SINGAPORE – In 1984, 21-year-old factory clerk Lim Kim Lan decided to start donating a few dollars of her salary every month to the Community Chest (ComChest).

She had heard about its initiative to encourage people to donate regularly at a workplace sharing, and thought that those few dollars could go towards something bigger.

“If you have a big pool of people giving one or two dollars every month, it adds up and can really create great impact,” said the 60-year-old who is now working as a part-time clerk.

Madam Lim, who has continued giving a small sum of money each month, was one of many recognised on Wednesday as long-time donors of ComChest.

A total of 196 organisations and individuals were lauded at the ComChest Awards ceremony for their contributions towards donations, volunteering and inclusive hiring.

For Madam Lim, the dedicated effort to give back is one way to instill good values in her children. When she receives her yearly letter from ComChest to thank her for her contributions, she makes it a point to show it to her daughter.

She said: “I want to be a good example for her and show her that giving back is very important.”

All donations to ComChest went towards supporting more than 200 critical social services and 93,000 individuals in need, the philanthropy arm of the National Council of Social Service said in a news release on Wednesday.

These include children with special needs and youths at risk, adults with disabilities, people with mental health conditions and families and seniors in need of assistance, it added.

The award ceremony was attended by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, his wife Ms Jane Ittogi, and Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Social and Family Development Eric Chua.

SP Group received the highest accolade, the Pinnacle Award, for its various efforts in giving.

The utilities firm started its partnership with ComChest in 2005 when it established the Heartware Fund, which raises funds for programmes that help vulnerable people in Singapore.

The group also allows its customers and business associates to contribute to ComChest through the SP app. It also provides internship and employment opportunities to students or adults with special needs under its Growing Autistic Talent for Engineering Sector programme, a tie-up with non-profit Trampolene.

SP Group head of communications Amelia Champion said: “We recognise that workplaces are made conducive for diverse abilities, in this case persons with disabilities. This partnership has enabled us to take the first steps to understand how our workplace can be made suitable and welcoming for them.”

Apart from the Pinnacle Award, it also received the Charity Platinum, Enabler, and Volunteer Partner Awards for its contributions through donations, volunteerism and other forms of support.