SRC, Mercy Relief, Local Artistes

- From http://www.redcross.org.sg/: the amount collected to date as of 14th Jan, 2005: S$45,000,000 (about US$27,400,000 or US$6.4 per capita) excluding the S$1,000,000 donation made by the Singapore Government.

- Elsewhere (CNA Jan 15), some 3,000 youths volunteered to help in a street collection organised by Mercy Relief to raise funds for tsunami victims, the largest number ever for any of its donation drives. On a Saturday too. The volunteers, mostly secondary school and tertiary students, also included members of the Sikh Association, Soka Association and the New Creation Church. Mercy Relief has collected S$1.6 million so far, not including Saturday's collection.

- Also in the news (CNA Jan 15): MediaCorp and other local artistes lent their voices to raise money for tsunami victims by putting together a music album in just nine days in hope of raising some S$60,000 for tsunami victims. The albulm--3000 copies made--sells at S$20 per copy and all proceeds go to the Singapore Red Cross. From the same report:

Nadya Hutagulung also auctioned off personal belongings for a good cause. Star power also ran high at the Civil Defence Association for National Servicemen (CDANS), when Singapore Idol Taufik Batisah, who is a full time NSman, took part in the joint fundraising effort with the Singapore Police Association (SPANS), which raised S$100,000. On a quieter note, over S$18,000 was raised at an auction of quilts and teddy bears, which saw a "Children Of The World" piece sold at S$2,100.

I never thought that I'll be saying this to media celebrities, but I take my hat off to you...