Sept 20, 2005
No cancer fund? That's a backward step for NKF
I am an ardent donor of the National Kidney Foundation (although I
am not a big contributor) and am very proud of the status it has
achieved over the years.
I can say I supported its programmes and objective to save and help
the unfortunate.
When I first received a letter from then CEO T.T. Durai asking me
to support him in setting up a new fund for less fortunate
children, I did not hesitate and contributed what I could to the
fund.
I was proud that the institution was embarking on a life-saving
programme from kidney patients to disabled children. I strongly
believe that it is the way to go for an institution that has a
successful programme for kidney patients to extend its experience
and know-how to help others.
It is just like a corporation expanding its area of expertise to
other products but in this case it is a non-profit
organisation.
Last year, it stated its intention to help cancer patients. I
supported this new fund without hesitation. Since then, I had been
contributing whatever I could to the funds.
The recent news to separate them into two different funds upsets
me. Whatever that happened in the NKF saga about transparency are
being looked into and rectified by its new board and CEO.
Should not the new team just move forward in the direction set by
the previous team and not move backward?
Donors need to be educated. Tell them about the objectives of NKF
and the direction it is moving in. There is no need to change its
direction just because some donors are not happy.
I'd rather have donors who support the vision and direction of the
institution than please those who cannot appreciate the goodwill.
Going back to become just an institution for kidney patients is a
step backward. Why have so many charities when many of them have
problems raising funds and helping their beneficiaries?
The NKF Children Medical Fund and NKF Cancer Fund will now have to
employ their own administration, management and fundraising
staff.
Will this not eat into the charity dollars? Does Singapore have
that many qualified volunteers to sit on the boards? Is it not
better to belong to a single body which can effectively raise funds
by using the same staff and administrative manpower?
Will it not be cost effective to have the existing staff to
multi-task?
How will the cancer patients feel now? I remember the smiles on the
faces of cancer patients when they were first told of NKF's
intention to help them.
How disappointed they will be now? They will feel that they have
been abandoned. How about the disabled children? I just can't bear
to see the disappointment on their faces.
I believe the decision of the new team will also not go down well
with the kidney patients who had been supportive of the NKF's
decision then.
We do charity work for humanity's sake. Because of this, we strive
to better ourselves by helping the unfortunate, go forward whenever
we can and help all those who are in need.
The NKF, as an institution, had moved forward in its mission to
help the unfortunate. Let's move forward despite the obstacles we
face. I believe the staff of NKF and its donors will not stumble
but carry on the mission.
I plead with the new NKF board and CEO to reconsider and move
forward with the vision of helping the less fortunate
individuals.
I wish all at NKF good health and will continue to do my part in
contributing to its funds.
William Tan
