It was ubiquitous.
In the development of YSG’s business blueprints, the taskforce was unanimous and shared a common belief - beyond a robust business strategy for greater sustainability and performance, the YSG model has to be an inclusive one and one that would fundamentally embed Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) into YSG’s DNA.
YSG went live in October 2020, a time when the Covid-19 pandemic was still clutching the world’s economy in its cast-iron grip. With little signs of the pandemic loosening its suffocating hold, charities saw a drastic drop in donations. Covid-19 has pivoted a paradigm shift in Singapore’s giving culture and attitude, and where self-preservation would at least for now take precedence and dominate the scene.
Amid the economic challenges and fears that are very real in the presence of Covid-19, there’s a pressing need to do more for charities, for the unsung heroes who have gone all out to make a positive difference in the lives of the less fortunate. At YSG, we want to be part of that difference and we will not allow labels such as ‘being new’ to define or limit us in our altruistic support of philanthropic causes. Instead, we saw how our unique position as an e-commerce platform can provide businesses with the opportunity to come together as a community to ‘Do Good’ collectively and in solidarity.
At the very heart of YSG, we believe we have a bigger purpose than profits alone. We believe that our CSR efforts will produce a ripple effect and gradually bring giving to the forefront of public consciousness and where we have exemplified that it’s never too early or too late to ‘Do Good’, now and in the future.
Come January 2021, YSG will be organising its inaugural CSR charity drive and where 100% of the nett proceeds will be donated to Children’s Cancer Foundation (CCF) in support of children and their families affected by childhood cancer (www.ccf.org.sg).
We will be releasing more information via YSG’s social media platforms in time to come. Join and support us to ‘Do Good’ for CCF.
Posted on: 28th December 2020
The sweeping worldwide impact of COVID-19 has far-reaching effects. Charities with noble missions, notwithstanding, are one of the most vulnerable sectors in the face of great economic devastation. Some charities may not survive the economic uncertainties when their cash flow is already severely compromised by dipping donations, and when the competition for funding support is now even greater and more intensive in a very tight space.
Back home, it was reported in The Straits Times on 4th January 2021 that despite Singapore’s deepest recession, donations hit a record high in 2020. Giving.sg, a giving platform for charitable causes, received $93.4 million, twice the amount it received in 2019. It is heart-warming to learn that instead of being deterred by the grim outlook, the Singapore community remained selfless in the relentless support of charitable causes. The news was particularly encouraging when earlier 2020 reports revealed that some charities had to dip into their reserves to sustain their services or even reduced the number of services as donations dried up. While the boost in donations is great news, the financial impact of COVID-19 may be far from over for the charity sector especially with the cancellation of physical fundraising efforts.
Children’s Cancer Foundation (CCF)’s mission seeks to improve the quality of life of children with childhood cancer and their families. CCF is fully dependent on public donations and on an average of the past 3 years, CCF raised $9.9 million annually with its signature event, Hair for Hope, accounting for some 40% of the total amount raised. CCF expends approximately $8.5 million to provide free support services and programmes, not limited to financial assistance, to their beneficiaries.
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, CCF made a bold and applaudable decision – the cancellation of Hair for Hope 2020. For a charity that is fully funded by donations, the decision was more than just courageous. It was socially responsible and a strong reflection of CCF’s conscious efforts to do its part in reducing the risk of further local transmission of COVID-19 in the Singapore community.
If anything, COVID-19 has taught us that even at our most vulnerable, there exists a greater existence if we are able to look beyond our own personal circumstances to do the greater good for those that need our help now more than ever before. COVID-19 has showed us the imperative of looking into ourselves and whether in the deep recess of our consciousness, we have the indomitable fortitude to ‘Do Good’, come what may. We have displayed our solidarity in 2020 by giving more than before even in these trying times.
Let’s not stop there and keep the momentum going. Let’s join hands as a community to ‘Do Good’ for CCF from 15th to 17th January 2021.
