Keppel Corp answers President's Challenge with $1.5 million donation

5,000 community service hours also committed.

President Tony Tan Keng Yam, on behalf of President's Challenge 2013 beneficiaries, received a cheque of $1.5 million from Keppel Care Foundation during a recent ceremony at the Keppel Offshore & Marine (Keppel O&M) yard. Keppel Corporation has also pledged 5,000 hours to community service in Singapore, and, through its human resource talents, will share experience and assist social enterprises nominated for the President's Challenge Social Enterprise Award.

The President's Challenge is an annual fundraising and volunteerism campaign in Singapore which encourages individuals, schools and organisations to participate and contribute in a range of social programmes and volunteer activities.

On Keppel's contributions, President Tan said, "Keppel Corporation is a home-grown company that has established itself as a global leader. I am heartened that it has chosen to celebrate its 45th anniversary by giving back to society."

"Since its launch, the President's Challenge campaign has benefitted from strong support from many sectors of our society. I hope that the President's Challenge will continue to grow as a movement that encourages all Singaporeans to give back to the community."

Mr Choo Chiau Beng, Chairman of Keppel Offshore & Marine and CEO of Keppel Corporation, said, "As President's Challenge has gone beyond the giving of money to the giving of time and the imparting of skills to the disadvantaged, Keppel is likewise doing the same for worthy causes.

"At Keppel, employees are encouraged to care for the well-being of others, especially the less fortunate in society. Furthering our commitment to volunteerism, we will pledge 5,000 hours to community service in Singapore this year. Beyond our shores, our people in operations around the world will also be stepping up their community outreach activities, and we will share their stories in due course."

On supporting social enterprises, President Tan said, "This year, we will go beyond just recognising the social enterprises and the people behind them. We will create opportunities for the award winners to draw from the expertise and experience of industry leaders through mentorship and business advisory programmes, to provide support for the social enterprises to continue to grow and remain successful in their mission."

On Keppel's support to social enterprises, Mr Choo said, "We recognise that more concerted efforts should be made to help Singapore's nascent social enterprise sector develop its capabilities, build robust networks, and better achieve its social missions.

"In this regard, we have a team of high-potential employees in the Group, called Keppel Young Leaders, who have embarked on a project to review and refine the business models of social enterprises, beginning with those under our adopted charity, the Association for Persons with Special Needs. We are happy that our young leaders are provided with the platform to share their experience with the nominees of this year's President's Challenge Social Enterprise Award."

President's Challenge 2012 raised over $12 million in donations and introduced two initiatives - the President's Challenge Volunteer Drive and the President's Challenge Social Enterprise Award. Last year, nearly 6,500 people took part in over 300 volunteer activities organised by 120 non-profit organisations during the President's Challenge Volunteer Drive. The President's Challenge Social Enterprise Award received 37 applications last year, with four outstanding social enterprises eventually winning the award.

The public can also visit the President's Challenge official website at www.pc.org.sg for more information on the President's Challenge 2013.