MINDEF & SAF RAISE OVER $3M FOR COMCHEST

A desire to serve and help those who need it. This was what inspired the Republic of Singapore Navy's (RSN's) Naval Diving Unit (NDU) to raise more than $10,000 for the Community Chest (ComChest) over the last year.

"NDU is a small unit that operates in teams, and in team culture, we support and help one another so it's a natural extension towards contributing to the Community Chest," said Commander NDU Colonel (COL) Foong Kok Pun.

The unit is no stranger to charity events, and actively participates in annual events Swim for Hope and Walk the Extra Mile With Me @ Orchard.

Added COL Foong: "We want our servicemen and women to know that, being in an elite force, we have a heavy responsibility to the community too."

For their efforts, the NDU was presented the 10-year Outstanding SHARE and SHARE Platinum awards at the ComChest Awards ceremony held on 13 Oct at the Istana. The unit was also the top winners among RSN recipients.

This year, a total of 406 awards were given out to top donors who contributed close to $35 million in 2016.

At the award ceremony, ComChest Chairman Phillip Tan expressed his gratitude to the award recipients: "Thank you for contributing your time, talent and treasures to build a more caring and inclusive society in the past year. Your contributions have enabled some 80 social service organisations supported by the Community Chest to provide a wide range of critical programmes to better serve the disadvantaged in our community."

A hundred and forty-two Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) units and departments were presented with the annual SHARE Award in recognition of their contributions through the SHARE programme. They raised more than $3 million for the ComChest over the past year.

SHARE is a monthly donation programme which provides a dedicated source of funds for the ComChest's beneficiaries. The SHARE awards - Platinum, Gold, Silver, or Bronze - recognise organisations whose employees make monthly donations through the SHARE programme. The various awards are given depending on the organisation's participation rate and contribution.

The Outstanding SHARE Award is given to organisations that have maintained their employees' participation rate at a high level for consecutive years.

To be eligible for the Gold SHARE Awards, military units must make a minimum annual contribution of $1,000, and attain a participation rate of between 40 to 94 percent depending on their staff strength.

For the Platinum SHARE Award, it requires a minimum annual contribution of $1,000, and a participation rate of between 70 to 100 percent.

At this year's award ceremony, the Army also received the Special Events Gold Award for raising a significant amount of donations for the ComChest through its Army Charity Drive. The Army has been organising this charity drive for more than 20 years.

"We believe in giving back to society and to the underprivileged. The charity drive raises funds for ComChest and a few other beneficiaries like the SAF Benevolent Fund. This award is a recognition to all servicemen who have given generously over the last two decades", said COL Tan Tiong Keat, Assistant Chief of the General Staff (Personnel).

He received the 20-Year Outstanding SHARE and SHARE Gold award on behalf of the Army's winning unit, 1st Commando Battalion (1 CDO).

As for the Republic of Singapore Air Force's top performer - SHARE Gold recipient Headquarters Paya Lebar Air Base - it's about looking beyond their daily lives and work to care for those in need.

"We have a programme for developing people at a personal and professional level. It drives the unit to place emphasis on what we can do outside of our operations to help others," said COL Lim Kok Siong (Head Air Manpower).

"This is very important because we don't just want to train soldiers; we want them to have a heart. I'm really happy to receive (this award) on behalf of the unit, they have done very well."