100% of the nett sales proceeds from “Do Good Charity Store” at www.ysg.com.sg will be fully donated to CCF in support of their selfless work in improving the life quality of children with childhood cancer. Let our collective efforts be an encouragement to CCF’s beneficiaries by letting them know through ‘Do Good’ that they will never be alone in their fight against this life-threatening illness, and there is a community of strong support standing behind them!
Posted on: 6th January 2021
Posted on: 10th January 2021
Join and support the fundraiser for the Children’s Cancer Foundation (‘CCF’) simply by shopping at the Do Good Charity Store on ysg.com.sg.
‘Do Good’ for yourself and your loved ones by starting the new year healthy with a wide range of wellness supplements sponsored by our brand partners, Bondi Vite (@bondivite_sg),Himalaya Wellness Singapore (@himalayaherbsg), logistics sponsors Ninja Van Singapore (@ninjavansg) and YCH Group Pte Ltd (@YCHGrp) for this charitable initiative. What’s more, you will also be starting 2021 with an act of love and kindness and ‘Do Good’ for CCF as 100% of the nett proceeds from the sales at Do Good Charity Store will be donated to CCF in support of their works in improving the quality of life of children with childhood cancer and their families.
For information on Children's Cancer Foundation, please go to www.ccf.org.sg to find out more.
If you are new to YSG, register for an account to receive the latest updates on Do Good and do your part for a worthy cause happening from 15th to 17th Jan 2021.
If you are already registered with YSG, simply pop by Do Good Charity Store on these dates and join us in our support of CCF’s beneficiaries and where we want the children to know that they are not alone in their battle against this life-threatening condition.
Posted on: 13th January 2021
How to ‘Do Good’:
Register for an account here, to receive the latest news and to ‘Do Good’ between 15th to 17th January 2021.
If you are already a YSG user, we’ll see you at the Do Good Charity Store from 15th to 17th Jan 2021 to do our part for charity.
Do Good is made possible by YSG and our Brand Partners Bondi Vite Singapore, Himalaya Wellness Singapore, Ninja Van Singapore, YCH Group Pte Ltd.
Follow us at Facebook & Instagram for the latest on Do Good!
In the upcoming instalment of Do Good 2021, YSG’s charity of choice is the Samaritans of Singapore (“SOS”). YSG is stepping forward in solidarity with SOS to show our support of the vulnerable in our society during this pandemic especially those who are more susceptible to the devastating effects in one or more ways. At the same time, YSG hopes to inspire more like-minded individuals and organisations to join us in making a positive difference for those in our community where their lives and livelihoods are abruptly disrupted by the pandemic.
SOS plays an important role in providing mental and emotional support to individuals facing a crisis leading to suicidal tendencies. During Phase 1 of the Circuit Breaker between April to June 2020, SOS reported a staggering increase of 30% in calls for help. With increase job losses, prolonged periods of isolation , the blurring of work and personal life boundaries, the stressors can be insurmountable. To those who are suffering, the fear of the stigma attached to depression and suicide further aggravates the stresses and inflicts even more damage to their mental health.
31 year-old Sarah, a survivor who opened up and shared her moments of darkness: “I got very sad, and it got worse and worse. I sat alone and just didn’t want to do it anymore. I didn’t think I was going to be one of those people that decided that they just didn’t want to be around anymore.”
Posted on: 6th October 2021
We reached out and YSG’s brand partners fervently responded with much enthusiasm to participate in YSG’s annual signature fundraiser, ‘Do Good’ charity drive!
The unwavering, strong response from YSG’s brand partners to give back to our community was heart-warming especially in this climate of heightened economic uncertainty arising from the pandemic. At YSG, we are proud and grateful to be partnering brands where the relationship transcends the transactional to one that creates a profound and lasting impact in the space of philanthropy.
The Do Good Charity Store on the YSG platform provides a rallying and unifying point for collective charity participation, and where likeminded corporations and individuals are able to come together in altruistic giving. We believe that through our united and concerted efforts in Do Good 2021, the funds raised will greatly support the core services of Samaritans of Singapore (“SOS”).
