Our Blog

20
Jul

Meet Ashwin - Our first ever triathlete fundraiser!

Ashwin is our first ever triathlete fundraiser! He exceeded his fundraising target within 2 weeks and raised almost $2,000 for World Vision Singapore’s Vision Fund.

I wanted to find out the story behind his fundraising page title “Changing the World – One Child at a Time”and also learn about his efforts to prepare for the Bintan Triathlon. Here’s Ashwin’s interview:

Could you share with us on what motivated you to fundraise for the Vision Fund Cambodia?

I had visited Cambodia in March this year on a project tour. It was to study the impact of funds raised for Vision Fund in Cambodia under a CSR initiative of the organization I work in. I experienced hands-on the extreme living conditions and poverty faced by the rural Cambodians across many villages. And I was deeply touched and inspired by the impact that the microfinance loans were making in improving their conditions.

The tour also made me realize that there were a number of constraints that kept the microfinance loans from reaching their full potential. Two of which were the lack of knowledge amongst villagers about the availability of the loans as well as the lack of incentive to take up the loans. I made up my mind to do something within my own capacities to tackle both these constraints and at the same time inspire other people to open their hearts and minds to contribute to these underprivileged people.

So I decided to raise scholarship funds for the children there. These scholarships would be offered to children of the 'best borrowers' of the microfinance scheme. Overall this would help raise awareness of the scheme amongst villagers eager for a better future for their children and at the same time allow the children to have a good and continuous education.

You participated in the Bintan Triathlon to fundraise. Can you share with us the training you put into that?

Training for a triathlon involves training for 3 different sports - swimming, cycling and running, all at the same time. And there's also the mental conditioning that needs to be done. So it was a very intensive 5-day-a-week training schedule spread over 2 months with a different sport for a change each day. The training would usually comprise of swimming 1.5km in the pool, sprint running over 10km or cycling 40km on any given day.

I also took competitive swimming coaching and cycled 240km to Malaysia and back over a long weekend. I kept the training especially hard because I wanted to finish the triathlon strong.

Overall, the training gave me a breakthrough in time management because I had to juggle it with a 45-hours a week job.

Did your fundraising effort act as a source of motivation during training?

It definitely did! There were moments when motivation levels dropped and days when training got really tough. But once I had raised the first few dollars from my friends, I knew they'd want their every cent's worth! So giving up wasn't an option anymore.

What different methods did you use to let people know about your fundraising page?

Word of mouth, Facebook and emails. Also, the GIVE.sg fund-raising page allowed me to put quite a lot of information and photos. It was very easy to use, update and connect to networking sites like Facebook. It really helped me focus my efforts on the training rather than building the fund-raising page.

After your amazing fundraising success, what would be your next fundraising project?

Mixing sports and social development is my passion, for I believe that sports has inherent ability to be a catalyst for positive change. So my friends and I have started an initiative called Gone Cyclin' - whose intention is to inspire young people (between 15 to 30 years old physically) to make a positive difference to society! Through our first project called 'Spinning Dreams' we're aiming to raise awareness and funds for a NGO in Timor-Leste by participating in Tour de Timor - a gruelling 5-day 450km mountain bike race.

The funds will be used for a sustainability and income generation program for the traditional weavers of Timor-Leste to help preserve their indigenous culture as well as to help develop and heal a young country with scars of a violent past.

You can check out our website http://www.gonecyclin.com/ for more information!

Thanks for talking to us Ashwin – and all the best to your initiative, Gone Cyclin’!

Channel your passion for good. If you want to help your favourite charity, start fundraising now.

12
Jul

The Race for Cause is Nothing Without You

We are keeping this blog post really short. Because if you are reading this, chances are you have heard about the great things people do at GIVE.sg. ;)

Team Causathon had a lot of fun doing a project like no other

The idea for Project Reach Causathon started with a final year project brief that requires 85 Murdoch University’s communications students to champion 14 social causes with zero dollar budget. Sounds tough? We thought so, until some bright spark suggested ‘fundraising 2.0’.

