Sassy Mama Supports: Community Chest and the Heartstrings Walk

Community Chest is more than a concept in Monopoly, mama! It’s one of Singapore’s most vital charitable fundraisers. Find out more about who they support in Singapore, and how you can get involved…

Through our ongoing ‘Sassy Mama Supports’ series, we try to highlight Singapore charities big and small that we feel are worth your volunteering hours and/or financial support. Today we focus on one of Singapore’s best-established charity fundraisers, Community Chest, and one of their most popular upcoming annual events.  

Community Chest was established in 1983 in coordination with the National Council of Social Services (NCSS) with the mission to raise funds for Singapore’s many charities. Charities supported by Community Chest are then able to focus on what they are best at – providing critical social service programmes to groups in need. Community Chest helps all of the following groups:

• Children with special needs
• Adults with disabilities
• The elderly
• Families in difficulty
• Persons with mental health issues

Community Chest’s costs are covered by Tote Board and Singapore Pools, meaning that 100% of funds raised go directly to charities. Over the past three decades, millions of dollars have been raised.

A $28 donation, for instance, can provide a day of pre-vocational training in a sheltered workshop for a person with special needs. A donation of $58 provides a day of clinical counselling and therapy for an individual and his/her family to help cope with emotional stress. Just $8 provides a day of running preventive and developmental programmes for a youth to maximise learning.

On Sunday, 31 July Community Chest will host The Community Chest Heartstrings Walk, a series of three different activities – including a family carnival, a 4km fun walk around Marina Bay, and a Vertical Marathon – to promote Singapore as an inclusive nation and to celebrate “the abilities of persons with disabilities”. The Fun Walk, in particular, will be a chance for beneficiaries like Ethan (featured in the video above) to celebrate with their families and supporters.

The Vertical Marathon, meanwhile, is a 57-storey sprint up the iconic Marina Bay Sands Tower 3 for teams of 2 or 4. The top three male and female teams will even receive prizes, while every participant will (hopefully!) be rewarded with breathtaking views at the end of the climb.

Fun Walk registration starts at just $10, mama, and once again, 100% of proceeds go toward supporting local charities. We have a feeling kiddos will love the carnival (free entry, by the way!), which will be packed with games, activities and experiential booths designed for people with and without disabilities to enjoy. It’s a great lesson in empathy to help little ones start to understand the challenges faced by other kids and adults in Singapore, and the steps they can take to support them.

If you’d like to make a donation or find out how you can get involved with one of the many local charities Community Chest supports, be sure to visit www.comchest.sg.

The Heartstrings Walk is happening on Sunday, 31 July from 7am to 11:30am at the Marina Bay Sands Event Plaza (Level 1), 10 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore 018956. Click here for all the deets!

Community Chest, Call 1800 210 2600 or visit www.comchest.org.sg