SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will donate $350,000 towards three new awards.
The awards support community bonding, social service, and the arts.
In a statement, Mr
Lee said he hopes this will encourage charities and volunteers to
continue their excellent work to make Singapore a better home for all.
The latest donation is part of his on-going contributions to charity following the ministerial salary adjustments in 2007.
Singapore's
grassroots organisations play a crucial role in forging bonds among
residents. And Mr Lee wants community relations to strengthen further.
So he's donating $200,000 towards a Community Initiatives Fund to sponsor projects initiated by the People's Association.
Mr
Lee hopes it will spur more to come forward and help other Singaporeans
- in big ways or small - towards the goal of a more inclusive and
united community.
The People's Association says a panel of grassroots leaders will be formed to administer the fund.
Mr
Lee is giving another $100,000 to a new Prime Minister's Social Service
Award to encourage more Singaporeans to choose social service careers.
Each award is worth $10,000.
In
addition, Mr Lee is donating $50,000 towards a Prime Minister's
Valedictorian Award for the top student in each graduating cohort from
the School of The Arts.
The school says each recipient will get $1,500 - to be given out from 2013.
- CNA/al/de