The search for a suitable donation-collection platform thus begun and chancing upon GIVE.sg struck us as 'god-sent' . And there you have it, our story of how it all started. But all this doesn't really matter. It's winning the race for cause that counts now. Because we know what a big difference every single donation can make - in providing a meal, buying medical supplies or easing the pain that someone in need is going through. We guess we don't have to embellish what we are doing with words because the race is nothing without you as our teammate.

Do your part or pass the baton along at www.causathon.give.sg right away!

By Team Causathon

Murdoch University @ SMa Institute of Higher Learning

02
Jul

Yes, We Did It!

Thanks to You (:
We are proud to share that over SGD 100,000 have been raised for local causes using GIVE.sg website since we launched a few months back. We are really impressed by the creative ways you guys have used the website to do good and to have fun at the same time! Here are glimpses of some really cool ideas:

Running For A Labor of Love

Let's keep going!
We would like to acknowledge each and everyone of you for everything you have done for us. Be it encouraging us through your likes, interacting with us, fundraising through our platform or sharing the joy of giving. All of you have been an indispensable part of this movement from the day you joined us! And we hope we can continue to have your support. Here are some of the ways in which you can continue to show your support:

1. Become a Fan
We will keep you updated with our upcoming campaigns.

2. Recommend your favorite local charities
If you are aware of any charity which you would like to see on GIVE.sg, please drop us a line

3. Spread the Word
a. Click "Suggest to Friends" below our "GIVE.sg" logo on http://www.facebook.com/GIVE.sg
b. Click "filter friends"
c. Scroll down to networks
d. Choose "Singapore"
e. Click "Select All"
f. Click "Send Invitations"

4. Support your favorite charity!
It's really simple to start your fundraising page and we are sure you will have a lot of fun supporting your favorite cause! Click on one of our partner charities listed below to get started:
ACRES
Action for AIDS Singapore
Asian Women's Welfare Association (AWWA)
Children-At-Risk Empowerment Association (CARE Singapore)
Compassion Fund Ltd
H.O.M.E.
Habitat for Humanity Singapore
HighPoint Community Services Association
Kampung Senang
Parkinson's Disease Society
Sanctuary House Ltd
Singapore Cancer Society
St Luke's ElderCare Ltd
Student Advisory Centre (SAC)
Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2)
Very Special Arts Singapore Limited
World Toilet Organization
World Vision

Should you have any questions, comments or feedback, please do not hesitate getting in touch with us at info@GIVE.sg

Warm Regards,
Aseem

24
May

Meet Theo - Our first ever Fundraiser of the Week!

Theo has raised an amazing $8000 for St Luke’s ElderCare. Already an avid mountain biker, he will be taking on the hilly roads of Mersing, Johor Bahru this September to fundraise for charity. He’s combining his passion for diecast model cars and biking to aid his fundraising.

His fundraising efforts and also the tremendous success he’s had so far amazed us so much that we decided to highlight his efforts as an excellent example of online fundraising at work. Knowing that many people would love to find out how he was able to get so many donations, we asked Theo to share his different fundraising strategies. Here’s Theo’s interview:

What is driving you to raise funds for St Luke's ElderCare (SLEC)?
This is my first time participating actively in a charity fundraiser and it is very inspiring working with the Charity Bike 'n' Blade committee and especially with my bosses and colleagues. They are all very dedicated and their enthusiasm to do something for the needy is infectious as well! So you could say that I draw my drive and inspiration from them, with a lot of support from my family and friends too! The drive also comes from seeing the elderly at SLEC centres being very active, happy and well taken care of. Naturally, I'd like for that to continue!

Could you tell us a little about your personal experience with St Luke's and what the funds you’re raising will go towards?
My experience with St Luke's has been a good one since the start. In my trips to the centres, the elderly are almost always smiling and kept active with activities like singing and games. It is quite heartening to see them smiling and chatting animatedly amongst their friends in the centre. It's probably a lot better than being alone and lonely at home. The funds raised will go towards subsidizing the needy elderly, ensuring that their wellbeing is taken care of in SLEC's centres.

What are the interesting ways you have been fundraising?

