Bringing some year-end cheer to the needy

Peter Goh, managing director of EMC Computer Systems (M) — also known as EMC² — is a great host. From wine tasting to golf tournaments, Goh has for some years now initiated highly interesting social events catering to partners and friends of the firm to strengthen and maintain the company’s network — adding some cheer to the serious business of wheeling and dealing, so to speak.

One of the much-anticipated events is an annual golf tournament that happens every year-end, which sees 50 of EMC²’s golfing corporate friends come together for some clean and green fun. However, this year, Goh has decided to forego the golf tournament to pursue a nobler cause. The money allocated for the golf tournament is now put into organising a huge charity event to benefit various  established charities.

The event is called Extraordinary Efforts for Excellence, scheduled for Dec 11 at One World Hotel, whose management has graciously charged the organisers a nominal sum for the  dinner. The event is a collaboration between EMC², The Edge and ECM Libra, and is open to corporations or individuals who are looking to end a very tough year (financially) with some cheer and goodwill. The main highlight of this charity dinner/show is the entertainment package designed by Datuk Leonard Tan — musician and all-round entertainer who’s also known as “king of jingles” and “man with 1,000 voices”.

The main players: (from left) Goh, Ho and Tan. Photo by Haris Hassan

Says Goh: “It all started during a conversation with Leonard and Ho Kay Tat (The Edge editor-in-chief). Instead of me spending money on a golf tournament which benefits only the golfers, I decided to put it in something that has to do with charity. We started talking about a charity concert, and began to discuss who we could get as additional sponsors, who could play a role.”

Adds Ho: “We thought, ‘let’s give it a shot’. We think that Corporate Malaysia will respond and the fact that whether you’re in a recession or not, there are needy individuals and organisations out there. And it’s towards the end of the year… perhaps it’s time for us to celebrate and get rid of this horrible year. It’s the end of the year, and people like to party, so why not use their funds to come join us that evening and do some work for charity; otherwise, it would’ve been another golf game, and we [golfers] would be the only beneficiaries.”

The three partners — EMC², ECM Libra and The Edge — are hoping to raise more than RM1 million that night for the various causes including the Alzheimer’s Disease Foundation Malaysia, MyKasih Foundation, Pusat Penjagaan Kanak-Kanak Cacat Taman Megah and StART Society. Goh says they are hoping that each beneficiary will get a reasonably good sum.

“We don’t want to give them an amount that will only cover one or two months of their operations. Focusing on a few beneficiaries would allow us to give substantial amounts from the acquired funds,” says Goh.

Apart from the proceeds off table sales, ECM Libra will also be contributing a substantial donation to various beneficiaries through the ECM Libra Foundation. 

The ECM Libra foundation was formed by the three founding partners of the financial group Datuk Seri Kalimullah Hassan, Lim Kian Onn and David Chua, who together contributed RM63 million to set up the foundation. Thus far, it has given out RM11 million to help rural national schools, Chinese independent schools and schools in the interiors of Sabah and Sarawak. It has also given out RM2 million in student loans and scholarships.

According to an ECM Libra spokesperson, the three of them  set up the foundation because they wanted to give underprivileged children, regardless of race, a leg up in life. “The three of them come from poor backgrounds and know how important it is for poor children to have access to higher education to improve not just their own lives but that of their families,” he said.

For example, the foundation recently gave scholarships to three East Malaysian students to pursue their university studies after their applications for government aid were rejected.  The aid is given not just to students who want to pursue science and engineering degress but also to those studying arts and music.

There will be 130 tables open for sale, priced at RM3,500 and RM5,000. Adds Goh, “And we’re making sure that for those who come in, they’ll get more than their dollar’s worth of entertainment, food and drinks.”

The audience will be treated to a seven to eight-course Chinese meal, free flow of beverages and four solid hours of entertainment, or what Tan calls, “An Enchanting Evening of Entertainment”, in the spirit of the Three E event. Designed by Tan with families in mind, the evening’s programme includes a magic show, an art show and auction by allentan of TrueFACES Creation, and a medley of singing, dancing and comedy sketches.

“I notice that most charity dos are all about singers going up to sing, sing and sing. It gets so boring that people go outside and smoke and drink,” says Tan, the entertainment veteran, who confidently says people of all ages will be able to enjoy his variety charity show.

One of the highlights is a never-before collaboration of Tan with long-time friend and fellow entertainer Helmi Gimmick. Not much has been revealed save for a warning to be prepared for some clean comedic fun with The Leonard and Helmi Show.

Rena, an independent songstress labelled Malaysia’s Blondie, will also be there to thrill the audience with a rich repertoire of songs in different dialects. There’ll be some dance performances, one of which is choreographed by former World Dance Champion Ichiro. And following a global trend, there will be a tribute to the late and great Michael Jackson although it won’t be your generic Beat It/Thriller dance mob. Without wanting to divulge too much,  just expect to be wowed MJ-style as a dance troupe brings one of the legendary artiste’s music videos to life. 

“I usually have an annual dinner for my staff, so this year it will be at the One World Hotel at this charity concert. The company sponsors the employees, but they’re welcome to bring along their spouses or family members by buying extra tickets — it’s all in the spirit of giving,” says Goh, adding that perhaps other companies can do the same and be a part of this event in a big way.

“It’s for whoever wants to come. There will not be a ‘VIP’ or one special guest… for this night, everyone is VIP, everyone is a special guest. No one person will be treated more special than the others.”

Some of the beneficiaries of the event
MyKasih Foundation
This non-profit organisation operates a novel welfare system that comprises an innovative food aid programme, courses on financial literacy and budgeting as well as after-school tutoring for children. The beneficiaries are the poor and needy who’ve been identified by the government and established welfare agencies. They are given a monthly allowance to shop for necessities using their MyKad at participating retailers.
MyKasih gives the recipients and their children a chance to break out of the cycle of poverty.

Pusat Penjagaan Kanak Kanak Cacat Taman Megah
At least 138 disabled and underprivileged children of different races have found a home at the “pusat”. About 100 of them are disabled — inflicted with cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, dwarfism, Down’s syndrome, to name a few. The rest of them are healthy children who come from broken, abused or single parent background. In January, the home signed an agreement to purchase a piece of land to build a complete centre to house these children, who are currently spread across five houses. The total cost of the project is RM6 million. Only RM200,000 has been raised so far.

StART Society
Formed by Foetus International (Malaysia’s biggest communications group), StART is an arts academy that provides free music, drama, art, craft, dance, speech and life skills lessons for underprivileged children. There are about 150 children from six different homes, including some Myanmar refugee children from a centre in Bandar Puteri Puchong, enrolled in the programme run by six full-time qualified teachers who receive a nominal salary. It takes about RM1 million a year to operate the centre.

Alzheimer’s Disease Foundation Malaysia (ADFM)
This non-profit organisation works to promote awareness of Alzheimer’s disease in Malaysia and initiates services such as counselling, practical and emotional support as well as guidance training to help patients and their families. At the heart of ADFM’s efforts is the country’s first Alzheimer’s daycare centre, where therapeutic activities are provided to those crippled by this disease. About 10,000 people are currently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in Malaysia.