Keppel Extends Support to Vulnerable Groups in Fight Against Covid-19

In a community outreach effort, Keppel, together with its partner Envision, will provide care items including 50,000 surgical masks, as well as thermometers, personal protection equipment, disinfectants and 2-in-1 hand sanitiser with mosquito repellent to social service agencies such as the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore (CPAS), HELP Family Service Centre, Boy's Town, as well as others under the North West CDC.

In addition, over the Keppel Community Month of August, Keppel Volunteers will also deliver surgical masks and other care items to beneficiaries they are engaged with in ongoing programmes, such as AWWA, Montfort Care, the Muscular Dystrophy Association (Singapore) and the National Kidney Foundation.

Mr Loh Chin Hua, CEO of Keppel Corporation, said, "Keppel is committed to caring for and nurturing communities wherever we operate. COVID-19 has disrupted and impacted many lives, especially the most vulnerable in our community. In challenging times such as these, we are glad to extend our business partnership with Envision to doing good together and providing assistance to communities affected by COVID-19."

Mr Lei Zhang, CEO of Envision Group, said, "In the face of a global crisis brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, no country, company or individual can stand alone. In the same way we are fighting against the climate change crisis, we are committed to using our resources to fight the coronavirus pandemic and help build a sustainable future. In March, to help meet global demand for increased and rapid production of surgical masks, we set up the Envision Smile Manufacturing Centre and donated over six million masks to our partners worldwide. We will continue to work closely with our partners to address the global surge in demand for medical protective gear."

Ms Latha Kutty, Executive Director of CPAS, said, "As a social service agency, Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore relies on the strong support of the community to serve over 700 children and adults with cerebral palsy or multiple disabilities. We are touched by the care and concern shown to us by corporate sponsors like Keppel, who thoughtfully donated a list of essential items such as masks, thermometers and hand sanitiser with mosquito repellent, which has come to us at a perfect time, relevant to the COVID-19 and dengue situation."

Since the start of the pandemic, Keppel has committed over $5 million to provide support to communities affected by the pandemic in Singapore and overseas. In March 2020, Keppel announced a $4.2 million package to support Singapore's national efforts to combat COVID-19, funded by voluntary contributions from the Group's directors, senior management and staff, with dollar-for-dollar matching contributions from Keppel Corporation.

Through this initiative, Keppel has supported lower-income households in Singapore through rebates given by Keppel Electric, M1 and City Gas to residents living in 1- and 2-room HDB flats, and also provided various care packages for the Group's frontline contract staff, and migrant workers, as well as other vulnerable communities. Keppel has also contributed $600,000 to The Courage Fund in Singapore, including donations made through its philanthropic arm Keppel Care Foundation.

This article was originally published on Marine & Industrial Report newspaper Vol 42  No.4 Issue last August 31, 2020.