UPDATED 9 September 2012
Singapore, it seems, has been hit by a wave of panda craze since Kai Kai and Jia Jia arrived from China on Thursday.
Collectible panda plush toys, which resemble the two pandas, created a snaking queue at Plaza Singapura. The shopping mall was one of six locations island-wide where the toys were being sold.
Singapore Airlines is raising funds for children with special needs through the sale of the toys. Each panda plush toy costs S$20.
All funds will be donated to the Community Chest.
Each member of the public may acquire a maximum of four panda toys, while stocks last.
Community Chest General Manager Tan Bee Heong said funding requirements for children with special needs have increased by 47 per cent compared to last year, so it was timely to raise funds for the 36 programmes supporting children with special needs under the care of Community Chest.
Community Chest aims to raise S$72.3 million this year to help support 82 charities in running 219 critical social service programmes.
The funds raised will benefit over 300,000 people, including children with special needs, youths-at-risk, persons with disabilities, lonely and frail elderly and families-in-need.
This article was first published in CNA
UPDATE: Singapore Airlines (SIA) is pleased to announce that through the Singapore Airlines Charity Day on 8 September 2012, they have raised a total of $380,000 for the Community Chest Singapore. Limited edition panda plush toys were available for a minimum donation of $20. The funds raised will go towards programmes benefitting children with special needs. SIA is sincerely grateful to everyone who gave so generously
