FAS senior management staff raise $50,000 to support underprivileged families and children

In a show of solidarity, senior management staff from the Football Association of Singapore have voluntarily pledged their annual salary bonuses to support less privileged families and children amidst the COVID-19 situation.

The nine FAS staff, led by general secretary Yazeen Buhari, along with national head coach Tatsuma Yoshida who volunteered to donate a significant portion of his monthly salary, have pooled together almost $25,000. The donated funds will be eligible for the additional government support of a bicentennial dollar-for-dollar offer, which will result in close to $50,000 being raised.

It will be put into the OneStrong fund set up by FAS.

The money will help provide beneficiaries with refurbished computing devices, learning tools and materials, experiential learning journeys and other essential items.

It will be administered as part of the Circuit Breaker School Buddies Project, a joint initiative by New Life Stories, a non-profit organisation that supports children of incarcerated mothers, and Beautiful People, a volunteer movement that facilitates mentoring relationships from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Yazeen said that it is important to render assistance to those in need during difficult times such as this.

“The value of football goes beyond the field. It is about how we step up and support our community. This is a personal gesture of solidarity amongst the senior management staff of FAS that embodies the power of sport and the love for our community,” he said, thanking Beautiful People and New Life Stories for helping to make the initiative possible.

Tatsuma added: “I am very grateful for the support shown to me by Singaporeans during my time here and this is one way I am able to show my gratitude in return. I have personally seen how different communities, especially the essential workers and all of those who are working on the frontlines, have come together to help those in need since this pandemic started.

“It inspired me to play my part and show my appreciation since I am part of the community as well. I am happy that the money will be used in a way that is much more beneficial to someone else who needs it more during this period.”