Reflecting on a decade of heart

Over 110 volunteers helped make the Great Heart Charity Gala Dinner 2023 a success.

GREAT Heart Charity Association (GHCA) concluded its 10th anniversary celebrations with a gala dinner, where over RM3mil was raised.

The Great Heart Charity Gala Dinner 2023 held at a convention centre in Shah Alam not only marked a decade of impactful philanthropy but also served as a reflection of its journey, showcasing challenges faced, successes achieved and impact made.

GHCA said in a statement that it had cultivated a culture of giving centred on its core values of humility, empathy, ardency, respect and transparency, or Heart in short.

These values have been the driving force behind GHCA’s vision and mission of creating a lasting impact on the lives of those in need.

GHCA’s initiatives include Hand-in-Hand dialysis aid programme which has supported over 364 kidney patients.

There is a variety of other health and well-being initiatives, such as providing traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatment to 632 patients and distributing over 2.9 tonnes of organically planted vegetables.

The In Celebration artwork fetching RM200,000 at the gala auction. (Right) Some of the happy faces celebrating 10 years of giving.

The event was a visual and auditory spectacle featuring performances that echoed the “Recollection” theme.

SMK Kota Kemuning 24 Festive Drum Team was first on stage, followed by Badansa Dance Troupe’s Murut dance.

One of its members, Phaizal, is a study aid recipient from sister NGO Persatuan Harapan Mulia.

The event continued with a speed painting presentation by Vivian Ng. Her work was one of seven auctioned during the dinner.

An art piece called In Celebration produced by Liuli Gong Fang was sold for RM200,000, bringing the total amount raised from the auction alone to RM811,107.

GHCA revealed it had provided RM8.754mil worth of assistance to 44,974 beneficiaries over the past decade.

This support, with the help of 25,135 volunteers, has touched the lives of 15,214 children, 21,711 underprivileged families, 3,750 elderly individuals, 3,320 Orang Asli villagers and 979 people with disabilities.

In addition to providing groceries, rental assistance and business support to underprivileged families through livelihood programmes, GHCA’s educational initiatives touched the lives of 1,454 students through language classes and inspired 2,512 more to engage in charitable work.

Environmental stewardship too has been a key focus for GHCA, with over 198 clean-up sessions conducted under the Earth Warriors Project, removing over 19.4 tonnes of rubbish from streets, parks and beaches.

GHCA’s contributions have earned it tax exemption status as well as accolades such as Star Golden Hearts Award, Golden Globe Tiger Award, PRUKasih Distributor Award, JCI Malaysia Sustainable Development Award, Sustainability and CSR Malaysia Award and CorporateLiveWire Malaysia Prestige Award.

“A decade ago, we embarked on this journey with a modest aspiration to make charitable giving a part of everyone’s life,” said GHCA co-founder Ric See Swee Poh.

“Tonight’s success is living proof of the compassion and generosity of our community.

“The ‘Recollection’ theme reminds us of the challenges we have overcome, lives touched and the work that lies ahead.

“This is not just a celebration of the past, but a commitment to a future where charity remains the heartbeat of our community,” he said.