The Happy Faces of Baan Nokkamin

May 20, 2016 by

Anthony S Casey recently traveled from Singapore to Bangkok for a visit. If you’ve never been, you’ll see a lot of things when you visit the city. You will see the Wat Phra Kaeo glistening in the Grand Palace, you’ll see luxurious goods in department stores in Siam, or maybe you’ll see world-renowned art museums. What you won’t see are the faces of those that have been left behind by the city’s success; underprivileged children; many who are without a home.

One foundation, Baan Nokkamin, developed with the goal to make home a reality for the orphans, homeless children, and children of drug addicts that live in Bangkok.

These children are a consequence of collapse in the family structure and home disputes which parents are incapable of solving. The effects of this collapse trickle down to cause rise to the unfortunate problem of orphans, drug addicts, and subsequent sexual abuse and child labor and criminal activity and social decay. So, Baan Nokkamin is there to relieve these children from this lifestyle and benefit them with positive values? Baan Nokkamin is there to educate children about how to help children achieve a wholesome vision and thus benefit others around them.

How did the orphanage get its start? A Swiss missionary, Mr. Erwin Groebli, met a group of street children in Ramkhamhaeng, Bangkok Metropolis in the late 1980’s. They had nowhere to sleep, no nourishment, and no one offer health support.

Mr.Erwin gave to these kids love and attention and the support they needed to survive. The beginning of the foundation started when a functional building was acquired to accommodate the group. By 1989, Baan Nokkamin Foundation was certified by the Thai government.

Anthony S Casey visited the Baan Nokkamin orphanage. He brought along a big bag of toys, candy and face painting for all the kids. It was lots of fun! Here are some pictures of their day together.  Anthony S Casey invites you to contribute to the organization, which you can find online.

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The President’s Challenge with Community Chest

April 12, 2016 by

Anthony S Casey recently contributed to the great organization, Community Chest, through his donation to the  President’s Challenge 2015 series of Tanglin Club Fundraising events. The Community Chest is the  fund-raising and engagement component of the National Council of Social Service (NCSS).  NCSS envisions a compassionate society, with everyone supporting each other’s potential. The Community Chest further ensures that people from all corners of society see the opportunity to lead a dignified, fulfilled life. Established in 1983, the organization raises, organizes, and appropriates allocates funds for the Singapore’s many charities.

The President’s Challenge was initiated by President S R Nathan in 2000. The tradition was continued by President Tony Tan in 2012 as it became a great way bring the community together in volunteer efforts, helping the less fortunate through activism. Since its beginning, over S$160 million has been raised for supported charities.  Plus, over 20,000 people have volunteered. As President Tony Tan said in his March 12, 2016 speech, “This is what President’s Challenge is about; to rally Singaporeans to pool
together our resources, not just financial but also our time and skills, to build a nation that leaves no one behind.”

Who does the challenge benefit?

  • Adults with disabilities
  • Children with special needs and learning disabilities
  • Battered families
  • The elderly

Learn more about the organization at comchest.org.sg

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Anthony S Casey Serves Singapore through Willing Hearts

April 4, 2016 by

Willing Hearts is a secular Singapore-based charity that provides daily meals and support services to underprivileged members of Singapore society. Through effective guidance, Willing Hearts helps the neediest find their way toward rehabilitation in order to become useful citizens in society.

 

anthony s Casey Willing Hearts Singapore

Willing Hearts hosts Soup Kitchens. This volunteer-run kitchen distributes about 4,500 daily meals, 365 days a year, to low-income families, disenfranchised seniors, the disabled, children from single-parent or poverty-stricken families, and migrant workers.

Anthony S Casey recently contributed to one of these soup kitchens. How do volunteers help?

As a Soup Kitchen, Willing Hearts prepares, cooks and packages meals. It’s a great opportunity to give back to the community and no experience is necessary; guidance is provided by more veteran volunteers.

Volunteers prep ingredients, such as certain kinds of vegetables or meat items. Other volunteers help by cooking and organizing the meals. Volunteers are also required to help in the pick up food such as eggs and vegetables, and staples like sugar, rice,  meat, and seafood from suppliers, back to headquarters. Clean up is also an important part of volunteering.

Volunteers who have their own vehicles may offer to help deliver these packed meals, as Anthony S Casey recently did on the Henderson delivery route. Anyone with a valid Singapore driving licenses can help out by taking Willing Hearts’ delivery vans.

The spirit of volunteerism is strong in Singapore. Volunteer today to change the lives of the neediest in society!

cooking at Willing Hearts Singapore Anthony S Casey

Preparing meals at the Willing Hearts Kitchen

Anthony S Casey Willing Hearts Packaged

Packaged Food in Styrofoam Boxes, ready for delivery

Anthony S Casey Singapore Willing Hearts Volunteer 2

Anthony S Casey meeting great friends at Willing Hearts.

