(3 December 2011)
CSC volunteers braved the torrential downpours to accompany 20 senior residents of Indus Road and Henderson Senior Citizen's Home (HSCH) to watch the performance of 70s getai maven, Ling Xiao at Kreta Ayer Theatre - a trip down memory lane.

Ling Xiao belted nostalgic tunes that melted the hearts of the seniors, transporting the delighted audience back to their younger days in the 70s. After the performance, the CSC volunteers had dinner with the elderly before sending them back to HSCH and their homes. It was an unforgettable night for the senior citizens, reliving the sweet memories of their youthful days.

(25 and 26 November 2011)
As part of the club’s ongoing youth development plan for less-privileged children, CSC volunteers participated in a Children’s Camp that included a sleepover at Jurong Bird Park, with a group of 30 children from Dreams@Kolam Ayer. The evening began with a sumptuous buffet spread for everyone. The children proceeded to have an enjoyable splashing time bathing the birds. Another highlight was the Night Walk of Confidence where the children learnt to overcome their fear as they were guided in pitch darkness by the volunteers, one-on-one. CSC volunteers then taught them how to pitch tents in preparation for their sleep and played games and sang songs with them before the entourage turned in

The next morning, there was more spirited fun and laughter at the African Waterfall Aviary, where the children were treated to the bold antics of birds that flew at close range and perched atop their arms and shoulders. They also enjoyed an educational tour of the Avian hospital within the Bird Park, where the park instructors took the kids into the amazing world of their feathered friends.

(1 October 2011)

Back row fourth from right: Guest-of-Honour, Mdm Halimah Yacob, Minister of State, Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports. Back row second from left: Esther An, General Manager of Corporate Affairs and Head of CSR, CDL. Photo credit: Zack Wong from Tilt Pte Ltd.

On 1 October 2011, the Singapore Disability Sports Council (SDSC) launched their book, "Dreams: The Living & The Pursuit" that features eleven local para-athletes. Six of them are "Living the Dream" after having been a part of the Beijing 2008 Paralympics. The other five are "The Pursuit" – those with the potential to represent Singapore in the London 2012 Paralympics. Each of their compelling stories are told beautifully in the book.

Besides being an inspiration, the book has two objectives: to raise funds and to raise awareness of disability sports. SDSC is the only organisation in Singapore that provides sports for persons across all forms of disabilities.

All the photographs in the book were taken by a team of six voluntary photographers led by Mr. Kwek Leng Joo. CDL also provided the venue at City Square Mall for the book launch and the photo exhibition (which ran from 1 to 9 October 2011).

(31 August 2011)
City Sunshine Club (CSC) volunteers gave the residents of Assisi Hospice a memorable Mid Autumn Festival party. They decorated the hospice with paper lanterns and brought customary items such as mooncakes and pomelos for a rousing celebration. Apart from a sumptuous dinner, the participants enjoyed a graceful and traditional fan dance, band performance, Chinese ballads and a wushi demonstration, all performed by senior management and staff of CDL. Some members of the management went on to distribute mooncakes to the bedridden residents who were unable to join in the celebrations at the main hall.

A traditional fan dance performed by the staff of CDL.

The senior management of CDL visiting bedridden residents of Assisi Hospice.

(23 July 2011)
A longstanding partner of the BB CARES (Community Activities Rallying Everyone to Serve) programme, CDL once again partnered the Boys’ Brigade (BB) for the BB CARES 2011 event, to bring fun and laughter to the various beneficiaries (comprising children, youth and those with special needs from Child @ Street 11, Whispering Hearts, and Bishan Home for the Mentally Disabled as well as the elderly from the Moral Senior Activity Centre - Toa Payoh), via a series of fun outdoor activities. Chaperoned by 19 volunteers from City Sunshine Club, the beneficiaries enjoyed an afternoon of games and activities such as Laser Tag, Woodball and Bonsai Grooming at the Bishan Active Park. They were also treated to a Bagpipe performance and Fancy Drill by the BB. BB CARES is an annual community service programme in support of the President’s Challenge.

An elderly lady enjoying a game of Woodball, with guidance from CSC volunteers and a member of the Boys Brigade.

Senior citizens nurturing their green thumbs with the help of a CSC volunteer, as part of a bonsai grooming activity.

(23 June 2011)
In the spirit of serving the community, City Sunshine Club volunteers assisted terminally ill children, from the Arc Children’s Centre, in making Wayang Kulit (shadow puppets) during a puppetry workshop conducted by artists from the The Esplanade. The puppets made by the children will be displayed at The Esplanade’s visual arts gallery in September, leading up to Octoburst 2011, a children’s festival held in October, where the children and CDL volunteers will be invited back to view the display and watch a puppetry performance.