Join YSG and our brand partners this 28 October at the Do Good Charity Store where every support will make a positive difference in the important works of SOS.
Watch this space as more details will be released in the coming weeks.
Posted on: 13th October 2021
ONE MORE WEEK till Do Good Charity Store goes LIVE on YSG!
Shop and ‘Do Good’ at the same time when you shop from the many products brought to YSG’s Do Good Charity Store! 100% of the nett proceeds will go directly to the Samaritans of Singapore (“SOS”) in support of their core services in suicide intervention and prevention.
In a New Paper article published on 14 September 2020, it was reported that out of the 400 suicide cases in 2019, two out of the three people were males. Societal judgement and prejudices on men who show signs of vulnerability are perceived to be inherently weak and for many men, they may never be able to transcend the psychological barriers even when they desperately need and this stops them in their tracks from opening up to even those who are closest to them. The gloomy economy conditions brought about from the pandemic further adds on to the stressors of the societal expectation for Men to have the strength to hold it together all the time.
27-year-old Matt who had nowhere to turn to and was spiralling in his dark thoughts shared his experience on his recovery, “... I was often dismissed, I contemplated taking my life when I was 16, that message that came from a friend that had no idea what I was going through. Was what made me take the step back and realise that I had so much more to look forward to. So, when you do open up to somebody, you tell them for the first time. It’s going to hurt, it’s going to suck a lot, but 3, 4 hours later you feel so much better about yourself, then you can do it again and again and again and realise that it just helps every single time….”
A simple text or a call, can be pivotal in changing the outcome for those suffering from depressive thoughts and with the loud voices in their head telling them to give up.
Join YSG to Do Good from 28 – 31 October 2021 because every effort counts; every life is precious!
Posted on: 21st October 2021
ONE MORE DAY till Do Good Charity Store on YSG goes LIVE!
Over the 4-day fundraiser, ‘Do Good’ by simply shopping from an exciting range of products that are exclusively sponsored by YSG’s generous brand partners!
100% of the nett proceeds from YSG’s Do Good Charity Store will go directly to the Samaritans of Singapore (SOS) in support of their core services in suicide intervention and prevention. 2020 recorded a 13% increase from the year before, an all-time high with an average loss of 1 life to suicide every day.
Qualifying donations from the fundraiser will be eligible for dollar-to-dollar matching by Tote Board. YSG’s Do Good Charity Store will be opened from 28th till 31st October 2021!
Help us to spread the good word! Encourage your friends, colleagues and loved ones to join us and ‘Do Good’ tomorrow from 10am onwards! Every life is precious!
Posted on: 27th October 2021
A Big, Heartfelt ‘Thank You’! Over the last 4 days, YSG was joined by the wider community in coming together to ‘Do Good’ for the Samaritans of Singapore (‘SOS’).
It was particularly heart-warming and encouraging to be joined by so many in Do Good 2021 especially during today’s challenging times that are spurred by the pandemic. There is faith in humanity when we are able to look beyond our own personal circumstances and help the vulnerable who are likely to be most affected by the crisis. At YSG, we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all who stood with us in solidarity in raising charity dollars at Do Good 2021.
The funds raised will be donated to support SOS’ works in suicide intervention and prevention. In so many ways, your contribution has helped to bring hope and kindness to someone who may be desperately struggling with mental health challenges and suicidal tendencies. YSG would also like to acknowledge the selfless contributions of our brand partners who rose to the call to ‘Do Good’ without any hesitation!
The strong and unwavering support has been instrumental to the success of Do Good 2021: Cocomi, COTDE, Hardy Hardy, Her Jewellery, Himalaya Wellness, Innermishe, Mass Mark International, Ninja Van, Philips, Wine Creek and YCH Group. Thank you and we look forward to seeing you again at Do Good 2022!
Posted on: 1st November 2021
