President's Challenge
{{short description|Charity campaign in Singapore}}
{{for|the program in the United States|The President's Challenge}}
President's Challenge is an annual campaign in Singapore supported by the kindness and generosity of people from all walks of life, regardless of culture, religion or family background, to help those less fortunate — specifically for the beneficiaries that are annually selected by the President's Office. It was established by President S. R. Nathan in 2000 and continued by his successors President Tony Tan, Halimah Yacob and incumbent President Tharman Shanmugaratnam.
Many partners of the President's Challenge come from schools, private organisations, ministries and government bodies. The Challenge has raised over $170 million and rallied over 87,000 volunteers since its establishment in 2000.
Overview
Before the establishment of President's Challenge, there were several charity projects under the President S. R. Nathan's name. In 2000, President S R Nathan initiated the consolidation of all these events under a single umbrella of President's Challenge so that it will be a single platform for different sectors e.g. corporations, schools and individuals to engage with charity. President's Challenge was founded on President S. R. Nathan's vision of Singapore being a compassionate nation whereby Singaporeans will be conscious of the less fortunate around them and graciously help them through volunteering and any other way possible.[http://www.istana.gov.sg/News/Speech+by+President+S+R+Nathan+at+the+Launch+of+President+Challenge+2009.htm Speech by President S R Nathan at the Launch of President's Challenge 2009]{{Dead link|date=May 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, Government of Singapore, 2010.
A similar charity event, the President’s Challenge Night (known as President's Star Charity till 2023) was initiated by President Ong Teng Cheong.{{cite web |url=http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/data/pdfdoc/gct19990830j.pdf |title=Archived copy |website=www.nas.gov.sg |access-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160321190712/http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/data/pdfdoc/gct19990830j.pdf |archive-date=21 March 2016 |url-status=dead}}
Beneficiaries
Any voluntary welfare organisation in Singapore with an approved Institution of a Public Character (IPC) can apply to be a President's Challenge beneficiary each year.[http://www.pc.org.sg/Portals/0/doc/form/PC2011%20Beneficiary%20Nomination%20Form.pdf] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322094042/http://www.pc.org.sg/Portals/0/doc/form/PC2011%20Beneficiary%20Nomination%20Form.pdf|date=2012-03-22}}, President's Challenge, 2011. Upon submission, the President's Office selects a number of beneficiaries for the disbursement of funds raised during President's Challenge for that year. The amounts disbursed to each beneficiary is varied[http://www.pc.org.sg/AboutthePresidentsChallenge/DisbursementofFunds.aspx Disbursement of Funds] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322094354/https://www.pc.org.sg/AboutthePresidentsChallenge/DisbursementofFunds.aspx |date=2012-03-22 }}, President's Challenge, 2011. and at the President's discretion.
Partners
= Corporate partners =
== Microsoft Singapore ==
2010 marked the tenth year of Microsoft Singapore's support of President's Challenge in general fundraising and its fourth year in organising a major fundraising event.[http://microsoftsgnews.com/?p=97 Microsoft raised over $290,000 for The President’s Challenge at record-setting Kite-Flying event] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130129085301/http://microsoftsgnews.com/?p=97 |date=2013-01-29 }}, Microsoft, 2010.
== The Singapore Totalisator Board and Singapore Pools (Private) Limited ==
The Singapore Totalisator Board and Singapore Pools (Private) Limited has supported President's Challenge since 2000 by absorbing the administrative costs of President's Challenge so that all funds raised from donors go directly towards the beneficiaries.[http://www.singaporepools.com.sg/en/corporate/givingback_ishine_gives.html i-Shine Gives], SINGAPORE POOLS (PRIVATE) LIMITED, 2010. The Singapore Totalisator Board and Singapore Pools (Private) Limited have also organised fundraising activities and has raised about $790,000 for President's Challenge since 2007.[http://www.singaporepools.com.sg/en/corporate/givingback_worthycauses.html Supporting Worthy Causes], SINGAPORE POOLS (PRIVATE) LIMITED, 2010.
== Mediacorp ==
Mediacorp has supported the President's Challenge since 2000 by organising the annual President's Star Charity, a fundraising concert featuring local and international artistes, performing alongside beneficiaries. In 2021, over $10 million in donations was raised at the end of the show.{{Cite web |last=Auto |first=Hermes |date=2021-10-11 |title=Over $10 million raised through President's Star Charity 2021 show {{!}} The Straits Times |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/over-10-million-raised-through-presidents-star-charity-2021-show |access-date=2022-09-23 |website=www.straitstimes.com |language=en}}
= Educational institutions =
== Temasek Secondary School ==
Temasek Secondary School has been a supporter of President's Challenge since 2005. They have been creatively organising record breaking events every year.
== Nanyang Family of Schools ==
Nanyang Family of Schools has been supporting President's Challenge since 2009.
References
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20110716141117/http://www.pc.org.sg/ Official website of President's Challenge]
- [http://www.facebook.com/PresidentsChallenge Official Facebook Page of President's Challenge]
- [http://www.straitstimes.com/Free/Story/STIStory_229136.html President Nathan sets $8 million Challenge for 2008]
- [http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_545188.html President's Challenge Charity Golf 2010 raised over $800k]