Focus Media Singapore (“Focus Media”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hong Kong Exchange-listed Focus Media Network Limited (HKSE: 8112) and the largest digital Out-of-Home (“OOH”) media company in Singapore and Hong Kong by the number of venues in which the company deploys its digital flat-panel displays, inked its commitment to support Singapore’s own and only implementing humanitarian relief and development non-governmental organization (“NGO”), as its adopted charity for three years. This would allow Mercy Relief (MR) to create greater awareness amongst the Singaporean public on its regional disaster relief and sustainable development programmes.
In conjunction with Focus Media’s 7th anniversary party held at Zouk this evening, a Memorandum of Cooperation (“MOC”) was signed between Audrey Chee, General Manager of Focus Media and MR’s Chief Executive Hassan Ahmad. The signing was witnessed by P J Wong, Co-founder, Chairman and CEO of Focus Media Network, MR’s Chairman T K Udairam, Advisor to MR and former Speaker of Parliament Abdullah Tarmugi along with renowned regional artiste and MR’s Goodwill Ambassador Stefanie Sun.
The MOC takes immediate effect, stretching over a term of three years, and it details a total commitment from Focus Media with an airtime sponsorship package valued more than Singapore Dollars One Million and One Hundred Thousand (S$1.1million). This would enable Mercy Relief to effectively:
- Create greater awareness amongst the Singaporean public on its regional disaster relief and sustainable community development programmes;
- Promote graciousness, care, compassion and volunteerism to Focus Media’s audience, and
- Garner timely support towards its fundraising efforts for regional disaster relief and longer term community development projects.
Through the strategic leverage on Focus Media’s extensive digital OOH network at the elevator lobbies of over 340 office and commercial buildings (“Office & Commercial TV Network”) in the prime business districts and at all Housing Development Board’s 21 neighbourhood shopping malls (“HDB TV Network”) located island-wide, MR will streamline its communication objectives and targets its efforts at the highly-desirable but hard-to-reach group of professionals, manager, executives and businessmen (PMEBs). MR shall actively promote volunteerism and seek donations from this group of audience, and in tandem, encourage companies to incorporate MR’s regional humanitarian cause into their Corporate Social Responsibility (“CSR”) goals.
P J Wong, Co-founder, Chairman and CEO of Focus Media Network, commented, “Our Group is thrilled at this unique opportunity to play our part for a charitable cause. It is in line with our Group’s ongoing CSR’s activities. Mercy Relief’s resilient efforts to provide timely aid and relief supplies to the victims of natural disasters have touched the hearts of many. Their work symbolizes the selfless compassion and delivers heartwarming relief and cheers to these devastated victims. We share a common belief in helping the less privileged, regardless of country, culture and creed. Hence, our timely MOC collaboration will enable us to consolidate our resources to advocate greater awareness of the plight of the less fortunate in the region and create a more strategized platform to educate and provide avenues to champion the humanitarian cause among the general public in Singapore.”
In addition to the customary relief and development aid programmes that include timely and effective assistance to disaster-stricken communities, MR is actively involved in research and innovation for appropriate technological solutions focusing on water & sanitation, shelter, sustainable livelihoods, healthcare and education. To date, it has touched millions of lives in 22 countries in Asia namely Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Laos, Lebanon, Japan, Malaysia, the Maldives, Myanmar, Pakistan, Palestine, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam and Yemen.
Sharing his excitement, MR’s Chairman T K Udairam said, “It is interesting and heartening that while Focus Media plans for a big anniversary bash for its stakeholders and partners, it is actually creating a much larger impact to the Singaporean public through its commitment to MR. The substantial complimentary airtime across the island will allow for a greater and more effective educational outreach, and in tandem garner more resources in terms of donations and volunteers.”
Apart from the Office & Commercial TV Network and the HDB TV Network, Focus Media’s digital network is also deployed at 50 of Watsons’ top Personal Care Stores and 45 Singapore Post Retail Branches.
Singapore’s successful regional songbird and MR’s Goodwill Ambassador (since 2004) Stefanie Sun observed, “As a creative artist, I appreciate what it takes to connect with people and with Focus Media extending a helping hand to Mercy Relief, more people are able to learn about the great work that this locally-born humanitarian organisation does. Mercy Relief is limited only by the support it receives from the Singaporean community and this partnership means that we will be able to inspire more people to contribute their support.”
MR Tribesmen posing for a photo at the event with their Chairman T K Udairam and Goodwill Ambassador, Stefanie Sun.
Focus Media’s Co-founder, Chairman and CEO P J Wong congratulated MR for its efforts to help the distressed and destitute communities in the Asian region.
MR’s Chairman T K Udairam expressing his gratitude to the staff of Focus Media for their support and long-term commitment in adopting MR as their charity.
An MoC was signed between MR’s Chief Executive Hassan Ahmad and Focus Media’s General Manager Audrey Chee for a partnership to promote the Singapore-born NGO’s regional humanitarian aid programmes over a period of three years.
Special guests and VIPs gracing the event. (From L-R) MR’s Advisor and former Speaker of Parliament Abdullah Tarmugi, Focus Media’s General Manager Audrey Chee, MR’s Chairman T K Udairam and Goodwill Ambassador Stefanie Sun, Focus Media’s Co-founder, Chairman and CEO P J Wong, MR’s Board of Director Goh Kee Nguan and Chief Executive Hassan Ahmad.
About Mercy Relief
Mercy Relief is a Singaporean humanitarian organisation which engages in both disaster relief and sustainable development programmes. It was established in 2003 as an independent non-governmental humanitarian charity responding to the human tragedies in Asia. Mercy Relief’s aid programme focuses on providing timely and effective assistance to disaster-stricken communities and has maintained the delivery of emergency aid within 72 hours from the point of appeal for assistance.
In the past 12 years, Mercy Relief has disbursed over S$32 million in aid across 40 disaster relief and 53 sustainable development initiatives. Mercy Relief has impacted an aggregate of 2 million lives in 24 countries and areas, namely Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, DPR Korea, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Laos, Lebanon, Malaysia, the Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Palestine, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam and Yemen.
For more information, you may call us at 6514 6322 or email corporateaffairs@mercyrelief.org