(19 June 2011)

CDL volunteers eager and ever ready to lend support at the Assisi Hospice Charity Fun Day 2011.

In line with CDL’s strong culture of volunteerism and giving, the Company once again lent its full support to the Assisi Hospice Charity Fun Day held on 19 June, joining the over 200 enthusiastic volunteers and 170 stalls selling a plethora of delicious cuisines. The aim was to raise funds that will go towards the expansion and improvement of the Hospice’s three core services of in-patient care, home care and day care centres, relieving them of a huge bulk of expenses.

As a long-standing partner of Assisi Hospice since 1999, CDL and its subsidiary company, CBM Pte Ltd once again co-organised the Charity Fun Day, for families to revel in a day of fun and to engage in the spirit of giving. CBM provided services in the areas of cleaning management as well as car park and traffic control while CDL together with its sister hotels – M Hotel, Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel, Copthorne King’s Hotel and Orchard Hotel – took up a 36-metre pavilion to sell mouth-watering local delicacies and hotel specialties.

The annual event, which raised over S$800,000, was graced by Ms. Indranee Rajah, the Minister of Parliament for Tanjong Pagar GRC, who sportingly took photographs with performers and toured over 170 stalls to present the certificates of appreciation to volunteers.

(8 June 2011)
City Sunshine Club volunteers participated in KidsOut 2011, a day of joy, excitement, laughter, happiness and warmth for less fortunate children from various orphanages and special homes in Singapore, organised by the Rotaract Club of Singapore East, a non-profit voluntary organisation, The volunteers befriended and assisted 200 children as they participated in a pottery workshop . Though the children had never attended pottery classes prior to this, they enjoyed themselves thoroughly and even created little masterpieces of their own to take home.

(3 June 2011)
40 children from Dreams @ Kolam Ayer had an enjoyable time participating in a Sesame Street colouring and green handicraft workshop held at City Square Mall. Chaperoned by City Sunshine Club volunteers, the children were also treated to a delightful Meet & Greet as well as photo-taking session with their favourite characters from Sesame Street.

(27 May 2011)
Heart Voyage is a series of three volumes of photographs published by Mr Kwek Leng Joo, Managing Director of City Developments Limited, an avid photographer who believes in doing good through the art of photography.

Marking his support of the President’s Challenge for the third time, the earlier being 2005 and 2008, Mr Kwek has donated Heart Voyage III - his latest and last personal photo art book from this series to raise funds for this year’s President’s Challenge. Heart Voyage III pays tribute to the role of heritage and culture in societies and features about 100 photographs, including interesting national monuments and places, which speak volumes about heritage preservation and its significance, even in modern day Singapore.

60 copies of Heart Voyage III were sold, raising a total of S$300,000. All proceeds will go towards the beneficiaries of President’s Challenge 2011. Collectively, Mr Kwek has helped to raise over S$550,000 for President’s Challenge, through the sale of his three photo art books.

(March 2011)
CDL organised a fundraising campaign towards humanitarian relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in stricken areas of Japan following a series of massive earthquakes, tsunamis and nuclear plant meltdowns. The combined efforts of CDL staff and a business associate raised close to S$50,000 and were matched dollar-for-dollar by the Company, resulting in a total cash donation of S$100,000 to help disaster victims in Japan.

(17 March 2011)
To commemorate the official opening of OCBC Bank’s 15th Premier Centre at the Marina Bay Sands on 17 March, CDL’s Managing Director, Mr Kwek Leng Joo, shared one of his photo works - a three-metre photograph depicting a panoramic view of Mount Yakedake against the breathtaking sunset on the horizon. In appreciation of the gift, OCBC Bank made a donation of S$20,000 to the Children’s Aid Society, a charity chosen by Mr Kwek, which is also a beneficiary of City Sunshine Club, CDL’s employee volunteer platform.

(16 February 2011)

City Sunshine Club (CSC) celebrated the Year of the Rabbit with residents of Man Fut Tong Nursing Home with a Luncheon on 16 February 2011, followed by entertainment specially prepared by CSC volunteers. CSC also presented Venerable Seck of Man Fut Tong Nursing Home with a cheque for $8,000 to help defray the costs of daily necessities such as milk powder and diapers. Man Fut Tong Nursing Home (MFT), a beneficiary of CSC since 2009, provides a tender, loving and caring environment to help 225 elderly residents live out their golden years to the fullest.