A penny for your cause

Singapore

AMID the hubbub of Christmas sprees and ringing tills, CapitaLand found a way to channel shoppers' pennies where it matters, by hosting sales of a different kind.

Last week, it held the CapitaLand Giving Marketplace at Raffles City Singapore, where social enterprises and charities were offered real estate for free to raise funds by selling their products and promote their causes. This year's edition featured social enterprises such as Hush Tea Bar, which advocates inclusion for the deaf, and charities like Very Special Arts Singapore, which provides opportunities for people with disabilities to be involved in the arts.

"It was encouraging to see customers support and purchase our handmade bakes and give positive reviews about our work", said Lim Yen Yen, assistant manager of Metta Café, under Metta Welfare Association

"More importantly, CapitaLand Giving Marketplace provides our apprentices with special needs, the rigours of real-time training and the opportunity to build their confidence when they interact with the customers."

CapitaLand's philanthropic arm, CapitaLand Hope Foundation (CHF), also pledged S$6 for every item purchased at the event to the participating charities, up to a total commitment of S$20,000.

Tan Seng Chai, CapitaLand group chief people officer and CHF executive director, said: "Through CapitaLand Giving Marketplace, we are leveraging CapitaLand's strong network and real estate space for charities and social enterprises to promote their cause as well as bring the community together to do good."

He added that previously, CapitaLand had two runs of the marketplace at Capital Tower, which attracted over 500 visitors and saw a total of over S$14,000 donated to the charities and social enterprises.

The year-end - usually a quieter time for businesses - is shaping up to be an active one for CapitaLand when it comes to causes. In November, CHF was presenting sponsor for the Sunburst: The Business Times-CapitaLand Fundraising Concert, raising S$250,000 for the muscular dystrophy community and financially disadvantaged students. CHF also organised the My Schoolbag initiative, gifting underprivileged children schoolbags filled with school and daily items.