As of now, 50 local firms have pledged to support Pink Dot 2017
With the annual Pink Dot rally just four months away, worries on not being able to raise enough funds fade as organisers see sponsorship dollars from local firms rolling in. The nonprofit movement has raised 70 percent of the total sponsorship dollars it got last year.
Pink Dot is a non-profit movement started in 2009 to support the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.
Bad News
Last June, The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said that it will “take steps to make it clear that foreign entities should not fund, support or influence” events held at Speakers’ Corner.
This was worrying news for Pink Dot, with the majority of their sponsors being foreign companies, Pink Dot spokesman Paerin Choa expressed concerns on whether they would be able to raise enough funds for future Pink Dot rallies.
Source– J.P. Morgan supporting Pink Dot 2015
“We were a bit worried whether there would be enough support from local companies to fill the vacuum left by the MNCs.” Mr Choa said.
It is difficult, but not impossible, for multinational corporations (MNCs) to get involved with events held at Speakers’ Corner but they have to apply for a permit in order to do so.
Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam said then: “In general, if it relates to controversial social or political issues, which really are a matter for Singaporeans, then it is unlikely the foreigners will get a permit.”
Source– Pink Dot 2016 headlining and supporting sponsors
In 2016, Pink Dot attracted 18 sponsors, out of which 13 included multinationals such as Google as well as banks like J.P. Morgan and Goldman Sachs. Apple, Facebook, Visa and General Electric were also first-time sponsors.
Turn Of Events
Despite so, the donations received so far have exceeded the organiser’s expectations, with 50 Singapore firms pledging to sponsor this year’s edition of Pink Dot.
Pink Dot is offering sponsorship tiers or $1,000, $5,000 or $10,000 as compared to $7,000 or $15,000 tiers last year. This is because Singapore companies generally have less capital than MNCs.
Source
Sales director of Wood & Wood and Fuchsia sponsor, Mr Brandon Goh, has been in the timber industry for 25 years, said he was not worried about losing customers who oppose the LGBT cause. “It’s a cause that we support,” he said.
Additional Support
On top of donations collected, funds are still expected to rise with the kickstart of official fundraising campaign Red Dot for Pink Dot.
Straits Times reported that Mr Darius Cheng, founder of property start-up 99.co, rounded up tech entrepreneurs he knew to reach out to local firms. He also volunteered to front the Red Dot for Pink Dot campaign and build its website through which companies can sponsor.
The campaign started when Pink Dot received a message from Mr Cheung, saying: “We are a small start-up but we want to help.”
Companies such as Tanjong Beach Club and The White Rabbit have joined in with donations of $1,000 as a Rose sponsor. Others including Sharetea and The Lo & Behold Group have donated $5,000 while others such as Wood & Wood having pledged $10,000.
According to Straits Times, Singapore Management University law don Eugene Tan said the numbers suggest a growing acceptance of the LGBT community in the local corporate world. Businesses are also seeing value in marketing to the gay community, he added.
To find out more on how you can contribute, visit Pink Dot’s website.
