The Spirit of 2016 is all about giving back
The headlines say it all.
Economy slows. Terror strikes.
The Lions lose to Cambodia for the first time in 44 years.
It's tough all around.
But the crisis is just the headlines. Our response is the real story.
Every day, ordinary people face and overcome adversity.
For some, it is battling illness or a disability, breaking the poverty cycle or difficult family circumstances. For others, it is just digging in and doing what they believe in.
Today, The New Paper shares the stories of such individuals in our National Day Special.
All their stories start very differently, but they end the same way - with each of them giving back to society in their own way.
They embody the Spirit of 2016.
And in the same spirit, 16 organisations or causes picked by our interviewees will be the beneficiary of a small token.
Making the $1,000 donations possible are the good people from the Singapore Totalisator Board (also known as the Tote Board), whose business is doing good and giving back to the community.
Just about everybody knows about 4-D, Singapore Sweep and Toto, but few understand how the Tote Board operates.
Similarly, the Sports Hub, National Gallery Singapore, Gardens by the Bay are familiar icons yet few know or remember where the money for them came from.
Grant-making is a technical process by which the Tote Board distributes surpluses from the gaming operations of its two subsidiaries - Singapore Pools and Singapore Turf Club.
Today, we go behind the scenes at the Tote Board, Singapore Pools and the Singapore Turf Club (which together form the Tote Board Group) and share a little of who they are and what they do, through the voices of their people.
We are honoured to partner the Tote Board Group to deliver the Spirit of '16 today.
We hope the stories will stir you to give back to society in your own way too.
Wherever you are today, enjoy the parade and fireworks and then bring this copy home to have a go at winning some prizes in our colouring and photo contests.
Happy National Day from all of us at The New Paper.
- Dominic Nathan, Editor, The New Paper
CREDITS:
EDITOR: Dave Ang
REPORTS: Judith Tan
PHOTOS: Choo Chwee Hua, Jonathan Choo, Gavin Foo, Mohd Ishak, Ariffin Jamar, Jeremy Long, Iskandar Rossali, Ben Seetor, Phyllicia Wang, Shahriya Yahaya, Singapore Sports School, The Straits Times, Tote Board, Singapore Pools
VIDEOS: Sukmawati Umar Litak, Christabel Chiang, Iffah Durrah Kajai, Azim Azman
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