I'm currently exploring more ways of raising funds. Up till now, I've offered to wash and polish cars or bicycles for people who make a donation of $50 per car or bicycle, plus painting wheels of 1:18 scale model cars for a donation of $70. I am also very grateful to my family, friends, colleagues and their contacts as their generosity is what makes up the bulk of donations so far!

What different methods did you use to let people know about your page?
I inserted the URL of my page in my email signature, on my facebook profile and also sent SMSes and emails out to friends.

You’re painting the wheels of 1:18 diecast model cars to raise funds. Can you tell us about the work you’ve put into that and what people who donate can expect?
Ah, the work put into that is a very steady hand, a keen eye and lots of patience! For example, the wheel of a Nissan GT-R model car with a photo-etched Nissan logo typically takes 2 hours or more per wheel, and that's just to paint around the logo. For the spokes itself, the painting is even more painstaking. If the layer of paint bubbles, I will have to sand and smooth down the layer and reapply the paint. This cycle can repeat quite a few times till I'm satisfied that the finish is smooth.

How can people request you to paint their model cars?
They can either send me message or drop a note on my GIVE.sg page. (Visit Theo’s blog to see the rest of his excellent diecast model paint work and collection)

What's your top fundraising tip?

Don't be discouraged by the "Nos”. Make sure you ask, ask, ask and…ask again in different ways that will appeal to donors!

Thanks for talking to us Theo – and all the best to reaching your target! We’re very pleased to make you our first ever fundraiser of the week!

Channel your passion for good. If you want to help your favourite charity, start fundraising now.

11
May

A star-studded fundraising concert to fight cancer

Team GIVE is proud to partner InHerShoes2, a special Art & Music fundraising event to support the fight against cancer. InHerShoes2 will be a spectacular 2 hour live concert and art exhibition, in tribute to the life of the designer Pei Kie Ng who departed after a brave fight with cancer in 2008.

Over 20 local stage and TV stars, designers and musicians will be appearing at Sculpture Square to help in the fundraising for Singapore Cancer Society.

Be entertained by live music from Channel 5’s Sharon Wong and singer-songwriter Joanna Dong of Liao Zhai Rocks! Be tickled by oktoLIVE!’s Kun Wai Kit and his improvisation games. Be mesmerized by the beautiful Linda Black of HBO and actress Debra Teng as they make an appearance.

And get an insider's view on cancer from a caregiver's point of view, as actors Gillian Tan and Simon Wong share their personal experiences as a daughter, and as a spouse.

Making a dazzling debut will be Faridino and The Wickermen, with a live fire and light performance, onstage new tracks from singer-songwriter Marcel Heijnen, and in the gallery, look out for new design work from contributors such as writer Maya Calica. The lucky draw at the end of the evening includes winning a signed piece of original work!

The event details are as follows:

DATE: 25th May 2010, 7.30pm
VENUE: Sculpture Square and Secret Garden (155 Middle Road, at the junction with Waterloo Street)

TICKET PRICE: S$50 (includes booking fee)

Book tickets today and stand a chance to win exciting prizes including a 1 Year free yoga membership from Sangha, a private performance by Faridino and The Wickermen and a photography gift voucher from DragonShutter.

Join Team GIVE for this amazing fundraising concert to support the fight against cancer!

Visit the InherShoes2 facebook group to see the complete list of stars.

28
Apr

A unique fundraising idea in aid of Qinghai

Qinghai earthquake survivors, homeless as winter sets in (Image courtesy of World Vision Singapore)

World Vision Singapore is working with GIVE.sg to raise funds for the people of Qinghai. We have roped in Blessings in a Bag and local sportswear brand, THORB, to join in this fundraising effort with a difference.

Make a donation of $10 or more towards World Vision’s Qinghai Earthquake Relief Fund here and you get a free THORB dri-fit shirt of your choice. To make your donation go a longer way, THORB will also be giving away a shirt to a child in a developing country in your name via Blessings in a Bag!

Help bring warmth to Qinghai and a smile to a child’s face with your kind contribution. Join us in this amazing collaborative effort.

