Over 200 employees from the CDL Group volunteered their time at Assisi Fun Day. Joining in the group photo was Minister Tan See Leng (front row, 5th from right) during his visit to the CDL Group of Companies Pavilion.
Top Ballers:
CDL Challenge
Raises S$150,000
At Annual
Charity Carnival
To Support
Assisi Hospice
The spirit of community and compassion was once again on full display at this year’s Assisi Fun Day, the largest annual fundraising event by Assisi Hospice. Co-organised with City Developments Limited (CDL), the community event at St Joseph’s Institution International brought together business leaders, families of former patients, volunteers and community groups from all walks of life.
Graced by Guest-of-Honour Dr Tan See Leng, Minister for Manpower and Minister-In-Charge of Energy and Science & Technology, and Ms Ho Ching, Assisi Hospice’s Patron, the mega carnival sought to raise S$1 million for the care of Assisi’s Hospice patients and their families.
Minister Tan See Leng (4th from left) presented tokens of appreciation to supporters of Assisi Fun Day 2025. (from left to right - Ms Tjioe Ka In, Executive Director, Tung Lok Millennium Pte Ltd; Ms Maria Ciola, Director of Admissions, Scholarships & Philanthropy, St Joseph’s Institution International; Mr Thomas Teo, Chairman of Assisi Hospice; Minister Tan See Leng; Ms Ho Ching, Patron Assisi Hospice; Mr Sherman Kwek, Group CEO of CDL; Ms Choo Shiu Ling, CEO of Assisi Hospice; Mr David Lim, Chief Corporate Officer, CBM Pte Ltd; Mr Benedict Ng, Vice President, Operations South East Asia, Millennium Hotels and Resorts.) 
Led by CDL's Group CEO Mr Sherman Kwek (front row, 3rd from right), two teams of CDL employees successfully raised S$150,000 for Assisi Hospice through an exciting four-legged race relay, witnessed by Guest-of-Honour Minister Tan See Leng (front row, centre) and Ms Ho Ching, Assisi Hospice’s Patron (front row, 3rd from left).
Every year, one of the carnival’s highlights is a special charity segment known as “The CDL Challenge”, which is led by CDL’s Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and aims to raise funds for Assisi Hospice. In a true test of mettle and team spirit, two teams competed in a four-legged race relay, aiming to move as many foam balls as possible by sandwiching the balls between their heads, shoulders and torsos. The 14-metre shuttle relay had to be completed within three minutes, requiring not only physical effort but also precise timing and cooperation among team members. Supporters and business partners of CDL pledged donations for every foam ball successfully deposited at the finish point.
In total, the two teams moved 59 foam balls during the CDL Challenge, raising S$150,000.
Mr Sherman Kwek, CDL’s Group CEO, said, " Our long-standing support of Assisi Fun Day remains a special tradition of our ongoing commitment to giving back, with our employee volunteers – and even their families – coming together not just to raise funds, but to build genuine connections with the community we serve. Seeing our CDL family, business partners, and the wider community rally so strongly and generously around this meaningful cause is indeed heartening. Every journey begins with a single step, and we hope our collective efforts will motivate more to support Assisi Hospice’s vital work.”
The exciting 14-metre shuttle relay saw 59 foam balls moved by the two teams. CDL’s supporters and business partners pledged donations for every foam ball successfully deposited at the finish point.
Launched in 2017 by Mr Kwek, the CDL Challenge has raised funds to support the care of Assisi Hospice’s patients. Last year, the CDL Challenge raised over S$200,000 for Assisi Hospice through an exciting rice relay competition where participants carried over 100 bags (over 1,000 kg) of rice within eight minutes. This year, over 200 employees from the CDL Group volunteered their time and effort to set up nine stalls at the carnival – four by CDL, four by Millennium Hotels & Resorts (MHR) and one by sister company Hong Leong Finance, selling a wide range of F&B items.
The carnival featured nine stalls set up by CDL, Millennium Hotels & Resorts, and Hong Leong Finance, with employees volunteering their time to raise funds for Assisi Hospice.
This year’s Assisi Fun Day drew an estimated 10,000 visitors and featured over 100 stalls, family-friendly rides and games, and special appearances by groups such as Harley Davidson interest groups and cosplayers. Funds raised will go towards supporting Assisi Hospice’s comprehensive care services – from Inpatient, Home Care, Day Care to Grief and Bereavement Support – which collectively served about 3,200 patients in 2024.
