An Open Letter to Singapore from Chairman, Singapore Red Cross

The "Tidal Waves Asia Fund" will be closing it's collection in about a week's time. To date, it has collected an unprecedented S$50,000,000 (about US$30,600,000, or US$7.1 per capita), not including the Government's S$1,000,000.

From the "Open Letter to Singapore from Lt Gen Winston Choo, Retd., Chairman, Singapore Red Cross" (Jan 17, 2005):

Dear Fellow Singaporeans,

On behalf of the Singapore Red Cross, I write to thank each and everyone in Singapore for your most generous support and contribution towards the "Tidal Waves Fund".

...

I am very grateful to the many Singaporeans and our friends who have responded to the appeal with such overwhelming outpouring of contributions and support. I would like to thank the various media for the tremendous support in publicising this appeal.

In the last 3 weeks, I am very touched by the spontaneous flow of people coming to the Red Cross House to make their contributions. There were people from all walks of life; from children with their piggy banks, housewives with their grocery contributions, the elderly with their savings, taxi drivers to big multinational corporations and even the expatriate communities, offering their precious time and money to help the Singapore Red Cross. Our initial modest target of S$1 million was met within 2 days of the appeal.

I would also like to take this opportunity to recognise the efforts of all volunteers who have come forward to help us at the Red Cross House. To all volunteers of the Singapore Red Cross and members of the public, thank you for being here with us, working tirelessly throughout the past weeks at the Red Cross House. From counting money, manning the hotlines and tending to queries from the public, your support and assistance has helped us to manage the overwhelming response...

Read the whole thing.