Getting wealthy Singaporeans to part with their money for a good cause is not that difficult, even during a recession.
"Some, of course, will use it as an excuse, but people who are charitable will still donate," says Ms Olga Iserlis, who is organising the Singapore Wine Auction & Gala Dinner at the Shangri-La Hotel.
She should know. All 51 tables for the event, titled In Vino Veritas and held as part of the Singapore Sun Festival, are sold out. The ball will feature a performance by opera diva Dame Kiri Te Kanawa.
Ms Iserlis is quite confident of raising more than $1 million – the amount the event raised last year – for the Viva Foundation, a Singapore-based charity which helps children with leukaemia.
Regularly featured in high society magazines, the mother of two has been organising chi-chi fund-raisers for the last 10 years.
"I always try to find a charity angle to the events I do," says Ms Iserlis, a Russian-born American who came to Singapore 20 years ago with her banking and IT specialist husband.
"My biggest worry...
is that panic sets in
and people use it
as an excuse to
turn their backs
on doing something
meaningful."
Ms Olga Iserlis
The holder of a master's degree in health care, finance and management from New York University, she is especially partial towards children's and health causes.
Her past projects include the Mercedes Ball to raise funds for Milk (Mainly I Love Kids) and the Passion Ball in aid of Food From The Heart.
"Fund-raising is serious business," says the articulate woman, who organises about 30 events – both big and small – each year.
It is important to do it well, especially in a recession, so that people will continue to support the causes she champions.
She finds Singaporeans generous.
"Some will give smaller amounts in a recession, but many will still be very generous," says Ms Iserlis.
She knows of people who make outright donations of more than $100,000 for events that she helms.
She believes that the privileged should think of the needy even more in trying times. And they should not forget to support culture and the arts as well, she adds.
"Culture is what keeps progress going. In times like these, it is even more important for people to nourish the soul."
This article was first published in The Straits Times on Oct 18, 2008.
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