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ST School Pocket Money Fund among beneficiaries of over $2.6m raised by UOB fund-raiser

The funds were raised through a series of art workshops on Jan 23 and a fund-raising gala dinner on Feb 6. PHOTO: UOB

SINGAPORE – UOB and its business clients raised more than $2.6 million for charity as part of the bank's annual Chinese New Year festive celebrations.

The funds were raised through a series of art workshops on Jan 23 and a fund-raising gala dinner on Feb 6.

The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund (STSPMF) will be among the beneficiaries, which also include The Business Times Budding Artists Fund, the Central Singapore Community Development Council, Lakeside Family Services and Ren Ci Hospital.

The proceeds will also go towards helping Singapore enterprises in their innovation efforts under the UOB-SMU Asian Enterprise Institute, the bank said on Feb 7.

"STSPMF is very grateful for the longstanding contribution from UOB, in supporting our cause of uplifting children from less privileged backgrounds through education," a spokeswoman for the fund said.

While the amount STSPMF will receive has not been confirmed as UOB has just completed its fund-raising effort, the charity said that it has received $500,000 yearly from UOB since 2016, typically towards the end of the year.

STSPMF provides financial help to children from low-income families, to help pay for their school meals and transport fares.

Since its inception in 2000, the charity has given more than $100 million to over 220,000 children and young people.

During UOB's gala on Feb 6, two art pieces, Eternal Spring and Everlasting Blooms, were auctioned for $250,888 and $238,000, respectively.

Eternal Spring, depicting the Chinese character "", meaning forever or perpetual, as a bonsai plant using coloured pencils on paper, is a commissioned artwork by 2022 UOB Painting of the Year award winner Karina D. Simon.

The winning bid for this piece came from Mr Low Kok Ann, chief executive of building material supplier Hafary Holdings.

Meanwhile, Everlasting Blooms is a 3D paper sculpture and carving by paper artist Ceres Lau.

It went to Mr Neo Kah Kiat, founder, chairman and CEO of catering and food manufacturer Neo Group.

Two other UOB clients -- Mr Ching Chiat Kwong, chairman of real estate management company Jadeite Properties, and Mr Kelvin Lim, executive chairman, executive director and group managing director of real estate management services group LHN Group -- both donated $250,000 to the fund-raising effort.

Mr Wee Ee Cheong, deputy chairman and CEO of UOB, said: "Through the generosity of our clients, we continue to drive meaningful change by supporting children, education and the arts.

"Together, we are fostering a more inclusive and culturally vibrant society."

The Straits Times © SPH Media. Reproduced with permission.