PAP Community Foundation to commit more than $600,000 towards the launch of the Spark Dreams Programme, in commemoration of its inaugural Alumni Event

The programme is expected to benefit approximately 3000 eligible PCF Sparkletots children from lower-income families 

Singapore, 16 July 2023 – PAP Community Foundation (PCF) announced today the launch of the Spark Dreams Programme, an initiative that provides financial support to empower children from diverse backgrounds to pursue their dreams. The programme was officially launched at PCF’s inaugural Alumni Event, graced by the Guest-of-Honour, Mrs Josephine Teo, Minister for Communications and Information, Second Minister for Home Affairs, and Council Chairman, PCF Council of Management. Reconnecting generations of PCF alumni at PCF Sparkletots @ Punggol Shore, the event aimed to celebrate the profound connections forged over decades within the PCF community. It was attended by over 200 guests, including K1 and K2 children from various PCF Sparkletots centres, parents as well as PCF alumni and staff.

PCF will be contributing $660,000 to fund the Spark Dreams Programme and benefit close to 3,000 eligible PCF Sparkletots students from lower-income families and children supportd by our community partners. $400,000 will be allocated directly through a top-up to the Child Development Account (CDA) of these children where the funds in the account can be used by parents or guardians to meet the educational and healthcare needs of the children. 

Part of the Spark Dreams Programme also involves an alumni pledging initiative. PCF alumni and the public are encouraged to make a pledge to do good by driving positive impact to the community and future generations. Participants of the pledging initiative can make pledges at a  roving pledge tree which will be stationed at upcoming PCF events.  This is in line with PCF’s roots of being birthed as a community foundation to meet the needs and give back to the community and being steadfast in this commitment. 

Alumni and members of the public will also have the option to make pledges online across PCF’s social media platforms. With a target to collect a total of 26,000 pledges in the next six months, PCF will donate an additional $10 to the Spark Dreams Programme with every pledge made. The targeted, additional $200,000 contributed by PCF from the alumni pledging initiative will bring the grand total of CDA top-ups for the programme to $600,000. Every eligible child will receive $200, with the funds distributed.

Empowering Other Children within the Community

To extend the vision of the programme and empower more children and youths in the community to pursue their dreams, PCF will allocate an additional $60,000 from the alumni pledging initiative to three community partners – Children’s Wishing Well, Be Kind SG, and Rare Disorders Society of Singapore. These organisations have been selected as they support the holistic education and inclusiveness of children and youth from disadvantaged backgrounds and are committed to improving their lives and creating a positive impact. 

Celebrating the Timeless Connections of the PCF Community 

The PCF Alumni Event brings together alumni, educators and children in a celebration, highlighting the deep relationships and connections forged within the PCF community. The event showcased performances by alumni from diverse backgrounds and included a career talk designed to inspire PCF Sparkletots children in pursuing their dreams. Notable participating alumni comprised of local celebrity Glenn Yong, magician and full-time marketer Lim Yuting, 2016 President’s Scholar and aspiring teacher Sean Ong, classical saxophonist Samuel Phua, and PCF Sparkletots educator Muhamad Shahril.

The carnival-like event saw various booths set up by alumni, including photobooths, balloon sculpting, name wiring, airbrush tattoos, cup corn station and light snacks. A PCF brand video was also played during the event, showcasing the unwavering commitment of educators and the impact PCF has had on the lives of children. 

Speaking at the event, Minister Josephine Teo said: “Graduating from PCF Sparkletots need not mean bidding farewell to our preschool years. For many of us, who we are today is very much shaped by our preschool experiences. For instance, through our friends and educarers, we learned how to interact well with others and to care and share; and from our exposure to a variety of fun learning activities, our curiosity for the world grew and we developed positive interests that last a lifetime. As a community organisation with a long legacy, we strive to cultivate even stronger connections with our preschoolers and alumni, many of whom saw more than one generation of their family benefiting from PCF. Today, we want to call on all of our alumni to embrace the spirit of giving back, making a positive impact on the community and future generations,” 

“We are delighted to witness the successful gathering of alumni from various generations at our first PCF Alumni Event. As we foster new connections and build on the existing relationships, we believe that the PCF community will continue to play a vital role in nurturing future generations. Through the introduction of the Spark Dreams Programme, we aspire to be the catalysts that ignite children’s dreams, providing them with the necessary resources and an enabling environment to transform those dreams into reality.” said Victor Bay, CEO, PCF.

For more information about making a pledge online, please check PCF’s Instagram and Facebook for more details. 

For further enquiries, please contact:

Victoria Mak
victoria.mak@redhill.asia
+65 9173 3801

Sng Jorge
jorge.sng@redhill.asia
+65 8288 6124

About PAP Community Foundation

PAP Community Foundation (PCF), a charitable foundation founded by the People’s Action Party (PAP) in 1986, runs social, educational and welfare programmes and activities for the community. PCF is committed to nurturing a multi-racial, fair, just and inclusive society by providing educational, welfare and community services island-wide. PCF is also recognised as a Great Place to Work® and a Great Place to Learn™ by the Great Place to Work Institute. In 2021, it clinched first place in Asia’s Best Workplaces™ in the category of ‘Large’ workplaces. It provides preschool services through PCF Sparkletots, which is the largest preschool operator in Singapore with almost 360 preschools and an enrolment of over 40,000 children. It also operates senior care centres through PCF Sparkle Care.