Volunteerism Receives A Boost at the 16th YMCA Charity Golf 2015

More than $260,000 was raised for the YMCA-Lim Kim San Volunteers programme through the 16^th YMCA Charity Golf to boost the Programme’s ability of developing and recognising volunteers as well as promote corporate volunteerism. The annual golf event was held at Tanah Merah Country Club (Garden Course) from 16-17 April 2015. YMCA had the privilege of being the first organisation to organise a golf tournament at the newly reconfigured golf course.

Mr Lim Swee Say, Minister, Prime Minister’s Office, graced the event as the Guest-of-Honour which saw over 100 individual golfers tee off on the first day and 24 corporate flights competing for the Lim Kim San Corporate Challenge trophy on the second day.

As part of the festivities, all golfers received a luggage tag with a personalised print of their individual photograph captured during tee-off.

The top prizes for the event included 3 Hole-in-One prizes featuring a Suncat SC Series solar-powered yacht worth $200,000 sponsored by Horizon Yachts Pte Ltd; a Mercedes-Benz C 180 AVANTGARDE (includes one year road tax and registration fee; excludes COE) sponsored by Daimler South East Asia Pte Ltd; and a Breitling Transocean in 18k Red Gold worth over $24,000 sponsored by Melchers Time Pte Ltd.

The individual winners for the first day were: Wong Lock Kay (1^st), Richard Yong (2^nd), Tan Ching Khoon (3^rd) and Koh Sock Hwee (Ladies’ Champion). Mitsubishi Electric Asia, represented by Jonathan Yeo, Koh Teck Chuan, Raymond Chua Lee Meng, and Chng Chee Beow won the corporate challenge trophy, while Knight Frank Pte Ltd finished first runner-up on the second day.

In 2014, YMCA volunteers contributed more than 144,000 hours of local and overseas community service to bring cheer to some 11,000 beneficiaries who include the intellectually and physically challenged, underprivileged and abused children, the hearing impaired, the elderly and the poor. Locally, more than 5,000 volunteers participated in over 500 activities which touched lives and lifted spirits of more than 4,000 beneficiaries across 16 structured and sustained YMCA-Tan Chin Tuan Community Service Programmes. Across the border, over 1,200 volunteers participated in YMCA International Service Programmes and made more than 50 trips to Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam to teach basic English and computer skills, conduct health education, improve infrastructure, sustainability and capacity building in rural villages, with the aim of empowering these communities.

Mr Lo Chee Wen, General Secretary of YMCA, said “The YMCA-Lim Kim San Volunteers Programme has enabled us to build a large, well-trained and sustainable community of volunteers in the service of the less privileged. It has also allowed us to nurture community champions to impact both local and international communities.”

At the post-tournament dinner, Mr Ee Kuo Ren, who has chaired the organising committee for the third year running, exhorted the corporations to do more for the community. “By pooling your resources together - your manpower and financial resources, with YMCA’s expertise in developing and managing community service programmes, you have the power to make a tremendous impact in the lives of the less privileged in the community”, said Mr Ee.

NTUC FairPrice Foundation was the main sponsor for the event.

YMCA of Singapore thanks all individuals and organisations for their contributions towards the success of this fundraising event.

For more photos of the event, kindly visit: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10155600847155657.1073741877.238414825656&type=1&l=f290134f24