RBC’s first in-person Race for the Kids in Singapore raises thousands for children’s charity

More than 270 RBC employees, friends and family members participated in the first-ever in-person RBC Race for the Kids in Singapore, in September.

The event was held in tandem with the Singapore Children’s Society’s Walk for Our Children, at Sentosa Island’s Palawan Green. RBC Race for the Kids raised more than S$60,000 to support the local charity, whose overarching goal is to protect and nurture children and youth.

“It’s heartwarming to see colleagues with their families and friends running or walking for a great cause. We are really proud to be holding this event in partnership with the Singapore Children’s Society,” says Rod Ireland, interim head of RBC Wealth Management in Asia and CEO of RBC Singapore Branch.

Ang Boon Min, CEO of the Singapore Children’s Society, adds, “This partnership with RBC has allowed us to raise the much-needed funds to support our programs and services. We look forward to future partnerships to support the local community.”

In 2022, the charity reached out to 21,559 children, youth and families in need. It operates more than 10 centres across the country; each provides services in four categories:

• Vulnerable children and youth
• Children and youth services
• Family services
• Research and advocacy

Donations from the RBC Race for the Kids event helped fund the following programs:

• Tinkle friend: a national toll-free helpline for all primary school children in Singapore who need an empathetic listener. Helpline staff give out non-judgmental support as well as provide advice and information to children who are in distress and/or experiencing feelings of loneliness, especially if their parents or primary caregivers are unavailable.
• Vulnerable witness support program: helps child witnesses who have to testify in criminal court cases. Volunteers provide emotional support as well as non-evidentiary practical assistance to the children.

“At RBC, part of our purpose is to help communities prosper, and the RBC Race for the Kids is such a great way to bring that to life,” says Kamran Azim, COO of RBC Wealth Management in Asia and deputy CEO of RBC Singapore Branch.

“Knowing the funds we raised will help support children and youth makes this extremely meaningful,” says Phua Bee Leng, head of APAC Business Transformation Group and Finance Change Management team at RBC.

Launched in 2009 in New York City’s Riverside Park, RBC Race for the Kids has since grown into a global charity event, raising more than C$82 million for youth organizations. In Singapore, RBC has raised more than S$450,000 for the Singapore Children’s Society since 2021.

Watch the video to see the RBC Race for the Kids in action and learn more about the programs it supports.