Too fast, too furious

Project Awareness

SINGAPORE - A social initiative that was hatched this February.

The initiative includes giving meals to the elderly and low-income families and making grocery runs for those in need, like the disabled.

Very active online, with a regularly updated Facebook page detailing upcoming events, fund-raising efforts and asking for volunteers.

Registered with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority on July 30 as a social service, with Mr Ng Yung Kong as director.

Celebrity faces

Founded by musicians Elson Soh Yi Quan, 25, and Yummi Beh. The latter has since left.

It's now helmed by singer-songwriter Soh, who said: "I was touched by how the disabled and the elderly would attend my autograph sessions at heartland shopping malls.

"A blind man told me he may not be able to see but he can still hear my songs. So I decided I wanted to give something back to society and one way is through Project Awareness."

Mr Soh estimated the group has helped over 3,000 families. To date, it has a core group of 12 members, including him and about 500 volunteers from all walks of life.

What COC spokesman said

Fund-raising appeals here are regulated under the Charities (Fund-Raising Appeals for Local and Foreign Charitable Purposes) Regulations.

The fund-raiser is required to comply with certain legal obligations such as providing proper accountability and information to the donors or the public. Proper disclosure and record-keeping of all cash movement relating to the donation monies should be made.

"There was no requirement from the COC office for Project Awareness to suspend its activities as it prepares its submissions to the COC," the spokesman said.

Bump 1

Mr Soh started the Meal Privilege Programme in May, where the elderly can use vouchers to redeem $2 meals from participating food stalls at a coffee shop at Block 802, French Road.

Photographer Bob Chua, 47, claimed he paid two stallholders $400 after the group did not do so. He also claimed an elderly man was embarrassed to use the vouchers as a stallholder had questioned him over when the group would pay for the meals.

Not true, said Project Awareness coordinator William Soh, 37: "The payment period wasn't due yet." Since the incident, all eight stalls have come on board for the voucher programme. Mr Elson Soh filed two police reports alleging Mr Chua's comments on Facebook and to the media were defamatory.

A police spokesman said investigations revealed there was no criminal offence and advised both parties to seek civil recourse. Mr Elson Soh also sent a lawyer's letter to Mr Chua, seeking a public apology in the newspapers and damages for loss of reputation.

Mr Chua said: "They do their thing and I do mine. My objective is to help the old folks... I've achieved my objective. When you do nothing wrong, there's nothing to be afraid of."

Bump 2

The Commissioner of Charities (COC) emailed Mr Elson Soh, asking him to provide details about the group's activities by next Wednesday.

Among the information sought:
*Amount of donations Project Awareness received
* Expenses incurred
*Accountability procedures
* How the group identifies beneficiaries

The group has voluntarily suspended all activities "so that more transparency can be given to all parties". But the free meal voucher programme is continuing. Its Facebook posting on Thursday thanked those who stood by them and pledged to "come back stronger to help more needy families".

While the group previously declined to reveal the donation amount raised to the media, project co-ordinator Mr William Soh told TNP the biggest single donation received was $10,000 in cash.

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