Tan Chin Tuan Foundation’s Programme Consultant Doreen Wan tells us about her role in funding charitable projects in the country.

I don’t run any NGO, but I can help NGOs achieve their goals,” says Doreen Wan, a 50-year-old single mother of a teenage daughter. Doreen, who runs her own PR company, began volunteering at the Tan Chin Tuan Foundation (TCTF) at the request of the CEO, a personal friend. Founded by Tan Sri Dr Tan Chin Tuan in Singapore in April 1976, and funded by a group of affiliated companies in the Republic, the aim of the foundation is simply to do good. “We have funded projects in Indonesia, Cambodia and Myanmar, among others,” Doreen explains. In Malaysia, the Foundation has been present for five years, but Doreen only joined them early last year.

HELPING HAND
In just the last year, the Foundation has disbursed half a million ringgit in aid for numerous projects, ensuring that Tan Sri Tan’s vision continues to be upheld. “We fund all kinds of efforts, from supporting a special needs people’s training centre to starting a school library. Our only restrictions are that we do not support building funds, individuals or seed grants for fundraising purposes. We want the money to directly benefit the underprivileged.”

LITTLE THINGS IN LIFE
“Money is not everything when it comes to the less fortunate. They will be happy if someone takes the trouble to visit and keep them company,” Doreen says, sharing her insight into community work. “On one of our outings, we took people from an old folk’s home to the Shaolin Masters show. They were ecstatic! It was great to see the happiness on their faces. Among other things, I’m trying to spread awareness of the Foundation’s existence so that more deserving NGOs know that we are here to provide financial assistance for their causes.”