Winston Churchill once said, “We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.” The festive period of Christmas is known as the season of giving, and Ion Orchard launched its celebrations in like spirit. Besides bedecking its interior and exterior with stunning decorations this year (sparkling baubles, a glittering 20m outdoor Christmas tree adorned with over 28,000 Swarovski crystals and all) and making it a joyous time for buying presents for its shoppers, the mall is showing support to the Community Chest through a multifaceted fundraising campaign for the Rainbow Centre – Yishun Park School under the care of Community Chest. For Chris Chong, CEO of Orchard Turn Developments, the festive partnership is a step towards making this Christmas an even more heartwarming one.
Kicking off Ion Orchard’s charitable Christmas season was a private live auction the shopping mall held, together with Singapore Tatler, in early November. For the high tea event, the Level 1 atrium was jazzed up with ambient lighting and shimmering ornaments. Guests enjoyed pastries and macarons paired with aromatic blended teas and tea-infused cocktails by TWG Tea.
With emcee Bobby Tonelli doubling as the afternoon’s auctioneer, the live auction saw mirthful action as ladies bid to “adopt” four “designer trees”. Bids started at $8,000 and the highest bidder would get to name the tree and take home vouchers and products from Ion Orchard and the respective brand behind their tree. The first tree, decorated by Cortina Watch, went to Joyz Chan, who attended with her son Clement and is a regular supporter of causes for children and the elderly.
Fanty Soenardy, who later shared that she loves getting into the mood of playing Santa during Christmas, won the next bid for Ermenegildo Zegna’s tree. Taking naming rights to Parfums Christian Dior’s prismatic perfume bottle tree was Pauline Chan, who is Ion Orchard’s The 100 member. She plans to dedicate most of her time to charity now that her four boys are older, and hopes to embark on a missionary trip to South Africa next year.
The final tree adopted that day, by Diane von Furstenberg, went to Donna Reeder, who professed a soft spot for charities that support children and animals, as well as cancer research, as both her father and father-in-law died from cancer. While she makes donations throughout the year, “giving back to society becomes more prominent to me during Christmastime”.
And it’s not too late for the rest of us to give. The remaining spruced-up trees from brands including Kwanpen and Alice + Olivia are part of a silent auction until January 3, 2016, for the general public and the mall’s VIP members via the iPads next to each tree, while direct donations by Nets can also be made at donation points near concierge counters.
