has been set up to offer advice to high net worth individuals wishing to support worthy causes.

To date, nearly S$13 million has been raised. Among its contributors is William Bird, a British citizen who is now a Singapore Permanent Resident.

Mr Bird said: "The Community Foundation of Singapore - one of the objectives is to help and advise people like myself who haven't quite decided where they should place or donate their charitable funds.

"I will be spending time talking to other people in the community foundation and making my decision in the next few months which charities I feel deserving."

The centre has been helping to foster the spirit of giving in Singapore.

This spirit is evident in the many contractor-related and legal services provided free of charge by companies for the completion of the centre's new premises at Clarke Quay. - CNA/ir