The Star

Doing charity while having a ball

By PAUL CHOO

FROM the average office boy to the top management, members of corporate Malaysia will have the rare opportunity of slugging it out with each other on the battlefield – almost literally.

In augmenting its contribution to charity and reinforcing its commitment of corporate social responsibility, Samsung Malaysia Electronics (SME) Sdn Bhd is organising its inaugural Charity Futsal Challenge.

The event is a spin-off of the Samsung Digital Hope, the largest social programme in the Asia Pacific Region which started in 2003 to support technology-based projects initiated by community organisations that provide employment and education opportunities for the youth and the disabled.

To be held on Nov 18 at the Sports Planet in Jalan Ampang, the challenge is expecting a response of 40 teams with eight players in each.


Tan (centre), Chew (right) and Mok Chee Meng of the Lions Services for Children discussing among themselves the promotional poster and prizes up for grabs in the Samsung Charity Futsal Challenge at the Tan’s office in Plaza Sentral, Kuala Lumpur, recently.
An entrance fee of RM1,000 per team will be the participants' donation to the cause.

“Samsung contributes towards charity organisations on its own and this time we wanted to do something that involved other corporate companies,” said SME marketing general manager Jimmy Tan.

“Through this, we hope to foster cooperation and friendship in the corporate fraternity besides fulfilling our social responsibility,” he said.

Tan said proceeds from the competition would be given to philanthropic organisations and welfare homes such as St. Nicholas Home for the Visually Impaired in Penang, the Selangor Social Welfare Council and the Lions Club Cybercare (Kuala Lumpur).

Cybercare is currently providing aid to 5,000 children in 90 orphanages nationwide.

Its president, Chew Hoong Ling commended Samsung on its efforts, and was confident that a continued effort to help the less fortunate and abused children would mould them into model citizens.

“They are lacking in academic knowledge and also self-confidence. For the past eight years we have taken many children under our wing and helped them grow – mentally and physically.

“As of today, through a provision of grant from Samsung, we have managed to offer five full scholarships to deserving students, one of which is currently scoring in his engineering course with flying colours,” said Chew, adding that Samsung's involvement was the instigating factor of successful programmes such as its Education Excellence Program (EEP) and also the Youth Leadership Mentoring programme.

“We have come to share the same vision,” she told The Star, the official media partner for the event.

Participants will be delighted to know that attractive prizes are up for grabs. The winning team members will walk away with a Samsung 29’Slimfit TV, each, while Samsung mobile phones await the second place winners.

Members in third placing will receive Samsung MP3 players each.

Closing date for submission of entry forms is Nov 15. For more information, log on to www.samsung.com/my or call 012-372 2106 (Nithi).




Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com