CHILDREN’S Day came early for 700 underprivileged kids on Thursday (Oct 5). They got to enjoy Pokemon cable car rides from Mount Faber to Sentosa, where they were treated to musical performances, carnival games and a visit to the very popular Van Gogh Immersive Experience exhibition.

The event, called Children For Children (CFC), is an annual fundraiser co-organised by CHIJ (Kellock) Primary School, not-for-profit arts organisation The Rice Company Limited (TRCL) and The Business Times.

This year’s CFC was graced by Josephine Teo, Minister for Communications and Information and Second Minister for Home Affairs. She proved to be a hit among the children, who unabashedly flocked around her for hugs and photos. The minister also took part in the carnival games, vying with the kids to see who was the better marksman. Not a few kids mistakenly called her “Cher! Cher!” – thinking she was a very important teacher.

The event raised S$201,500 from donors including Hustle & Bustle, Hong Leong Group Singapore (comprising Hong Leong Foundation, Hong Leong Finance, Hong Leong Asia, City Developments Ltd and Millennium & Copthorne International), Certis Group, individuals CT Quek and Arthur Lim, CWT, NTUC FairPrice Foundation, UBS, Oilfield Services & Supplies, and Slap Dance Studio.

The funds raised will go towards The Business Times Budding Artists Fund, which provides free arts courses for underprivileged children.

Mount Faber Leisure Group sponsored the Pokemon cable car rides, while Sentosa Development Corporation sponsored the beach-facing Sapphire Pavilion for the games and performances. Students of CHIJ (Kellock) entertained the 700 kids with various musical numbers, including dance, choral, strings and percussion acts.

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But the one treat that had the kids ooh-ing and aah-ing was the Van Gogh Immersive Experience, a digital art show centred on the famous works of Vincent van Gogh, now in its last days at Resorts World Sentosa.

Ying Hern Pow, chief creative officer of Hustle & Bustle, said: “As an activation and engagement company, we believe that creativity is a skill that needs to be nurtured at a young age. And what better way to help underserved children than to treat them to our show, the Van Gogh exhibition, which combines the masterworks of the Dutch artist with the latest immersive technology? Watching the kids be engrossed and inspired by one man’s pursuit of perfection really made us smile.”

The Van Gogh Immersive Experience runs till Oct 15 at Resorts World Sentosa