The children and the needy at Willing Hearts and Chen Su Lan Methodist Children's Home will be immersed in the Christmas cheer this year as American Express, CapitalLand Hope Foundation and ION Orchard join hands to raise funds for them.
The three organisations, which aim to raise S$50,000, will hold the fundraising programme during ION Orchard's "Heed the call - Bring joy to all" online campaign until 31 December 2010.
Members of the public can contribute by sending an eCard Christmas greeting from www.ionorchard.com/christmas, and S$1 will be donated to the Chen Su Lan Methodist Children's Home.
Shoppers who are planning to do their Christmas shopping at ION Orchard can also help when they make payments with their American Express Cards as American Express will donate $1 to Willing Hearts, one of its four adopted charities, for every transaction charged.
At the same time, shoppers will stand a chance to win some prizes as well.
Aside from the fundraising programme, American Express, CapitaLand Hope Foundation and ION Orchard also held a Christmas Charity Party for 50 children from the two charity organisations at the ION Sky, which will be opened to the public in January 2011.
The children had the chance to tour the observatory on the 56th level, the tallest point in Orchard Road which offers 360° views of the city below.
They also were treated to a magic show, and got to mingle and play with Santa Claus.
Ms Tan Bee Leng, General Manager of CapitaLand Hope Foundation (CHF), said: "We are happy to have ION Orchard joining us this year in our efforts to raise awareness of the need for care and support for underprivileged children. This is a worthwhile initiative to support the Chen Su Lan Methodist Children's Home, and is in line with the Foundation's focus on supporting the shelter, education and healthcare needs of underprivileged children."
Chen Su Lan Methodist Children's Home is a Voluntary Welfare Organisation that provides shelter, protection and education to 90 children between the ages of 6 to 16, while Willing Hearts is a charity which distributes free meals to about a thousand needy people daily.
ION Orchard will be extending their shopping hours until 11pm from 18-23 Dec, and holding programmes such as an outdoor carolling session and late night movie screenings to attract more shoppers.