09 July 2014

Singapore, 9 July 2014 – Members of the public in Singapore have donated money, items and even their services to charity. Now, customers of StarHub Mobile will be empowered to do even more for the community in an initiative never before seen in Singapore. From 12 July 2014, they will be given the power to pledge their unused talktime, mobile data and SMS for a good cause.

Entitled 4G4Good, this unique charity campaign will enable eligible StarHub Mobile post-paid customers to pledge their unused talktime, mobile data and SMS for the month of August 2014 in support of selected beneficiaries. These beneficiaries are from AWWA (Asian Women’s Welfare Association), CPAS (Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore), ISCOS (Industrial & Services Co-Operative Society), SAVH (Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped) and SPD (Society for the Physically Disabled).

“4G4Good is really about customer-driven philanthropy; StarHub is just the enabler,” stated Ms Jeannie Ong, Chief Marketing Officer, StarHub. “It is our altruistic customers who generously choose to pledge any unused talktime, mobile data and SMS in support of the beneficiaries. StarHub is extremely happy to be the first in Singapore to facilitate this kind of charitable campaign.”

Explaining the rationale behind 4G4Good, Ms Ong pointed out that communication is very important, especially in this increasingly connected world.

“For those who are in less privileged situations, such as those from our selected beneficiaries, mobile communication may be a luxury they can ill afford,” she said. “We know for a fact that people in Singapore are very charitable and compassionate. We hope that by offering them a simple and convenient way to do their part, amidst their busy schedules, we can help them contribute to society.”

Ms Ong shared these views at MINDS (Movement for the Intellectually Disabled) Towner Garden School earlier today where StarHub launched the 4G4Good campaign by donating 10 smartphones and pre-paid SIM cards pre-loaded with talktime and SMS to students from MINDS’ Vocational Experience class and on work attachments. The infocommunications provider hopes that the provision of these phones and SIM cards will allow the MINDS students to find independence while still keeping in touch with loved ones, caregivers and employers.

4G4Good is available to all StarHub Mobile post-paid customers. They can opt to pledge their unused talktime, mobile data and SMS for their August billing cycle by SMSing Opt-in to 6904. Customers can make their pledges between 12 July and 31 August 2014 and pledges from billing cycles ending in August 2014 will be consolidated.

StarHub will then provide talktime, mobile data and SMS on a monthly basis to a number of individual beneficiaries from the five 4G4Good charitable organisations. The free talktime, mobile data and SMS will be provided for one year beginning from October 2014. These organisations were selected as their clients and caregivers could benefit greatly from mobile communication to stay in touch with their loved ones, potential employers and medical help, yet they are in circumstances where maintaining a mobile communication device was difficult or impossible.

Through this community-centric public engagement, StarHub hopes to reach out to its hundreds of thousands of eligible mobile post-paid subscribers to support 500 beneficiaries for one year with free talktime, mobile data and SMS.

Wanted: Kind Gifts of Pre-loved Mobile Smartphones

In addition, all members of the public can donate their working pre-loved mobile smartphones and chargers to these beneficiaries, via StarHub Shops at Bedok Mall, Tampines Mall, Plaza Singapura and Westgate, as well as at StarHub’s corporate office at StarHub Green. Donations can be made in sealed StarHub envelopes, available at donation boxes at the above locations, from 12 July till 31 December 2014. All data in donated phones will be wiped clean to protect the customers’ privacy.

“A big thank you to StarHub for their thoughtful gesture through this 4G4Good Mobile Campaign,” expressed Mr Michael Tan, Executive Director, SAVH. “SAVH urges all eligible StarHub Mobile post-paid customers to generously pledge their unused talktime, mobile data and SMS, as well as pre-loved mobile handsets, to benefit SAVH clients from lower-income backgrounds.”

With this 4G4Good mobile campaign initiated by StarHub, clients of AWWA will be able to save some of their limited funds for other basic needs and yet have a very convenient way of communicating with their family and friends,” said Mr Tim Oei, Chief Executive Officer, AWWA. “It will also allow us to reach out to our clients to better engage them to fulfil our mission in empowering them to maximise their potential to lead dignified and independent lives. We thank StarHub for this great initiative in contributing back to the community.”

For more details on StarHub’s 4G4Good movement, please visit www.starhub.com/4Good.

 

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