Anthony S Casey Singapore Willing Hearts Volunteer

Meals, ready to go.

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Making Australian Wishes Come True for Singapore’s Children

March 22, 2016 by

Amber’s Story

Make-a-Wish Granters Eugene, Anthea & Arthur recently made one little girl’s dream come alive.

Amber is special. Unlike most children her age, she is not obsessed with Disney movies and characters like Ella from Frozen. Amber does not even watch that much television. What Amber does enjoy is the sheer wonder of spending time with animals. She follows her dog, a small Dachshund, all over the house. She loves “masak masak” – playing with toy kitchen tools and food, and also, drawing.

Amber’s wish was to venture to Australia. With a range of outdoor activities, it is the perfect destination to explore and make friends with farm animals.

To prepare for her trip, Amber asked to watch videos of airplanes on YouTube. She also excitedly went around announcing to others that she would be soon traveling to Australia.

She spent a leg of the trip in Brisbane. She experience a relaxing drive to a quaint farm. Here, she rode many ponies. She even got to help the farmer with his chickens! Much to her parents’ delight and amazement, Amber was quite a natural at catching chickens!

Amber visited Sea World at the Gold Coast and braved big, scary rides. She stayed at a huge apartment, where she loved its airy, beach view.

For the nature lover, this was truly a trip to remember.

Amber was referred to the Make-a-Wish Foundation by the Children’s Cancer Foundation at the National University Hospital (NUH).

Read more stories at makeawish.org.sg

 

Fundraising for Make a Wish Singapore

 

The Ngee Ann Business Studies Fundraiser recently combined their knack for business with passion for social change.

Instead of finalizing up their graduating year with merriment, they dedicated their efforts to something with purpose. They wanted to contribute to society.  By organizing the first ever Business Studies shirt sales, where all net earnings of $802 were donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, they helped grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions. The course-wide event brought the students closer as a team. Ultimately, it ignited a spirit of giving that will last through their entire careers.

 

 

 

make a wish golf tournament anthony s casey

The 13th annual charity golf fundraiser will be held April 21, 2016 at Sentosa Golf Course, Serapong Course, presented by Marina Bay Sands.  Come to play and support!

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The Kidney Dialysis Foundation: Helping Singapore’s Neediest

March 9, 2016 by

The Kidney Dialysis Foundation (KDF) is a non-profit charitable organisation that endeavors to treat patients from the lowest of the 10% income group in Singapore.

Approximately 1 in 9 Singaporeans suffer from diabetes. Diabetes can eventually lead to kidney failure. How can we treat kidney failure, especially for those who cannot afford health care?

Dr Gordon Ku, a kidney specialist established the KDF in February 1996 to provides subsidized dialysis treatment. By attending to a niche group of patients, such as cleaners, store assistants, and taxi drivers, the KDF changes the lives of needy members of the community.  Patients are referred by medical social workers, and through KDF’s resources, are not be deprived of treatment due to financial restraints.

KDF takes a holistic approach when caring for patients.  It is KDF’s mission to ensure the patients’ well-being. They can do this by kindling hope and strength to make life more meaningful; even for the most destitute.

The foundation, with the support of donors and sponsors, has set up a several campuses to care for its patients. Through 2016, KDF has served over 818 patients – 77 of which have undergone successful kidney transplantations.

 

Through medical outreach, education, and fundraising, KDF has changed in the lives of hundreds of people. They reach out to the community through multifaceted educational efforts, utilizing the “3 P’s” of Education – Public, Patient and Professional. In the public sphere, it has produced the “New Lease of Life” stores, featured eight episodes portraying real KDF patients who are live with the daily battle of life with with kidney diseases. With patients, they take care to instruct and guide all pre-ESRD patients and their families on the available treatment options. Professionally, KDF annually trains its staff: they update staff in the practice of nephrology, for example.

The Kidney Dialysis Foundation serves about 338 patients currently. Annually, at least $4 million is needed to cover medical costs and to support research for a cure.

Anthony S Casey recently made a generous donation to the KDF. You can too!

Donations are accepted online: Donate to KDF

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Focus on the Family: Singapore

February 8, 2016 by

Focus on the Family Singapore Limited is a donor-supported organization dedicated to the mission that the family unit is the essential building block of a thriving nation. Mr. Tan Thuan Seng established the organization in 2002. The foundational small team started by organizing events dedicated to fostering the irreplaceable bonds of family through counseling parents and couples about the importance of these bonds.

Focus on the Family provides support in the form of educational support. Their Parent-Coach dialogue allows parents to engage with others undergoing the same experience and learn from others’ perspectives. Workshops to help couples with marriage help keep personal lives in shape for both parents and for the children. For example, Connect2 is a marriage preparation program that helps couples address issues they may not expect early in their time together and build a strong foundation right at the start.

 

Date with Dad

By encouraging the transformation of society through healthy and positive family values today, Focus on the Family foresees the sustainability of future generations.

