Press release

4 Nov 2022 Singapore, SG

EY clocks highest participation of over 1,700 people for Walk for Rice

Over 1,700 Partners and professionals of EY member firm in Singapore and their families, clients and alumni have pledged to walk over 8,500 km to raise over 85,000 bowls of rice, to benefit low-income families.

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Sophia Mah

Media Relations Lead (Assurance, Tax, Strategy and Transactions, Growth Markets), Ernst & Young Solutions LLP

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Related topics Corporate responsibility Purpose
  • Highest number recorded since 2012 when the event was first held
  • Three-day volunteer leave for EY people to participate in corporate responsibility initiatives

Over 1,700 Partners and professionals of EY member firm in Singapore and their families, clients and alumni have pledged to walk over 8,500 km to raise over 85,000 bowls of rice, to benefit low-income families. The Walk for Rice event took place today. This is the 10th consecutive year that EY is organizing this event. This is also the first large-scale in-person corporate social responsibility event by EY following the pandemic.

The initiative is in support of the FairPrice Walk for Rice @ South East program by South East CDC and NTUC Fairprice Co-operative Limited. The walk, which began at One Marina Boulevard, continued to the Marina Bay and Gardens by the Bay precinct. For every 300m walked, NTUC Fairprice will donate one bowl of brown rice, one bowl of white rice and one bowl of oatmeal to needy residents in the South East District. Doing good extends beyond the finish line.

Liew Nam Soon, Singapore and Brunei Managing Partner at Ernst & Young Solutions LLP, also EY Asean Regional Managing Partner, says:
“We recognize the vital role that corporates can play in contributing to our local community. We are very proud to have brought together over 1,700 EY Partners, people and their families as well as clients and alumni, to do good together. This is how we leverage the strength of our network to help the less-privileged and bring about positive change to our community.”

EY walks the talk: Over 1,700 EY Partners, professionals and their families, clients and alumni clocked over 8,500 km to donate over 85,000 bowls of rice to the needy

EY Partners, professionals and their families and clients come together to walk for charity.  

Team Nila volunteers from SportSG getting active and doing their part for charity. Close to 30 Team Nila volunteers from SportSG also joined us for the walk.

EY will also be raising funds through donations by EY people and Partners as part of the corporate giving initiative. Since 2012, EY has raised total donations of over S$217,000 to support the community in South East CDC. Past donations have been channelled to elderly services providers such as Community Outreach Programme for the Elderly (COPE) partners and Senior Activity Centres (SACs) to purchase rehabilitation equipment. EY has also contributed to the youth community: it has adopted APSN Katong School, contributing funds to buy exercise equipment to build a gym for the students, as well as support the student’s enrichment and co-curriculum activities this year.

Volunteer leave introduced to enable EY people to do good for the community

To enable EY people to harmonize volunteerism with work-life, EY in Singapore is introducing three days of paid volunteer leave from November 2022. The volunteer leave may be used for EY people to volunteer for the organization’s corporate responsibility program, EY Ripples, or other corporate responsibility activities that are aligned with supporting next generation, scaling entrepreneurs and accelerating environmental sustainability.

Mr. Liew says:
“As part of our global EY Ripples program, we are working toward a long-term goal to positively impact one billion lives around the world by 2030. Over the years, we have seen our people actively volunteer their time and participate in various initiatives to give back to the community. As a purpose-driven organization, it is only right that we support our people in their corporate giving with the three-day volunteer leave.”

Tan Boon Leong, Assurance Partner at Ernst & Young LLP, who participated in the Walk for Rice event with his wife and three children, says:

“With our busy work schedule, events like Walk for Rice are perfect for family bonding and giving back to the community. Bringing the boys is the clearest way for them to understand that everyone – no matter how young or old – has the ability to contribute to society and our community. Besides, exams are over for the boys and what better way to release their pent-up energy for a good cause! And with the volunteer leave, I look forward to participating in more corporate volunteerism activities – with my children in tow!”

Liew Nam Soon, EY Asean Regional Managing Partner and Singapore and Brunei Managing Partner at Ernst & Young Solutions LLP flagging off walk and announcing the three-day volunteer leave.

Enjoying the carnival after the walk.

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This news release has been issued by Ernst & Young Solutions LLP, a member of the global EY organization.

About FairPrice Walk for Rice @ South East

The “FairPrice Walk for Rice + @ South East” program, which started in 2009, is a collaboration between NTUC FairPrice Foundation Ltd and South East Community Development Council. This annual campaign seeks to inculcate the giving spirit among the participants and residents by encouraging them to walk for a good cause. This year, for every 300m walked by a participant or resident, FairPrice Foundation will donate one bowl of white rice, one bowl of brown rice and one bowl of oatmeal. The target is to raise 500,000 bowls of rice and 50,000 bowls of oatmeal for 7,000 vulnerable families residing in the South East District. For organizations that support this program by organizing their own FairPrice Walk for Rice + @ South East roadshow, the mileage accumulated will be exchanged for packets of rice and oats, which will be distributed to vulnerable families within the South East District.