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Hitachi Group Continues with Festive Donation to Community Chest (PDF Type, 80 kByte)

November 15, 2008

Hitachi Group continues with festive donation to Community Chest

SINGAPORE, November 15, 2008 – In celebrating its 25th Anniversary this year, Community Chest wishes one and all a ‘Sweet Christmas in Singapore’, the theme for this year’s ‘Christmas in the Tropics Light-up’.

Mr P Y Hwang, Vice-Chairman of Community Chest, said, “The growth and development of Community Chest and its programmes are the result of the dedicated and unwavering support we have from our donors, corporate partners and the Singapore community. They have helped us meet the changing and growing needs of the local disadvantaged community, from having to raise $2.5 million to help 22,000 disadvantaged people in 1983, to now raising $52 million to help more than 310,000 beneficiaries. My deepest appreciation to all of them and I look forward to their continued support. To those of you who would like to help, I invite you to make a meaningful donation to Community Chest and spread some cheer to the less fortunate.”

The President of the Republic of Singapore, Mr S R Nathan, officiated the ceremony organised by Community Chest and the Singapore Tourism Board and opened the island’s festive celebrations. The lights and the fringe activities along Singapore’s prime shopping districts of Orchard Road Marina Bay are an annual attraction for locals and tourists alike. This year, the streets are decorated in candy canes, lollies and frostings to usher in ‘A Sweet Christmas in Singapore’.

A strong believer in Corporate Social Responsibility, the Hitachi Group in Singapore continued its long-term support with a donation of $150,000 to Community Chest. The Hitachi Group, the main sponsor of the annual Christmas Light-up at Orchard Road, has for 18 years supported Community Chest and its programmes. To date, the Hitachi Group has donated close to $3 million to the fund-raising body.

“The Christmas Light-up has been an important event in the Hitachi calendar since 1991. Christmas is a season of giving and through this event the Hitachi Group in Singapore raised funds to sustain about 150 social service programs. We always strive to be SWEET to the community where we belong,” said Mr Shunsuke Ohtsu, Hitachi Ltd’s Chief Executive for Asia.

The CapitaLand Hope Foundation has also pledged its support to Community Chest. This year, the Foundation is reprising its “Building for Our Future” project, targeting to raise $250,000. For every $50 purchase made at selected CapitaLand shopping malls, shoppers will get to decorate its Christmas trees at the malls with handmade origami and the Foundation will donate $5 for each origami hung to support selected children charities under Community Chest.

Organisations or the members of the public can also help Community Chest and its beneficiaries this Christmas is by making their donations to charities supported by Community Chest through the Donation Portal at www.donation.org.sg or by writing a cheque made payable to ‘Community Chest’ and address it to The National Council of Social Service, 170 Ghim Moh Road, #01-02, Singapore 279621.

About Community Chest

Community Chest raises funds on a yearly basis to support social service programmes which meet the critical needs of children, people with disabilities, elderly and families. Our charities adopt the Enhanced Programme Evaluation System to track outcomes and ensure our donors of better governance standards, transparency and accountability on the use of their donated funds.

Community Chest ensures that fund-raising costs are kept to a minimum. As these costs have been sponsored by Singapore Totalisator Board and Singapore Pools (Private) Limited, every dollar raised by Community Chest will be made available to social service programmes under our care.

Issued by: Corporate Communications Division
National Council of Social Service
Saturday, 15 November 2008

About Hitachi Asia Ltd.

Hitachi Asia Ltd., a subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. and established in Singapore in 1989, has offices across seven Asian countries (Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam). Focusing more than ever on the Social Innovation Business, Hitachi Asia’s business includes information systems, power and industrial systems, R&D, international procurement and Centre of Excellence. For more information on Hitachi Asia, please visit the company’s website at https://www.hitachi.com.sg.