Explore Balestier & Novena: You’re in town already. And it’s just a couple of stops away. Download your guide here.

Pamper yourself silly at the new Four Seasons Spa.

Stuff your face with truffles. Loads of em … at this restaurant. Get the credit cards ready.

Hear Rob Schneider say “You can do it!” at The Rock Auditorium.

Get a dose of Designer Drugs (the DJ duo, not the happy pills) at Zouk.

Pretend you’re on Singapore American Idol at these bars (sans The Dawg, JLo and Steve Tyler).

Check out the new ArtScience Museum at MBS.

Grab some good and cheap buys at Flea & Easy this Sunday

Catch Colin Firth’s outstanding performance in The King’s Speech.

Try out new beers.

Millionaire, entrepreneur and philanthropist Frank Cintamani is always decked out in the finest threads and seen at the coolest events (not surprising, he’s also the organizer of the upcoming Men’s Fashion Week). And the workaholic 36-year-old can’t seem to do enough as he makes it a point to give back to society. He heads Global Philanthropy for the Celton Group, hosting and organizing fund-raisers for the organization’s chosen charities like The Bone Marrow Donor Programme and the Singapore Disability Sports Council.

What is your focus?
One of the strongest causes I believe in fighting for is the welfare of children. This includes children from impoverished or underprivileged backgrounds (or countries) as well as those afflicted with chronic or terminal illnesses. It’s important to me because children are the life-blood of our society. The future of the world always begins with them and it is therefore our duty implied by nature to safeguard every child on earth. 
Their well-being speaks immeasurable volumes about how the human race is currently doing. We are only too aware of the fact that there are still millions of children around the world that struggle to survive daily without having access to the most basic of necessities such as food, clean water, education or rudimentary healthcare on a regular basis, never mind the love and nurturing that is often absent from these children’s lives. Yet amazingly we are able to compartmentalize this awareness into the tiniest recesses of our minds to allow our self-imposed and personal priorities to take precedence over these startling realities. Clearly there is something seriously wrong with this picture.

Do you think there is enough emphasis on community service in Singapore?
Absolutely! As a nation Singapore is undoubtedly well ahead of the curve globally. Awareness of the world and community around you is best started at a young age, and I think Singapore families, schools and the government are indeed doing a great job of encouraging young kids and teens to become interested in community service early. At that age, you really do believe you can change the world, and it’s heartening to see young people becoming enthusiastic and actively involved in volunteering and charity work. The hard part is when you reach adulthood and things such as work and relationships take emphasis and become excuses for not having enough time to participate in community service. I do find that it is tougher for adults to remain actively involved because we all lead such hectic lives, but being of service to your community can and should be part of every one’s life, regardless of how busy you are. 

Do Your Bit for Underprivileged Kids

How did you begin caring about the world around you?
Since I was young my Godmother, who worked tirelessly for over 50 years in numerous charities, instilled a need within me to be compassionate. Then as a young adult, work and my curiosity of life in general began to determine my travel to all corners of the world. I became very aware of the world around me and the disparities between how people lived and were treated. Despite being a prosperous nation, Singapore is also not spared its share of some of these afflictions, and to see it here in our own communities really brings the point home.

Why do you do it?
Philanthropy has become a passion, and as with all passions, you can’t imagine your life without it. It fulfills you, it excites you, it makes you want to share it with as many people as possible. It is also hard work and takes planning and dedication, but just to see the smile on a child’s face when you’ve made his dream come true makes it all worth it. Charity is not just about being altruistic, it’s also a very self-serving exercise—if the situation and an opportunity to help a person presents itself directly to you, and yet you are still able to step over that someone in desperate need, how will you be able to look at yourself in the mirror knowing that your personal action could have made all the difference? 
Therefore, the act of charity in many instances also serves to satisfy your conscience and brings you great comfort in the knowledge that you mattered most to that one person whose life you so positively or even profoundly affected. Surely even the most disillusioned “Scrooge” among us would feel good.

Do Your Bit for Underprivileged Kids
• Have fun at the Run & Raisin’ Carnival
Not-for-profit charity organization TOUCH Young Arrows (TYA) will be holding their inaugural charity run and concurrent carnival event to raise $100,000 for disadvantaged children and their families. Register for the run and purchase ticket booklets before the event on Mar 12 at www.tyarunandraisin.com.
• Volunteer at MINDS
MINDS help provide intellectually disabled children with equal education opportunities, and they need your help. Call 6479-5655 or email their volunteer and donor management manager at [email protected].
• Grant a wish
The Make-A-Wish Foundation (Singapore) grants wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses. You can help give these children wonderful memories to cherish. To be a wish granter, call 6334 9474 or email [email protected]

You’ve gotta love 38-year-old Audrey Tay. The freelance creative consultant not only heads some of the coolest, most luxe parties in town (last year’s Avalon Go! as well as selected dos at Ku Dé Ta), this single mother of three is also a champion of the environment, who devotes a chunk of her time to doing charity work for Green School (www.greenschool.org) in Bali and the social entrepreneurial effort Qi Global (www.qi-global.com). Although she’s more hip than hippie, her commitments to a variety of charitable causes are nevertheless impressive.