 

 

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Action for Aids

February 8, 2016 by
anthony s casey Bernice Wong Singapore Action for aids

Courtesy of Singapore Tatler

 

Action for Aids is a community-based volunteer organization committed to the prevention, education and advocacy for the welfare of persons living with HIV/AIDS and their subsequent care and treatment.

AFA was formed in 1988 in Singapore out of response to the global and local spread of HIV infection; since 2004 they have been an officially recognized charity. Since then, they have evolved to be fundamental innovators of philanthropic change in Singapore and surrounding community. HIV is a challenging health problem, but with proper education, everyone can better understand prevention and treatment. 

From initial assistance for those living with HIV infection, to the role that promotion of basic public awareness requires, Action for Aids has grown to implement complex prevention and care programs in an increasingly globalized society. The organization supports outreach programs. They provide free HIV tests regardless of age, gender, or sexual preference. They provide consistent support for those who have no one else to turn to.

They also sponsor numerous fundraising activities and events for involved donors. At the Endless Love Gala in 2013, donors raised an incredible $140,371.10. Anthony S. Casey and his wife Bernice joyously engaged in this event.

 

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Nias Orphanage Building Fund

January 22, 2016 by

Indonesia is a massive, sprawling country.  It is made up of 17,508 islands (only around 6,000 are inhabited by people) and it takes 12 hours to fly from one side of the country to the other. It has the second-highest amount of biodiversity in the world. It is also geographically diverse; however, this leave Indonesia vulnerable to a variety of natural disasters.  For the people who live on the islands of Indonesia, the risk of natural disaster threatens to uproot the promise of a stable life. 

In Indonesia’s poorest regions, Anthony S. Casey has contributed to efforts that help children rebuild their lives are devastating natural disasters.

The New Community Home Nias is an orphanage where children can find a home again.

There was a time when a tsunami hit Nias.  Reverend Soh Chye Kiong speaks of the The New Church Singapore’s involvement in the video above.

The church was actually exploring Thailand and Cambodia, reaching out to help children in these places. But when a friend of theirs told me of the plight of children in Nias in Indonesia, they discovered many children in need; orphans and unattended children with no community or support. Here, they found a piece of land, leased it, and started with a group of seven children.  They are growing everyday through love and compassion of the children at the orphanage. The children attend school; learning math, geography, history, science, and basic skills. Reverend Soh Chye Kiong speaks of plans to continue reaching out to the community. The children at Nias are truly inspiring. After so much hardship, their dreams are strong – young Rahel wants to be a teacher; Jonathan wants to be a policeman.

The Nias Orphanage has achieved so much for the children of Indonesia and Anthony S. Casey is eager to see its continued future growth.

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Dance Spectrum International: Singapore

January 22, 2016 by

 

dance-scene-Anthony-S-Casey-1024x570

How can we afford young people with developmental disabilities the same opportunities and experiences as their peers? The Autism Research Centre of Singapore helps educate people about autism and dedicates to serve individuals in the country with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The charity was established in 2000 and has since become the leader not only in fundraising, but implementing real change for individuals who need assistance asserting independence in their lives. The Pathlight School is one of their primary resources that offers both mainstream academics and essential life skills for students with autism.  Additionally, they host many events and fundraising opportunities to contribute to their efforts.

The Dance Spectrum International is one of these events that is essential to the Autism Research Center. It offers a life-changing experience for many of these young people.

Dance Spectrum International has become an annual tradition. In past years, dancers have performed acts titled such as “Christmas isn’t Christmas until..” This performance raised $132,602 toward supporting the Pathlight School Building Fund.

The most recent performance was help on December 4th, hosted at the Republic Cultural Centre. At this beautiful cultural landmark,  Ms Denise Phua Lay Peng in the Jalan Besar Group Representation Constituency and Guest Member and Ms Irene Ng attended the “Concert of Hope” in support of children and adolescents on the autism spectrum.

 

For more on the Autism research center, and to see how you can contribute, please see Autism.org.sg.

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Pimp My Tuk Tuk

December 21, 2015 by
Anthony S Casey Singapore Pimp my Tuk Tuk 1 Anthony S Casey Singapore Pimp my Tuk Tuk 2 Anthony S Casey Singapore Pimp my Tuk Tuk 3

Do you know what a Tuk Tuk is? Only some of the most colorful, creative, and unique auto rickshaws in the world. A common form of transportation in urban areas like Sri Lanka, these three-wheeled automobiles pack some serious power. Pimp My Tuk Tuk (PMTT) travels all over Sri Lanka and Singapore, visiting cities like Colombo, Jaffna, Anuradhapura, Kandy, and more.

Participants of the PMTT challenge are dedicated to supporting local communities and changing them for the better. Primary donation recipient organizations are Foundation of Goodness and Food from the Heart. PMTT made their first donation to Foundation of Goodness June 2015.

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