Singapore’s Community Chest is the fund-raising division of National Council of Social Service (NCSS). They raise funds to support charities so that they can do what they are best at - caring for and serving the less advantaged. Community Chest helps about 300,000 people in 158 programmes run by 70 charities. These programmes will help provide critical and essential services to:
- Nurturing children and youths at risk to succeed
- Helping people with disabilities lead independent lives
- Dignifying the lives of the elderly, and
- Keeping families together
As part of Marina Bay Sands’ Corporate Social Responsibility Program, Marina Bay Sands works closely with ComChest to identify needy beneficiaries in Singapore. In 2011, Marina Bay Sands was recognized with the ComChest Corporate Gold Award for our ongoing efforts in helping the needy in Singapore. Marina Bay Sands is proud to have supported ComChest in the following events:
- Heartstrings Walk 2011
- ChariTrees
- TrueHeart
- Rain Oculus
ComChest Heartstrings Walk 2011 @ Marina Bay 22 May 2011
On 22 May 2011, The Heartstrings Walk 2011, jointly organized by Community chest and Marina Bay Sands proved to be a major success with more than $1.2 million raised. The charity event kicked off with the first ever vertical marathon to the Sands SkyPark, followed b a 4.2km charity fun walk around Marina Bay.
From L-R: Mr Chan Heng Kee, Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports, Mr George Tanasijevich, President and Chief Executive Officer of Marina Bay Sands, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, MG (NS) Chan Chun Sing, Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, Ms Jennie Chua, Chairman of Community Chest, Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon, Ms Ong Toon Hui Deputy Secretary for Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports, RADM (RET) Kwek Siew Jin, President of National Council of Social Service.
Participants of the Vertical Marathon up the SkyPark at Marina Bay Sands, where participants climbed up 57 floors to the Observation Deck.
Guest-of-Honor, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong together with other dignitaries participating the Great Singapore Workout.
-300.jpg "walk around museum)-300")
Participants of the ComChest Heartstrings Walk enjoyed a morning walk around the Marina Bayarea and took in the sights and sounds of the carnival atmosphere.
Christmas ChariTrees @ Marina Bay (19 November to 29 December 2011)
Set against the signature Singapore skyline, 20 Norfolk Pine trees were placed along the Waterfront Promenade for the first time, transforming the Marina Bay area during the Christmas holiday season. The trees were displayed from 19 November 2011 to 29 Dec 2011. Marina Bay Sands adopted one of these 10-feet trees, aptly called “ChariTrees”, with all proceeds donated to the beneficiaries under the care of Community Chest.
ComChest TrueHearts 2011 (27 November 2011)
“ComChest Truehearts 2011”, held on 27 November 2011 is the eighth charity show that Community Chest held to galvanize Singaporeans to help the disadvantaged in society. The beautiful city skyline served as a stunning backdrop for the performance at the Event Plaza at Marina Bay Sands. As part of the night’s performance, the stars of Broadway hit Wicked, Jemma Rix and Suzie Mathers, performed the hit song “For Good”. This duo’s performance marks the first public performance of the hit musical. The show raised a total of S$3.6 million for beneficiaries under the care of Community Chest.
Rain Oculus
Located at the Waterfront Promenade at the Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, Rain Oculus – a site specific art installation by Ned Kahn - has doubled up as a wishing well for many visitors. From April 2010 to March 2011, over S$40,817 in coins was collected from the Rain Oculus and subsequently donated to the Community Chest.