Over $1.8 million raised at the Yellow Ribbon Fund Charity Gala Dinner to Support Inmates, Ex-Offenders & Families

2. Held at The Ritz-Carlton Millenia Hotel, the charity event was graced by Mr Teo Chee Hean, Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security, and attended by over 600 corporate and individual donors.

3. Proceeds from the biennial Gala will go towards the YRF, and will benefit more than 3,000 inmates, ex-offenders and families through the funding of programmes such as the provision of rehabilitative and aftercare services for ex-offenders, and those that benefit the families of inmates and ex-offenders.

4. In 2018, YRF enhanced its YRF STAR (Skills Training Assistance to Re-start) Bursary Programme and the Yellow Brick Road (YBR) Programme, as part of continued efforts to strengthen support for beneficiaries.

YRF STAR (Skills Training Assistance to Re-start) Bursary

5. The YRF STAR Bursary Programme provides financial assistance to low-income ex- offenders who wish to pursue tertiary education after their release. This enables ex-offenders to build viable futures for themselves and their families, as well as to inspire other ex- offenders to rebuild their lives through education.

6. In June 2018, YRF introduced career coaching support to 23 ex-offenders interested in applying for the YRF STAR Bursary Programme. Coaches from career coaching agencies provide practical advice, tools and resources to assist inmates and ex-offenders in defining their career goals, to help them prepare for the field of study which they plan to undertake.

7. “YRF’s support towards my education through the YRF STAR Bursary has greatly benefited me upon my release from prison. I hope that the community will continue to lend their support towards giving ex-offenders a second chance and standing together with us in our reintegration journey,” said Mr Mohammad Azahari bin Abdul Razak, a beneficiary of the YRF STAR Bursary.

Yellow Brick Road (YBR) Programme

8. The YBR Programme aims to reduce the negative effects of incarceration on the family and children of offenders, by addressing transitional issues that may arise at the early stages of incarceration.

9. Through the YBR programme, the YRF provides tailored interventions to families and children based on their assessed risks and needs. These include parenting workshops, confidence-building activities, tuition classes and social enrichment workshops for families and children. To date, more than 80 families have benefited from the programme.

10. In 2018, YRF disbursed a total of $1.16 million, helping some 3,816 inmates and families.

11. “Since we began in 2004, we have managed to support more than 40,000 inmates, ex-offenders and their families. We are grateful for the continued backing of our donors, which has allowed YRF to develop impactful programmes. YRF relies on community support to achieve collective impact in making a difference and giving ex-offenders and their families a second chance,” said Mrs Wong Ai Ai, Chairman of YRF.

About the Yellow Ribbon Fund

Launched in 2004, the Yellow Ribbon Fund (YRF) is the first national charitable fund devoted entirely towards the development and implementation of rehabilitation and reintegration programmes for inmates and ex-offenders, as well as family support programmes to strengthen their family ties. Proceeds from the various fund-raising activities will go towards funding a variety of rehabilitation and family programmes, as well as aftercare services.

The YRF is registered under the Singapore Corporation of Rehabilitative Enterprises (SCORE) and is a member of the Community Action for the Rehabilitation of Ex-Offenders (CARE) Network, an alliance of public and non-government agencies that aims to promote supportive aftercare for ex-offenders.

In 2018, the YRF achieved the Transparency Award from the Charity Council, signifying exemplary disclosure and good transparency practices by Commissioner of Charities (COC).