24
Apr

Charity Bike 'n' Blade - Going the distance for the elderly

Looking to participate in a sporting event with a difference? Join the Charity Bike 'n' Blade 2010! This September, 70 cycling enthusiasts will endure a gruelling 320km to the Malaysian town of Mersing and back to fundraise for a local charity, St Luke's ElderCare.

The need for elderly care services such as those provided by St Luke's is ever increasing with Singapore's ageing population. St Luke’s is building a new centre in Serangoon to meet this need. Approximately $150,000 is needed to allow for its construction.

The route cuts across hilly terrain through vast plantations. If you are game to take up the challenge, register here today. The first 70 cyclists to hit the fundraising target of $1,200 will be able to participate. What’s more exciting is that the top fundraiser will win a Storck bike worth $15,000!

Alternatively, you can lend your support to the cyclists’ efforts by making a small donation here.

Team GIVE will be vying for a spot as well. Join us as we go the distance for the elderly this September!

27
Mar

Earth Hour. Every hour and not just during Earth Hour!

Earth Hour is over tonight. This day, people all over the world united to go without electricity for an hour to spark awareness about climate change. We joined in the fun at the Earth Hour concert. It was great counting down together with the synchronized lighting on the Maybank building guiding us.

Remember the NTUC Fairprice campaign where they were donating $1 each time someone clicked on the switch on their Earth Hour Website? We posted the link on our facebook page. In less than 24 hours, you guys helped WWF get the maximum $10,000 that NTUC had pledged (the amount stood at $2,500 when we posted). Way to go guys!

Now that Earth Hour is over..do take other small steps to help our planet for the next 364 days and 23 hours

25
Mar

Walk barefoot in support of "Bare Your Sole 2010"

I once misplaced my slippers at the mosque. I searched everywhere but they were no where to be found. I had to walk barefoot to the nearest shoe shop to get a new pair. It was such a hot day that I could barely place my bare feet on the floor. I literally tiptoed all the way to the shop. Not only did my feet have to suffer from the intolerable heat, I also got a lot of weird glances from people I passed by. Having footwear is such a basic necessity that a person without a pair of shoes draws stares in our privileged society.

However, such sights are common in the rest of our region which is home to 570 million slum dwellers. Almost all of them cannot afford proper footwear. I only suffered for a short 5 minutes but the slum dwellers have to endure walking barefoot on scorching hot grounds and facing the dangers of getting their feet cut, everyday. Now you can experience the reality faced by them!

Leave that branded pair of shoes at your door this 5th of June, and join us for a barefoot walk at "Bare Your Sole 2010". All funds raised will go towards Habitat for Humanity Singapore's housing projects.

If you are already joining us, you can fundraise online for Bare Your Sole on GIVE.sg. Raise awareness about the cause and get your family and friends to support your barefoot walk!

See you at Bare Your Sole 2010!

Razi

18
Mar

Raising awareness on Childhood Cancer

We met the wonderful people of the Children's Cancer Foundation (CCF) today and learnt so much about Childhood Cancer. Did you know that there are more than 100 different types of childhood cancers? The most common type in Singapore is Leukaemia. Being stricken by cancer at such a young age is a traumatizing experience for the children as it impacts them psychologically and socially. Thankfully, the staff and volunteers at CCF are there to provide support and care to both the children and their families. They served 578 children and their families in 2009!

Alongwith helping children, CCF also aims to raise public awareness about Childhood Cancer. Everyone definitely has heard of their Hair for Hope (hfh) campaign where participants shave their heads to promote awareness of Childhood Cancer. To support CCF's efforts, do look out for Hair for Hope 2010! A shaved head would definitely be cool in our hot weather. =)

Why GIVE.sg?

We live in an interconnected global community. Each year, millions upon millions of children, mothers and sons suffer from poverty, famine and disease. Can we still afford to wait and see by the sidelines? Isn't it time for us to ACT!

What is fundraising 2.0?

Like all innovations, Fundraising 2.0 is simply better. The ubiquity of internet lets you reach out to more givers at lower cost with higher satisfaction.

How does it work?

Learn how you can help here