FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
- Proceeds from charity run go towards supporting children and individuals with special needs in Singapore, fostering social integration and growth, and championing inclusivity
- Part of the exchange’s broader corporate citizenry towards community betterment and sustainability
- Rallying the support of its business partners, staff and customers towards fundraising goal
Singapore, 10 November 2023 – Independent Reserve, the first licensed cryptocurrency exchange for all investors in Singapore, is going the distance to support inclusivity in Singapore communities by aiming to raise S$10,000 through a charity run for Extra•Ordinary People – a local charity which supports children and individuals with special needs.
Individuals with special needs encounter various challenges in their daily lives, from limited access to education and employment opportunities to social stigmatisation. By helping youths with special needs integrate into society and championing their rights, businesses can contribute to a more inclusive and compassionate world for everyone by fostering an environment that offers equal opportunities for all.
Lasanka Perera, CEO of Independent Reserve Singapore, said “As a 10-year-old exchange, diversity is at the heart of everything we do. We believe that everyone should be valued and heard, and we’re committed to making Singapore a more inclusive place for all. We’re thrilled to be able to contribute to this effort.
We recognise that the work that the Extra•Ordinary People are doing to help individuals with special needs is remarkable and transforms lives, and that’s why we’re extremely happy to be able to do our part for these individuals and their caregivers. Every step we take is a step towards a more inclusive Singapore.”
L-R: Lasanka Perera, CEO of Independent Reserve Singapore with Ivan Chin, CEO of Extra•Ordinary People
Supporting individuals with special needs in Singapore through community-supported initiatives
Extraordinary People Limited (EPL) was established in July 2017 as a registered charity which holistically supports persons with special needs while striving for an inclusive society through family-centred and community-supported initiatives.
EPL provides students with special needs access to the performing arts, as well as a suite of group therapy programmes for both individuals with special needs, along with their parents and caregivers.
“Inclusivity is always at the core of EPL’s work. It’s a community effort – nurturing partnerships and galvanising support for meaningful initiatives which promote inclusion are key. The impact of such actions goes beyond direct beneficiaries but also touches families and caregivers, taking the strain off them as we empower them to live more independent lives. We are heartened to work with partners such as Independent Reserve who are willing to go that extra mile (especially through this marathon effort) towards building a more inclusive Singapore,” said Ivan Chin, CEO of Extra•Ordinary People.
A ’10-for-10’ effort: Raising S$10,000 in line with Independent Reserve’s 10th anniversary this year
As part of its ’10-for-10’ effort, Independent Reserve is assembling a team of runners across both its Singapore and Australia offices, as well as friends and family, to participate in the upcoming Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore 2023.
The team will compete in various categories – from full marathons, half marathons and 10km runs to kids’ dashes, with the youngest runner being just four years of age – to raise funds for this meaningful cause.
“It’s great to see Independent Reserve come together across borders to do their part at the marathon, each to the best of their abilities. Regardless of distance, importantly, all of us will contribute in our own unique way, and ultimately, we’d be helping those in need in their daily marathon of life,” added Perera.
Independent Reserve will also rally the support of their business partners and staff to contribute towards the fundraising goal of S$10,000. More details are available here: https://www.giving.sg/donate/campaign/IRxEPLfundraiser.
All proceeds will go towards Extra•Ordinary People and their holistic programmes such as The Extra•Ordinary Campus, The Integrated Programme, Inclusive Employment, and Creative Lab. These initiatives provide early intervention, vocational training and mental wellness support to individuals with special needs and their caregivers, helping them reach their full potential and actively participate in their communities.
In the longer run, Independent Reserve aspires to continue to go the extra mile towards Singaporean communities and give back in meaningful ways.
Corporate citizenry sits at the heart of Independent Reserve’s values
Independent Reserve has always strived to play its part as a corporate citizen to local communities, in line with its beliefs of creating a supportive environment for all to thrive.
This latest fundraiser for Extra•Ordinary People marks the second in a series of community initiatives in Singapore this year. In August, the exchange gave back to Singapore communities through its Bronze sponsorship and participation in the World Corporate Golf Challenge in support of Community Chest – the philanthropy and engagement arm of the National Council of Social Service (NCSS) in Singapore. Part of the proceeds went towards more than 100 social service agencies supported by the Community Chest.
Since 2019, Independent Reserve has committed to help offset carbon emissions through various initiatives. As a corporate partner part of the Trillion Tree Foundation, Independent Reserve aligns itself to the foundation’s goal to protect forests all over the world for the benefit of people, nature and the climate, by planting trees yearly. Its partnership with Climeworks, a Swiss-based firm dedicated to capturing CO2 from the air with its cutting-edge technology, will remove 1 tonne of carbon per year in its bid towards becoming a greener company.
In Australia, Independent Reserve is the Official Cryptocurrency Exchange Partner of The Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife and its Tokens for Humanity (TFH) non-fungible tokens (NFT) project. TFH allows the Ethereum community to purchase NFTs that plant real-life trees in fire and flood-damaged areas, supporting the foundation’s mission to protect and conserve habitats.
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Eleven Pte Ltd
Yiting Foo | ytfoo@eleven.com.sg
About Independent Reserve
Founded in 2013, Independent Reserve is Singapore’s trusted cryptocurrency exchange. Independent Reserve is the first exchange licensed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore to provide a secure platform for trading and investing in digital assets. With a focus on trust and safety, the exchange serves discerning traders and investors by offering competitive fees, advanced trading tools, and comprehensive educational resources. Adhering to the highest standards of governance, compliance, and security, Independent Reserve empowers institutions and individuals in Singapore to confidently navigate the world of cryptocurrencies.
About Extra·Ordinary People
Extra•Ordinary People was established in July 2017 as a registered charity. We enable and support children and individuals with special needs, striving for an inclusive society. Since February 2018, we have been operating at Extraordinary Place @ Beach Road, which is a Performing Arts Centre providing students with special needs access to the performing arts. We call ourselves Extra•Ordinary People because we are all ordinary people who make the conscious decision to go the extra mile.
