Singapore
OVER 1,000 partners and professionals of EY member firm in Singapore and their families and clients walked over 5,480 km cumulatively to raise over 54,800 bowls of rice to benefit low-income families last Friday, in support of the FairPrice Walk for Rice @ South East programme by South East CDC and NTUC Fairprice Co-operative Limited.
This is the seventh consecutive year that EY is participating in this programme.
The walk, which is organised in conjunction with International Accountants Day, began at One Marina Boulevard, continued to the Marina Bay and Gardens by the Bay precinct.
For every 200m walked, NTUC Fairprice will donate one bowl of brown rice and one bowl of white rice to needy residents in the South East District. Doing good extends beyond the finish line. Volunteers from EY will also personally deliver the donated rice to the door steps of beneficiaries in November.
Max Loh, EY Asean and Singapore Managing Partner at Ernst & Young LLP says: "Corporates have an important role to play in supporting our community. Participating in Walk for Rice over the past six years has allowed our people to join efforts in corporate giving, bond as a team, and contribute to a better working world for the less privileged. We know that when we galvanise the strength of our people and clients, we can make an amplified impact to bring about positive change."
For the walk this year, bottled water for event participants were procured from MINDS Water, a social enterprise project by the Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore. This is the third year that EY is supporting the project.
Joining EY in Walk for Rice this year are close to 30 Team Nila volunteers from SportSG, as well as EY clients including National Council of Social Service, SAC Capital, DFS, M+S Pte Ltd, BBR Holdings and EC World Asset Management Pte Ltd.
Tan Ai Tsing, Team Nila Volunteer and mother of three, says: "This is our first time signing up for Walk for Rice. It caught our attention because of the non-conventional way of helping the less-privileged families. It is very meaningful to be able to give back to the society by donating bowls of white and brown rice 'earned' from walking.
"Through this event, my daughters can interact with like-minded volunteers and share their volunteering journey. They will realise that no matter how big or small their contribution is, their actions can make a difference to the society.
"More importantly, they will continue to appreciate things in life and always remember to help the less fortunate in any way possible."