Annual Report 2009/2010
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ANNUAL REPORT 2009/2010 MILK Fund Annual Report 2009/10 Contents 1. President’s Message ................................................................ 2 2. MILK (Mainly I Love Kids) Fund........................................... 3 3. Programmes – Local................................................................ 5 4. Programmes – Regional Humanitarian Efforts........................10 5. MILK Events .........................................................................12 6. People for MILK....................................................................13 7. Acknowledgements ................................................................14 8. Statutory Information .............................................................18 9. Charities Code of Governance Compliance ............................22 10. Financial Statements 2009/10 (enclosed) 1 MILK Fund Annual Report 2009/10 1. President’s Message 2009 has seen some critical growth and development of our local programmes. In the past year, we have seen our programmes reach out to 9,900 children in Singapore and about 3,200 children through direct funding of programmes in the region through a committed group of VWO partners who run the programmes. Other overseas programmes supported by MILK in previous years continued to benefit more than 18,000 people. Over the 6 years since MILK was incorporated, our work has evolved to ensure that we remain relevant and responsive to the needs in our community. This year, our MILK Education Fund, which includes both scholarships as well as bursaries, saw a rise in the number of beneficiaries. Over the last 3 years, we have continued to respond to the needs presented to us as well as assessing the many educational schemes available for tertiary education to ensure that duplication is minimal. In the hope that our MILK Scholarships will serve as an inspirational tool for future cohorts of low income students, we have further extended our financial assistance to include siblings of children with special needs. A partnership was also established with Republic Polytechnic to support their Student Emergency Scheme and Student Pocket Money Scheme, which help students cope with unexpected emergency expenses and education related expenses. We also provided seed funding for Ang Mo Kio Family Service Centre and HELP Family Service Centre for one of their programmes each. Funding for these programmes is managed through the MILK Community Foundation for Children. We are happy to report that Compassion Fund Ltd received its charity and IPC status in August 2009. Going forward, MILK’s annual fund raiser Share-A-Meal will be managed by Compassion Fund Ltd. In our overseas work, exploratory discussions on a water project in Indonesia were initiated. The project aims to provide affordable clean water and wholistic community services to impact health, nutrition and education. We also funded the set-up of English Learning facilities at Middle School No. 2 in Luo Yuan, China, to better equip the students. Many thanks to the donors and supporters who attended the MILK Dinner on 10 November 2009. The evening was our way of showing our appreciation for your belief in our work. My grateful thanks to Shangri-La Hotel Singapore who once again sponsored the dinner and venue. Once again, thank you for continuing to make a difference to the lives of the children at MILK. It has been an exciting year for us, without which would not have been possible without your support. Dr Sheryn Mah, President 2 MILK Fund Annual Report 2009/10 2. MILK (Mainly I Love Kids) Fund Registered in June 2004, MILK (Mainly I Love the children come from impoverished communities Kids) Fund is a charity organisation that was set up and families. to reach out and help disadvantaged children who “fall through the cracks” of our social safety net. We How does MILK work work alongside mainstream programmes, through our partners, to plug the gaps and provide a holistic MILK focuses on plugging gaps in the social service approach that guide these disadvantaged children sector rather than duplicating what is already in back to mainstream society. existence. In a unique partnership formed with a committed group of local and overseas partners, each These children come from low-income, troubled specializing in their area of expertise, MILK plays families or impoverished communities and some are the role of advocacy and fund raising while the physically challenged. We support them in their partners focus on providing direct services for the education, care and guidance, vocational and children. livelihood development and other special needs so as to give them the opportunity to develop to their full This year, through our various programmes with the potential. partners, MILK served more than 9,900 children in Singapore. In the region, MILK served about 3,200 Our Vision children through direct funding of programmes. Other overseas programmes supported by MILK in No child capable of developing into a contributing previous years continued to benefit more than 18,000 member of society will be marginalised because of people. disability, illness, poverty or social circumstances. Review of Financial State and Major Financial Our Mission Transactions in the Financial Year MILK reaches out to disadvantaged children and MILK recorded a net outgoing resources of youth by focusing on advocacy and fund-raising S$3,595,643 for the FY 2009/2010. Incoming whilst working with our partners to implement resources of S$3,538,571 consisted primarily of preventative and rehabilitative programmes. donations in cash. Total resources expended amounted to S$7,134,214, of which approximately Our Values and Principles S$6.9 millions were programme disbursements. Major disbursements included: • We believe in working with committed • Beyond Social Services - $1.1 million partners to ensure that our programmes are • Compassion Fund - $501,400, part of transformational and meet needs that “fall which were proceeds raised from through the cracks” Share-A-Meal • We believe that our programmes must be • MILK Community Foundation for responsive and compassionate Children - $4,580,464, transferred for • We believe in good governance guided by the purposes of providing sustainable transparency and integrity funding to programmes proposed through The Community Foundation Who Does MILK help of Singapore Governance costs (excluding depreciation) amounted MILK supports disadvantaged children who are to 4.08% of total donation income. capable of mainstream education or employment and with a leg up; they are able to lead their lives as contributing members of the society. In the region, 3 MILK Fund Annual Report 2009/10 Policies Adopted During the Financial Year Purposes for Which the Charity’s Assets are Held Operating costs were partially covered by donations The only asset of MILK Fund is a leasehold property from MILK Members. at No. 1 Kaki Bukit Road 1 #02-10 Enterprise One (Singapore 415934) which is fully sponsored by a MILK Member. The property is used for the running of MILK’s operations. 4 MILK Fund Annual Report 2009/10 3. Programmes – Local MILK ensures that help provided is holistic and Objective: transformational to the families or community by o To provide support and care to pregnant bringing together resources and committed partners. teens with an emphasis on nurturing responsible decision making. Assistive Technology Fund (ATF) Partner: Beyond Social Services Supplement The ATF, implemented by Centre for Enabled Living (CEL), provides persons with disabilities with Bursary for Pathlight Students financial assistance in purchasing assistive MILK provides bursaries to 35 – 40% of students in technology devices, to pursue mainstream education Pathlight School from low income families. or gain employment. Applicants who qualify can Pathlight School is the first autism-focused school receive a subsidy of a maximum of 90% of the cost offering the Singapore mainstream curriculum with of the device or S$10,000, whichever is lower. special accommodations and support to students with Often, low income applicants are unable to afford Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). MILK’s bursary their portion of the co-payment and hence run the provides supplementary support to cover school risk of not getting the much-needed equipment at all. transport, pocket money, uniforms, textbooks, stationery and enrichment programmes. 126 students This year, MILK assisted a total of 51 applicants by were supported by the bursary this year. providing a supplement on top of the ATF subsidy. Of these, 27 were school-going children requiring Objectives: assistive devices such as wheelchairs, hearing aids o To enable children with ASD to continue and Prostheses, etc. As a children’s charity, our education and stay in school despite focus is on disadvantaged children and youth of 25 financial difficulties. years age and below. However, we were able to o To enable children with ASD better provide funding for individuals over 25 years of age integration with mainstream community and only because of donations from a well wisher. reaching their maximum potential. Objectives: Partner: Pathlight School, Autism Resource o To provide top-up funding for children with Centre disabilities from low-income families. o To ensure holistic support to the families to Campland Beyond & Juvenile Justice address other pressing needs. Campland Beyond and Juvenile Justice Programmes are platforms to engage schools in building a support Partner: Centre for Enabled Living network