Introduction
The President’s Challenge is an annual series of community-based activities initiated by President S R Nathan in 2000. The aims of President’s Challenge are firstly, to increase awareness about how the community can get involved in helping the less fortunate and secondly, to raise funds for the social service sector. It is hoped that by doing this, a more cohesive society would be created. The Challenge also aims to convey that the more able in society have a special responsibility to help the rest of society and that all Singaporeans can make a difference in our community.
The President’s Challenge highlights the role of the public, people and private sectors in meeting these aims through their participation in events organised during the week.
Prior to the President’s Challenge, there were several charity events carrying the President's name organised at different points during the year. President S R Nathan decided that it would be better to consolidate all such events onto a single President's Challenge platform and make this the premier annual project for the social services sector to rally the public towards helping those in need of assistance.
Organisers
Each year, there would be various agencies involved in organising different events under President’s Challenge. There is a President’s Challenge Steering Committee chaired by the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS), which oversees the whole President’s Challenge. The Steering Committee comprises representatives from the National Council of Social Service and the President’s Office, as well as representatives from the agencies that are involved in organising the events for President’s Challenge that year.
Beneficiaries
Each year, President’s Office would select a list of beneficiaries who are in need of funds or have problems raising funds on their own for President’s Challenge. Organisers raising funds for President’s Challenge have the option of directing funds to selected beneficiaries from the list. Click
here to view the list of beneficiaries for President’s Challenge 2007.
In addition, various other organisations, including schools, institutions of higher learning, private corporations and public service organisations had organised their own in-house fund-raising activities in support of President’s Challenge 2007, during or outside of the President’s Challenge week.
President’s Challenge 2007 raised a total of approximately $12.1 million for 48 beneficiaries and the Community Chest.
President’s Challenge 2008 President’s Challenge 2008 will be held from April to October 2008.
Parties interested in getting involved in the Challenge are welcomed to contact:
President’s Challenge Secretariat
c/o Community Relations and Engagement Division
Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports
Tel : 6354 8794
Email : Karen_Bartholomeusz@mcys.gov.sg