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3/22/2010
Thong Chai Charity
This Charity has followed the showbiz road to raise fund to support its charity work. It has been in existence since 1867, providing free medical treatment to anyone who goes there for help. Free medical treatment! What, what, what's that? In Singapore still got free medical treatment when medical and office space costs are so high! Is someone pulling a joke? Should they be raising their fees to keep up with inflation and rising wage cost?
Indeed there are still a few of these dinosaurs that refused to keep up with time and still stupidly providing free medical treatment and medicine. They have taken the first step to the new world of commercialisation. I hope they don't go much further and start to privatise and become a profit making organisation.
For more than 140 years, Thong Chai Charity exists quietly and doing its honourable job of providing free medicine to everyone who cannot afford the great names in modern medicine. And they don't mean test anyone. Just get your treatment and medicine, no question asks.
Last night was the first time they came out to raise fund and many celebrities were moved to come forward for the cause. They included big names like Jackie Chan, Emil Chow, Mi Xue, Sky and many more from China, Taiwan, Hongkong and our local artistes. Prior to this event, the Charity survived on donations from many generous donors to keep it going. It is a worthy cause with noble and selfless doctors and staff doing their part to help the needies.
The fund raising was successful. My only concern is that they don't get carried away by the generosities of the donors and make it an annual affair to raise funds for more ambitious schemes. Just raise fund when needed and not raise fund for the sake of raising fund to build a reserve for the next 100 years.
The Charity has so far been doing a great and honorable job, and not distracted by the huge money that the medical profession can command. They have still not gotten to the idea of charging an arm or a leg to desperate people in need of help. We need such institutions to show what genuine compassion and charity mean.
Do similar organizations in other countries do such things?
ReplyDeleteOr only in rich and well-off first world countries?
We used to have a very strong tradition and culture of philantrophy. Many schools and medical halls were built by the successful. Some of the fund came from a community spirit to look after the less able. There are still a few big philantrophy foundations here, and also quite a number of individuals who are sharing some of their wealth with the poor.
ReplyDeleteThis may be a dying tradition.
The Americans too have great philantrophers, the Ford, the Carnegie and now the Gates and Buffett etc etc.
The Indians should also have their share of great philantrophers as they have many in our community as well.
This hospital helped couples who faced fertility problem to have children.
ReplyDeleteMaybe, for couples who are needy for child and not needy financially should make handsome donations to the hospital, voluntarily.
The problem with voluntary, private charity -- initiated and maintained by philanthropists many of who remain anonymous is that the government tends to involved itself to keep things "honest".
ReplyDeleteYou will find private charities which have a long track record run very well -- no need for government meddling.
Since all governments create a corrupting influence, worse than the the meanest organised criminal organisation can ever do --as long as the government leaves these long-term private charities alone, the longer they can do their great and worthwhile work.
to anon 209:
Yes, private charities are all over the place, especially in rich countries. They don't just offer medical services. They perform a whole plethora of "good works" -- from building homes, offering pro-bono legal services, micro financing, funding for research and art works, purchasing large tracks of virgin land to keep as "nature reserves", education services and funding etc.
The reason for this enormous amount of charity is the amount of wealth created which is a result of a high level of capitalism -- especially in huge capital structures and structures of production. In other words the richer you are, the more you can contribute to those who require assistance.
However when govt becomes "charitable" what you end up with is a welfare state. It robs and then re-distributes. It takes what you make to "give" you what you "want" -- but always falls short of the mark... you get less, and the civil servants get most of the booty.
Support private charity. Fuck the govt welfare state.
In private charity, people donate voluntarily. In govt welfare, the people are taxed.
ReplyDeleteThe good thing about govt welfare is that there is no corruption.
In private charity, there are many bogus beans with hearts of gold, and making sure that their pockets are also filled with gold from the charities.
I have never donated a single cent to Organized Charities in my entire life. Therefore, I have never been conned.
ReplyDeleteI do good deeds in my own unique buffet way.
Providence has seen my good works and I am suitably rewarded.
Amen.
Looks like Kwong Wai Siu could be next on the line to do charity show.
ReplyDeleteWhen will such sympathy drawing shows cease or will they become round the year affairs ?
Are there no leaders in SIN to take cares of just a few poor and weak folks ???
Yes we have hundreds of billions, if not trillions. But somehow we still need more. And the charities should continue to beg to help the charitables.
ReplyDeleteOur national wealth are meant for better things.
Ask Matilah whether there is so much begging in Aussieland or not? OK. per capita.
ReplyDeleteI do good deeds in my own unique buffet way.
ReplyDeleteHi tanga, welcome to the blog.
ReplyDeleteGood for you.
Of course there is. The "entitlement mentality" is alive and well in this unashamed quasi-socialist welfare state.
ReplyDeleteBUT the amazing thin is that private charity is huge too. I have problems with the roots of this land being based on the Chrisitan religion, but at least these fuckers are not as crazy as the fundamentalist Christian base in the USA.
Australian version of Christianity is served with a beer, joint, the footy and a large-breasted tanned and thonged beach babe... i.e. having "fun" ("vices") are not "sins", and "sins" are not "crimes".