SingLand steps up volunteer hours and dollars for charitable causes

NEARLY 80 employees of Singapore Land Group (SingLand) – about a third of the real-estate company’s workforce – came together recently to spruce up the homes of disadvantaged seniors living in rental flats in Bendemeer.

They volunteered their time and effort under the Silver Homes programme run by the Central Singapore Community Development Council, as one among many ways the company is marking its 60th anniversary this year.

All in, more than 20 homes were cleaned. “Having a safe, healthy and clean environment is important for our seniors, so they can age independently in their silver years,” said SingLand chief executive Jonathan Eu.

He added that the group was looking to further its legacy through impactful social initiatives this year, but that it could not do so without the support of its workforce. This year, the group recorded a 64 per cent jump in the number of volunteer hours clocked, compared to last year, and Eu said that he was “heartened to see many of (the employees) stepping up to volunteer despite their busy schedules”.

He noted that such activities were fruitful not just for the beneficiaries, but also for the company’s employees, who stood to experience personal growth and fulfilment, and enrich both their professional and personal lives.

Putting in dollars and covering more bases

The activity was part of SingLand Elevates, the group’s wider social sustainability initiative. Launched in 2022, it supports causes such as helping vulnerable children, low-income families and migrant workers through partnerships with charities, social service agencies and social enterprises. This year, SingLand expanded the initiative to encompass additional areas, including the support of vulnerable senior citizens.

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Besides man hours, SingLand has also been putting more dollars into its selected causes; its monetary contributions went up 72 per cent this year over last year’s.

In May, it donated S$2.5 million to the Lee Kuan Yew Centennial Fund, which provides support and financial aid to disadvantaged students in higher learning institutes, the Institute of Technical Education and the polytechnics. Since the launch of SingLand Elevates in 2022, the group has donated around S$3 million to charitable causes.

Eu added that SingLand is further diversifying its range of initiatives to enable its employees to find a cause that best resonates with their passions. “We are also exploring including more skills-based volunteering opportunities, so that our employees can share their skill sets and experiences with interested groups such as underprivileged youth, who may aspire to be building managers and architects in the future.”