ChariTrees 2024 raises a record S$1.2 million for four beneficiary groups
Funds will support The Business Times Budding Artists Fund, SPD, Samaritans of Singapore and Kidney Dialysis Foundation
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A TOTAL of 78 decorated Christmas trees were lit up along the Marina Bay Waterfront Promenade on Tuesday (Nov 19) for ChariTrees, which returned this year for its biggest display to date.
Complementing the display were miniature garden landscapes, a big signature tree, music by the Singapore Police Force Quintet and performances by beneficiaries of The Business Times Budding Artists Fund (BT BAF). Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung was the guest of honour.
The 14th edition of ChariTrees this year raised nearly S$1.2 million for four beneficiary groups – a new record high since its inception in 2011, when it had 25 trees and raised about S$100,000.
Three of the beneficiary groups are the same as last year: BT BAF, SPD and Samaritans of Singapore. The Kidney Dialysis Foundation is ChariTree’s new beneficiary this year.
The funds raised will go towards supporting underserved children and youth through the arts with BT BAF, uplifting persons with disabilities with SPD, enhancing suicide prevention efforts through Samaritans of Singapore, and providing essential support to end-stage kidney patients via the Kidney Dialysis Foundation.
Tan Puay Kern, chairman of the ChariTrees 2024 organising committee, said this year’s Blossom of Hope theme “gives hope to (our) beneficiaries”. He added that he wants to “build on the legacy of ChariTrees”.
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ChariTrees is an annual event that is managed and curated by Global Cultural Alliance, a wholly owned subsidiary of not-for-profit arts and culture charity TRCL.
TRCL manages BT BAF, which gives financially disadvantaged children and youth opportunities in the arts.
SPD is a charity that enables persons with disabilities to live independently, and provides therapy, early intervention, employment, education and social support.
Samaritans of Singapore is a non-profit suicide prevention centre, working on prevention, intervention and post-vention (intervention conducted after a suicide for loved ones) efforts.
The Kidney Dialysis Foundation is a charity that supports end-stage kidney patients from the lowest 10 per cent income group in Singapore, with a monthly per-capita income of S$1,200 or less. It subsidises dialysis treatments at S$2,500 monthly for its beneficiaries.
Last year, ChariTrees raised more than S$705,000. The year before, it raised nearly S$600,000.
Donations for the beneficiary groups remain open to the public via giving.sg.
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