UOB raises S$2.4 million for charity in annual CNY celebrations
Ammiel Jr Wan
UNITED Overseas Bank (UOB) ushered in the Year of the Rabbit by raising S$2.4 million for charity, as part of its commercial banking’s annual Chinese New Year celebrations.
Raised through art workshops and a gala dinner with 1,500 clients, the funds will go towards charitable causes as well as supporting enterprises to innovate.
Donations will be made to charities which support the arts, children and educational causes. These include The Business Times Budding Artists Fund, The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund, as well as My Digital Bootcamp by UOB and Central Singapore Community Development Council.
In addition, funds will go towards supporting innovation efforts by small and medium-sized enterprises under the UOB-Singapore Management University Asian Enterprise Institute.
UOB deputy chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) Wee Ee Cheong said: “We hope this annual tradition that combines art, philanthropy and celebrations will spread festive joy to the broader community in a meaningful way.”
One highlight of the gala dinner on Thursday (Jan 26) was the auction of two festive-themed art pieces, on which Wee placed the finishing touches as well as his personal seal.
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The first piece, Everlasting Fortune, included preserved moss and pine leaves in a landscape, symbolising longevity, good fortune and well-being.
It went for an auspicious S$283,888 to LHN Group executive chairman and group managing director Kelvin Lim.
Said Lim: “We appreciate UOB’s commitment to making this an annual tradition during the festive season as we give back to the community and do our part, while reconnecting with our business peers.”
The second, a commissioned work by artist Karina Delicia Simon titled Harmonious Fortune, featured a bonsai tree with a stroke of gold, with its various elements representing harmony, growth, and wealth. (*see amendment note)
Neo Group founder, chairman and CEO Neo Kah Kiat won the bid at S$200,000.
UOB’s annual fundraiser is “a time of reunion for all of us”, he said, bringing businesses together “to lend our support to those who need our help”.
In the spirit of the technological times, non-fungible tokens of the pieces were also given to the respective bidders.
*Amendment note: A previous version of the story incorrectly stated the artist’s name was Karina Delice Simon. It is Karina Delicia Simon.
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