SINGAPORE, 27 April 2024 — Local football legends Fandi Ahmad and K Kannan joined more than 100 members of the legal community at Singapore Academy of Law (SAL) CJ’s Cup, an annual futsal fundraiser to support the education and rehabilitation of ex-offenders and their families.

The two ex-national footballers kicked off the event by playing against each other in an exhibition match between the Law Society of Singapore’s women’s team, and an all-male SAL team helmed by Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, and Second Minister for Law, Mr Edwin Tong SC and representatives from the two charities’ beneficiaries - the Yellow Ribbon Fund (“YRF”) and the Singapore After-Care Association (“SACA”).

A record 23 teams with players from local and foreign law firms, the Singapore Legal Service, law students and beneficiaries from YRF and SACA took to the pitch this morning. The cup was won by WongPartnership LLP.

The CJ’s Cup has raised more than $710,000 since its inception 11 years ago. This year’s event beat last year’s tally, raising more than $180,000 which will support financially needy ex-offenders seeking vocational and skills training offered under the SAL-YRF Skills Training Assistance to Restart (“STAR”) Bursary and befriending services to the incarcerated and their families under SACA’s Volunteer After-Care Programme.

Mr Thio Shen Yi SC, Chair of the SAL Corporate Social Responsibility (“CSR” Working Group, said “The rehabilitation journey is not an easy one and it requires support on many fronts. That’s why we have expanded the beneficiaries of our CSR efforts to include SACA’s Volunteer After-Care Programme. We also welcome YRF’s efforts to support different pathways to success through the STAR Bursary for tertiary education and vocational training. We thank our partners in the legal profession and beyond for making a difference.”

Mr Matthew Wee, Chairman of the Yellow Ribbon Fund STAR Bursary Committee, said, “We are deeply grateful to SAL for their strong support for over 10 years. Since 2013, SAL has supported the Yellow Ribbon Project by mobilising their members to offer second chances and uplift the lives of our inmates and ex-offenders. Their actions give hope and opportunities to those who are in need and inspire others to contribute towards a more inclusive society.”

Mr Jeffrey Beh, Chairman of SACA, said, “The Association is extremely grateful towards the legal profession, including the Singapore Academy of Law, for its support towards the Volunteer After-Care Programme. The impact of contributing to this programme is twofold. Beyond enabling more opportunities for volunteers to help & care for clients and their families, it also sends a strong message about the importance of community involvement and acceptance. It also reaffirms that the work we do cannot be done in isolation – everyone has a part to play in the journey of reintegration. It is commendable that the legal profession has shown a heart to care for all in the community.”