How did your interest in charity work come about?
It all began within the family. My dad Dr. Henry Tay is the chairman for Community Chest, while mom Dato Dr. Jannie Chan (of The Hour Glass fame) also does various charity work. I also came from a childhood where we lived in and out of hospitals and dealing with various disabilities (my younger sister Michelle died of cerebral palsy when she was 12, while my other sister Sabrina was born partially deaf and has a hole in her heart). Plus, I have three kids that I’m bringing up all on my own, so it’s part of who I am and wanting a better world to live in, especially for my children.

Do your bit for Mother Nature

What are your personal principles and commitments to the cause?
Human rights, PPP (People, Profit, Planet), environmental sustainability, climate change, conflict resolution, minimizing carbon footprints and of course, world peace! (laughs) It’s all about instinct and survival. We as humans are on the top of the food chain and if we continue messing around with nature and eliminating everything, we’re just creating more imbalance and guess what, we’re just screwing ourselves up! I’m also personally committed to promoting global citizenship and cultural inter-dialogue.

What have you been involved in recently?
On a conservation leadership level, I believe that the process of relearning and unlearning through education is very important. Which is why I continually work on having conversations with the public and private sectors on processing, challenging, innovating and ultimately, making money for them. Collaboration is key with everyone across the board. I will also be heavily involved with promoting bio-diversity this year, working with the Nature Society of Singapore and the Birdlife Organization on a conservation project called Harapan Rainforest. I’ve also gotten Singapore Airlines to commit US$3 million to saving the Sumatran rainforest, and will be raising another US$200,000 for Green School. As for Qi, I will be creating more platforms to create more cutting-edge social enterprises, experts, scientists and social entrepreuners.

Who are your role models?
The late architect and philosopher Buckminster Fuller, environmental activist David Suzuki, conservationist and forester Willie Smits, jeweler John Hardy, and last, but not least, my mum and dad.

Famous last words?
“Hope” and “Humanity.”

NEXT: The First Man

Do Your Bit for Mother Nature
• Take part in Earth Hour 2011
Enjoy a free Live Concert and Carnival at The Promontory @ Marina Bay on Mar 26, 5:30-10pm. Make and personalize your own kite with your wish for the planet and take part in the first ever Earth Hour Night Walk. Registration costs $15 and can be done through www.wwf.sg. Alternatively, simply switch off your lights wherever you are at 8:30pm on Mar 26.
• Learn how to preserve our natural habitats
Parks Division manager Eileen Chia, who is working with the National Parks Board, will speak about doing our part in enhancing the remaining mangrove habitats in Singapore on May 7, 3pm at the Ang Mo Kio Public Library. Email [email protected] to register.
• Get your Qi in balance
Attend the upcoming Qi 2011 conference on Oct 13-14 to be held at School Of The Arts, featuring 30 speakers and innovators who are involved in socially-responsible enterprises. Register now by emailing [email protected] or call Marina at 9695-0918.
• Start recycling
The best way to begin your personal Project Gaia is to recycle as much as possible—newspapers, magazines, glass bottle, aluminium cans, whatever. If your office doesn’t have recycling facilities, start one or visit the SLA OneMap website at http://www.onemap.sg/index.htm.
 

Celebrity aesthetician Dr. Georgia Lee is no stranger to glitz and glamor. The director of skin clinic TLC Lifestyle and newbie DrGL Loves DrSpa, Dr Lee is better known for her interest in designer fashion and social activities than her community spirit. Here, she talks about using her influence to support causes that don’t always get their share of the spotlight.

What sort of charities have you been involved with recently?
I have been a patron of the “Make a Wish” Foundation (www.makeawish.org.sg) for the last two years. I was previously in the committee for Heart Foundation (www.myheart.org.sg) and recently helped to raise funds for the Singapore Dragon Boat Association (www.sdba.org.sg). It is a lesser-known non-profit organisation and I admire the relentless “fighter” spirit of the dragon-boaters.

What causes are you most passionate about then?
The charities and causes I support are varied as I believe in spreading the good and also prefer to help out smaller or less known organizations where more help is needed. I do, however, have a weakness for charities involving children especially when it comes to bettering their education.

Learn how you can help the disabled

As a socialite, your life is perpetually under public scrutiny. Was this a driving influence in your charity work?
I have always, as a child and growing up, preferred to give more than to take, and would take note of all the good deeds bestowed upon me so that I could pay them back. My husband told me once that I would never be rich as I am generous to a fault and I have since learned to be more discerning when it comes to giving. I would usually give to families that I know need help, and it was only recently that I came out more publicly to help charities. It took a close friend and a few patients to persuade me to do so. They told me that I have been very much misunderstood as someone who did not share. But it was when I was told that I could influence and do so much more by coming out to help that I made up my mind to do so publicly.

Which charity ambassador do you admire most?
Every single person who gives as much as he or she can afford and especially those who give when no one is watching.

NEXT: The Green Gal About Town

Do Your Bit for the Disabled
• Be a champion for the blind
Volunteer at the Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped Flag Day on Mar 12 from 9am to 5pm. For more details, contact Ms Margaret Woo at 6251-4331 ext. 162 or email [email protected].
• Do some thrift-shopping
Drop by APSN Centre For Adults Thrift Shop at 29 Jalan Tembusu on weekdays and the first Sunday of each month from 9am-3pm. When you pick up that book you’ve been searching for or that stylish vintage jacket, you’re also contributing to the association’s funds.
• Offer a job
Bizlink Centre is a non-profit organization that provides employment for people with disabilities through its Employment Placement Program. Got a position you think they’d be interested in? Call 6449-5652 or email [email protected].