Jet Li's One Foundation

1. This article appeared in Reader's Digest January 2009 issue.

2. Jet Li is a famous international famous kungfu star from China. He was once China's martial arts champion, trained at the renowned Shaolin Temple.

3. He had a brush with death on 26th December 2004, when the tsunami killed about 300,000 people. At that time he was in the Maldives with his wife, two daughters and their nanny. One of his daughters and the nanny almost drowned but was saved by four bystanders. That incident shook him up and prompted him to take a closer look at what he wanted to do with his life. He was a changed man after that.

4. He spent a lot of time learning about philanthropy including speaking to academics around the world and visiting the Rockefeller Foundation to learn what makes a successful non-government organisation (NGO).

5. "What I learned is you need transparency." People need to trust that their money actually reaches the needy.

6. The idea behind One Foundation is simple: think big by thinking small. If everybody gives one yuan every month, it will add up to billions of dollars.

7. He teamed up with Alibaba.com's founder Jack Ma who allowed him to make use of his online payment system without any processing fees.

8. The foundation raised $16 million in about 18 months.

9. One Foundation wants to build a platform, a bridge between people who want to give the money and the NGOs that need it.

10. Jet Li and Jack Ma stayed up late three nights in a row, trying to figure out how to make One Foundation a model for NGOs in China.

Innovative way of doing charity

Sunlove Abode for Intellectually Infirmed, a charity in Singapore, has come up with an innovative way of helping the poor. They are buying staples like rice in bulk, repacking them into small quantities, and then selling them at cost.

This way, they can help the poor without hurting their own wallets.

For report, see The Straits Times, January 9, 2009.

Budimas raises RM30,000

1. Budimas 3rd Annual Christmas charity bazaar managed to raise RM30,000 for unfortunate children.

2. Budimas is now supporting more than 500 orphans and poor children from 10 homes.

3. Budimas recently set up their own home called Pusat Jagaan Kebajikan Budimas Orion in Petaling Jaya.

For full report and list of the 10 homes supported by Budimas, please see The Star, 23 December 2008.

4. The Budimas Charitable Foundation was incorporated under the Trustees Act 1952 on September 14, 1998 and is under the royal patronage of Her Royal Highness, Duli Yang Maha Mulia Seri Paduka Baginda, Raja Permaisuri Agong. It came under a new Board of Trustees when Malaysian Assurance Alliance Berhad (MAA Assurance), a Melewar Group Company, adopted Budimas in November 2001.

Muslim Care charity helps all races

1. Muslim Care is a charity organisation set up in 2000 by Mr Zulkefli bin Mohd Nani, a consultant at SIRIM Malaysia.

2. The charity helps people from all races and background.

3. They also contribute towards natural disasters outside the country such as tsunami victims in Acheh.

4. They also contribute towards refugees in Palestine, Syria and Iraq.

5. In times of worldwide conflict, such a charity fostering love among different races and religion is indeed commendable.

For full report, see The Star, 23 December 2008.

Singapore NKF scandal

1. Only 10% of every dollar had gone to healthcare in Singapore's National Kidney Foundation (NKF).

2. "Squeaky-clean" Singaporeans consider the scandal a national shame.

3. Former CEO of NKF, TT Durai, drew a yearly salary of S$600,000, together with perks, including first-class flights paid for by donor funds, and the upkeep of his Mercedes.

4. The scandal shows that abuse of funds can happen in any charity in the world. It all depends on the people handling the money; how ethical they are.

Reference: http://www.littlespeck.com/content/politics/CTrendsPolitics-070113.htm

The Star, 23rd December 2008.

Donations drop more than 60%

1. Rising costs due to rise in petrol prices have hit charities badly.

2. Couple with the current world financial crisis, charities in Malaysia are now in dire need of funds to keep themselves afloat.

3. Some charities like Penang-based The Hiding Place, a drug rehabilitation and juvenile centre, has also seen a reduction by more than 60 percent.

4. Charity Malaysia appeals to all donors to keep the funds flowing, even at a slower pace. Please do not stop giving. Charities in Malaysia depend on you.

For full report, see Malay Mail, July 21, 2008.

One Egg One Child (OEOC)

One Egg One Child is an outreach programme initiated by JC Inspirations Sdn Bhd founder and chairman Dr Peggy Wong, with the aim of providing breakfast for the hardcore poor on school days.

For full report, see The Star, 7th May 2007.

Public view of charities

1. Marina Mahathir says that the public's view of charity has not evolved with the times.

2. She is the daughter of our former prime minister, Mahathir Mohamad.

3. There is a mistaken belief that charities must be run by volunteers.

4. There is no such thing as a full-time volunteer.

5. All charities should be accountable for money given to them.

6. There should be a way of defining and regulating professional fundraisers.

7. It is most disturbing to find people hanging around banks and restaurants trying to raise funds.

For full report, see The Star, 25th April 2007.

Fundraising a big task for charities

Charities in Malaysia are exploited in various ways. This is because it is a big task for them to raise funds. Sometimes they have no choice but to engage professional fundraisers.

See full report at The Star, 15 April 2007.

Charity funds abused

1. Abuse of charity funds can take various forms, says veteran fundraiser, Ann Woo.

2. Ann Woo is not sure if legislation is the answer.

3. She says, "At the end of the day, it all depends on how ethical those involved in fundraising are."

See full report at The Star, 15th April 2007.

Dr Tan Kee Kwong's name used

1. Member of Parliament, Dr Tan Kee Kwong's name was used by unscrupulous people. Dr Tan is the son of famous politician, Dr Tan Chee Khoon, remembered for his many contributions and service to the poor and needy.

See full report at The Star, 15th April 2007.

Middlemen get 60% of donations

Fundraising has become very competitive in Malaysia.
Middlemen are getting a big slice of 60% of funds raised for charity organisations here.

See report at The Star, 13th May 2007 (a) and (b).

Charity organisations exploited

Huge chunks of public donations end up in the pockets of people who least need help.
See how professional fundraisers are fleecing the public.

The Star, 15th April 2007.