Good morning,

Ladies & Gentlemen,

Principals and Students.

It gives me great pleasure to be here this morning to present the Jurong Lions Bursary awards.

Private service and business organisations have played an important vital role in supporting education in the Singapore community. Their financial assistance is very much welcomed to help students who cannot afford to continue with their education. The Lions Club of Singapore Jurong has been generously helping the needy over 30 years. They have thus established a long-standing relationship with the community in Jurong.

With their continuing support this year, 42 students from 9 primary and secondary schools in Jurong are able to benefit from these bursary awards. The Lion’s commitment in helping those in need is highly commendable and worthy of our admiration. I believe that their financial assistance would help the students with their school fees, uniforms, books and transport. To the students here today, I hope that this would enable you to concentrate wholeheartedly on your studies. And to parents, I hope this would help ease your financial burden.

The Fund, set up by the Lions especially for the award of bursaries, reflects the Lion’s concerns for the community. And in particular - to those in need. The occasion this morning is more than just handing out bursaries to students. It is an expression of care for the less fortunate and commitment in helping the young in their education. Both objectives of ‘Care’ and ‘Education’ are equally important in our "National Agenda". It should not be just the government but everyone in the community should show concern to those in need.

I would like to commend CB Richard Ellis for their unstinting and generous support. The company has been actively involved in first, the setting up of the Bursary Fund in 1995 and next, being its main sponsor. Support such as theirs from the business sector is most heart-warming.

On behalf of all the schools and the community, I would like to thank The Lions Club of Singapore Jurong and CB Richard Ellis for providing the example of self-sacrifice in caring for their fellow beings. We look forward to their continued support in the years to come.

I wish everyone success in your future endeavours.

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