5,500 runners take part in POSB Run For Kids 2010

Anchorvale St, Sunday, September 19, 2010 — More than 3,500 children took part in the POSB Run for Kids 2010 to raise funds for other needy kids. They were among the 5,500 participants in the POSB charity event, now into its second year, which raised $325,000 to help the less privileged children in Singapore.

The Singapore Children’s Society will receive $125,000 while the other $200,000 will be channelled to the Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC CCCs Community Development & Welfare Fund and the North East CDC Lunch Box Fund. The funds raised will be used to cover the lunch money, school and enrichment programme fees of needy students in 20 primary schools in Pasir Ris-Punggol Group Representation Constituency (GRC).

Mr Piyush Gupta, CEO of DBS Bank said: “As neighbours first, bankers second, strengthening ties within the community is a key focus for POSB. Children are special to POSB. Since the 1960s, POSB has been reaching out to children, and inculcating in them the value of saving. Many Singaporeans today opened their first bank account with POSB. With this run, in addition to raising funds, the Bank is also encouraging the young to be more socially conscious and to help their peers who are less fortunate.”

Said Mr Alvin Yeo, BBM, Community Development Welfare Fund Chairman: “We are glad that the GRC has teamed up with POSB again to raise funds for needy children in the Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC and the Singapore Children Society. I am heartened that The People’s Bank, POSB is playing such an active role in the community and urge other organisations to follow its footsteps in its charity and community building efforts.”

Mr Alfred Tan, Executive Director of Singapore Children’s Society said: “Singapore Children’s Society is delighted to be a beneficiary of the POSB Run for Kids event for the second year running. We are glad that POSB shares our mission of helping underprivileged children grow to their full potential. The money raised from the run will go a long way towards supporting the various programmes at our nine service centres.”

The runners were flagged off by Guest-of-Honour Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Mr Teo Chee Hean and Mr Gupta. There were over 500 runners in the 8.5km Competitive Run and approximately 1,600 people joined in the 4.5km Fun Run.

The 1.2km Kids Run helps to raise awareness among children of needs in the community. Over 50 schools participated in the new Inter-School Challenge introduced this year. This Challenge recognises the top three primary schools with the highest number of participants. Compassvale Primary School, Nan Chiau Primary School and Mee Toh School won the challenge.

POSB worked in close partnership with the community and saw about 400 volunteers helping out with the event this year. Organisations such as Sengkang Sports Complex, Anchorvale Community Club, Traffic Police, LTA and HDB also lent their support to ensure that the event went smoothly.

POSB/DBS staff, along with other partners, also did their part by setting up and managing food, drinks and games stalls at the event carnival. Close to 1,500 POSB and DBS staff participated in the run.