SINGAPORE, 23 August 2004 – Media group Singapore Press Holdings brought National Day cheer today to 20 charities caring for needy old folks when it donated $200,000 to them.

SPH CEO Alan Chan presented donation cheque of $10,000 to each representative of the 20 charities at a National Day Observance Ceremony attended by Education Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam and over 170 members from seven trade unions at SPH News Centre in Toa Payoh North.

Said Mr Chan: “Today's donation is part of SPH's on-going efforts towards helping the less fortunate in our society. The 20 welfare and charity organisations have given much comfort and assistance to the elderly and aged-sick, through the services they provide. Our donation is to lend them an extra helping hand.

"It is also our our way of thanking the community for its support and connecting with them. As an industry leader and corporate citizen, SPH believes that giving helps strengthen our sense of belonging to the community and in building a more cohesive society, on which healthy business thrives. We view this as an active partnership with the community."

The 20 charities were selected following close consultations with the National Council of Social Service. They provide broad-based services for needy old folks, ranging from meal delivery, help around the home, counselling to medical, nursing and residential care.

Some of these services enable the elderly to stay within the community, instead of being in institutions, as well as provide support to help caregivers cope with aged family members suffering from dementia and terminal illnesses, and bring respite to them.

With one in five Singaporeans over 65 years old in 20 years time, the National Council of Social Service, which coordinates the efforts of volunteer welfare organisations, supports services that promote the integration of older people into society.

Said Mr Gerard Ee, President of the NCSS: “An ageing population means the demands for eldercare services and support will grow in coming years. NCSS is grateful to Singapore Press Holdings for its donation, which will suppport us in developing community-based programmes that helps to dignify the lives of the elderly.”

Representatives of the 20 charities thanked SPH for the donation.

Said Mr Loh Heng Wan, a 78-year-old resident at AWWA Community Home for Senior Citizens: "On behalf of AWWA Community Home Management, staff and residents, I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation to Singapore Press Holdings for its donation, which will help make life a little more comfortable for the needy elderly."

Added Mr Lawrence Ang, Chairman and CEO of Ju Eng Home for Senior Citizens, said: "We would like to say a special thank you to SPH for its generous donation to serve and care for the elderly in Ju Eng Home."

The 20 charities are:

1) Dorcas Home Care Service
2) Sunlove Home Help Service
3) St Luke’s Elder Care
4) Hua Mei Care Management Service
5) Moral Home Help Service (East)
6) Yong En Dementia Day Care
7) Metta Hospice Care
8) SILRA Home
9) SAGE Counselling Centre
10) Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme
11) SWAMI Dementia Day Care
12) New Horizon Centre (Toa Payoh)
13) Lions Befrienders
14) AWWA Community Home for Senior Citizens
15) Bright Hill Evergreen Home
16) Ju Eng Home for Senior Citizens
17) Care for the Elderly Foundation
18) Jamiyah Home for the Aged
19) Thong Teck Home for Senior Citizens
20) St John's Home for Elderly Persons

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Description of Elderly Programmes Benefiting From Singapore Press Holdings' Corporate Donations Please click here.

Issued by Singapore Press Holdings

For more information, please contact:

Irene Ngoo
Assistant Vice President
Corporate Relations
DID: 6319 1216
Email: ingoo@sph.com.sg

About SPH
Main board listed Singapore Press Holdings Limited is the leading news and information provider, offering quality content for print, Internet, TV and radio. It publishes 14 newspapers in the four official languages and seven lifestyle periodicals. Everyday, 2.78 million individuals, or 90 per cent of people above 15 years old, read one of the SPH publications while the online editions of its six main dailies enjoy some 120 million pageviews a month. SPH has ventured into the broadcast medium and operates two popular free-to-air TV channels, Channel U in Chinese and Channel i in English. It also operates two entertainment radio channels, UFM 100.3 FM in Chinese and WKRZ 91.3 FM in English, under a joint venture company UnionWorks with NTUC Media. For more information about SPH, please log on to www.sph.com.sg