Yellow Ribbon CARE Network Gala Dinner 2025 Celebrating 25 Years Of Transforming Lives

1.     SINGAPORE, 20 September 2025 – The Community Action for the Rehabilitation of Ex-offenders (CARE) Network celebrated its 25^th anniversary with the Yellow Ribbon-CARE Network Gala Dinner at the Shangri-La Singapore today. The gala dinner is also a fundraising event for the NeuGen Fund, Singapore After-Care Association (SACA), Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association (SANA), and the Yellow Ribbon Fund (YRF).^[1] Mr Edwin Tong, Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs, graced the event as the Guest-of-Honour.

2.     The gala dinner, themed “Starlight Odyssey: 25 Years of Transforming Lives”, was hosted by Mr Gurmit Singh and two desistors. More than 800 community partners, donors, sponsors, beneficiaries, and representatives from the CARE Network agencies attended the event to celebrate 25 years of transforming the lives of ex-offenders and their families.

3.     Guests enjoyed musical performances by inmates from the Performing Arts Centre, prison officers, and students from LASALLE College of the Arts, University of the Arts Singapore and took part in a live auction of inmates’ artwork to raise funds for the CARE Network.

4.     Minister Edwin Tong also announced two initiatives that will strengthen the CARE Network namely, (i) the Yellow Ribbon Cares (YR Cares)^[2] and; (ii) the Lim Tze Peng-Yellow Ribbon Fund STAR Bursary.

Formation of Yellow Ribbon Cares or YR Cares

5.     YR Cares is a new charity formed through the merger of the Industrial and Services Co-operative Society Limited (ISCOS), NeuGen Fund, and YRF. This initiative brings together the agencies’ decades of experience across reintegration efforts, family support and donor engagement to enhance programmes and services for ex-offenders and their families.   

6.     YR Cares will be operational in the first half of 2026 and expand engagements to cultivate stronger partnerships with corporates, social enterprises and community organisations and increase funding for rehabilitation and reintegration initiatives. In addition, YR Cares is committing $5 million towards programmes and services that support ex-offenders, their families, and children, up from about $4 million across ISCOS, NeuGen Fund and Yellow Ribbon Fund currently.

7.     YR Cares has four strategic focal areas:

a.     Empower ex-offenders with comprehensive support to reduce reoffending and develop skills for stable, fulfilling lives, focusing on positive social behaviors and community ties to reduce recidivism and contribute to a safe and secure Singapore;
b.     Facilitate ex-offenders to contribute back to society, fostering personal growth and societal benefit for a safer, more inclusive and cohesive society;
c.      Support families and children to prevent intergenerational offending through case management services, counselling, family therapy and programmes targeting the holistic development of the inmates and ex-offenders’ children to strengthen resilience and prevent intergenerational offending; and
d.     Strengthen the ecosystem that supports ex-offenders and their families to build a collaborative ecosystem that ensures consistent, holistic care through partnerships between agencies.

8.     “Today, we celebrated not just how far we’ve come, but the possibilities of what we can achieve together,” said Mr Edmund Cheng Wai Wing, Chairman of YR Cares. “This new charity reflects our collective belief in second chances and commitment to building an integrated and resilient aftercare sector.”

Launch of Lim Tze Peng-Yellow Ribbon Fund STAR Bursary

9.     The CARE Network also launched the Lim Tze Peng-Yellow Ribbon Fund STAR Bursary to recognise the contributions of the late Mr Lim Tze Peng. A Cultural Medallion recipient, Mr Lim had generously donated his artworks to raise funds for the YRF.

10.  The bursary, amounting to $140,000, was made possible through the auction of Mr Lim's artworks and will provide funding support for ex-offenders pursuing studies in fine arts, supporting their reintegration journey.

^[1] The CARE Network comprises of 10 core members including the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Social and Family Development, Singapore Prison Service, Yellow Ribbon Singapore, National Council of Social Services, Industrial & Services Co-Operative Society Ltd, Singapore After-Care Association, Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association, Yellow Ribbon Fund, and NeuGen Fund, and more than 170 community partners from different segments of the community.

^[2] YR Cares refers to:
a.     Connection: Demonstrating empathy and understanding for ex-offenders and their families to create a supportive and non-judgemental environment.
b.     Accountability: Encouraging accountability in both the organisation and beneficiaries to foster trust, integrity and positive decision making.
c.     Resilience: Building strength and perseverance in individuals to overcome challenges and create lasting change.
d.     Empowerment: Equipping individuals with tools, resources and opportunities to thrive and achieve their potential.
e.     Second Chances: Believing in the power of forgiveness and the opportunity for individuals to rebuild their lives and contribute positively to society.