The Apipatana Foundation Donates S$50,000 to Support Lower-Income Students in Singapore

Singapore, Apr 29, 2025 – The Apipatana Foundation has made a generous donation of S$50,000 through the Community Foundation of Singapore (CFS)’s donor-advised fund to assist children from disadvantaged families in Singapore. This contribution is eligible for a 1-to-1 match under the SG Gives Matching Grant facilitated by the Collective for a Stronger Society (CSS), an initiative led by CFS that pools resources to drive impactful social programs.

The funds will cover a year of operational expenses for CATCH THEM YOUNG’s new KidsExcel+ program, which is an after-school initiative designed for primary school students from households with a per capita monthly income of S$750 or less. By ensuring continued access to quality educational and extracurricular support, this investment directly equips children with the necessary skills, confidence, and opportunities for long-term success.

“I am pleased to support the KidsExcel+ program with this initial donation,” stated Thanit Apipatana, Founder of The Apipatana Foundation. “Many children face challenges beyond the classroom, making it difficult to excel academically. I am excited to witness this program assist students not only in their studies but also in other aspects of their lives.”

Paul Tan, CEO of Community Foundation of Singapore (CFS), remarked, “Meaningful change occurs when individuals come together. We are proud to back The Apipatana Foundation and Catch Them Young in their joint effort to enhance the lives of children. For 17 years, CFS has been a trusted partner, empowering donors like Thanit to fulfill their philanthropic goals for the greater good. We are committed to advocating for a compassionate society and contributing to the creation of a more caring and inclusive Singapore for future generations.”

This year, the donations will benefit 650 lower-income students participating in the Ministry of Social and Family Development’s (MSF) ComLink+ and the Ministry of Education’s Financial Assistance Scheme. KidsExcel+ is an enhanced version of the original KidsExcel program and is set to replace the latter fully this year after a successful pilot in 2024. The new program offers a more comprehensive range of services to enhance academic and socio-emotional development outcomes for its student participants.

The KidsExcel+ program will run for 50 weeks annually, with three-hour sessions each week providing academic tutoring in English, Mathematics, and Science. In addition to the core curriculum, the program includes team sports to help students build confidence, resilience, and teamwork skills. Biannual sports camps offer further opportunities to enhance leadership and collaboration skills. Students will also have access to e-resource libraries, adaptive assessments, and Android tablets with mobile connectivity to facilitate independent learning.

“The generosity of our donors exceeds our expectations each year. We commend their dedication to seeing underprivileged children succeed,” stated Kevyn Sim, CEO of CATCH THEM YOUNG. “Donations like Mr. Apipatana’s enable us to ease the burden on lower-income families by assisting their children in excelling academically.”

The KidsExcel+ program aims to have 50% of participating students improve their academic performance in at least one subject by 15% and for 50% of them to achieve a higher Strengths & Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) score upon completion of the 50-week program.

The Apipatana Foundation, established in November 2024, is a philanthropic endeavor under the Community Foundation of Singapore that focuses on funding education and community programs to provide academic support, mentorship, and essential resources for disadvantaged groups. Established by Thanit Apipatana, a Bangkok-based entrepreneur, investor, and startup advisor, the foundation supports initiatives that create direct and measurable impact.

The Community Foundation of Singapore (CFS) empowers individuals and organizations to contribute to philanthropic causes with purpose and impact. With a vision to cultivate a generous society of caring, inclusive, and thriving communities, CFS provides guidance to donors to structure and optimize their giving based on their values and interests. CFS has raised over S$344 million in donations and disbursed over S$200 million to various charitable causes as of March 31, 2025.

CATCH THEM YOUNG is a charity that works to support children from disadvantaged backgrounds by providing them with opportunities to excel. Their KidsExcel+ program is a sports and academic enrichment initiative that includes weekly sessions throughout the year. Partnering with primary schools and social agencies, the program aims to support 500 children annually from financially disadvantaged backgrounds to achieve academic and behavioral progress. KidsExcel+ focuses on developing resilient, confident children with positive learning attitudes.