Community Chest, a fund-raising division of the National Council of Social Service in Singapore, has introduced an innovative interactive mode of donation.

Commuters can tap their EZ-Link card, which is a contactless stored value ticket for use on the public transportation, on selected advertisement billboards to donate S$1 (US$0.80) to Community Chest.

These billboards are located at five SMRT stations, namely Orchard, Somerset, Tiong Bahru, Yishun and Bishan.

Anyone who is keen to make a larger donation can scan a QR code on the poster with their smartphone. It will bring them to the Community Chest’s official web site where they can make a one-time donation or sign up for monthly donation.

The announcement was made along with the launch of the Care & Share Movement, a fund-raising and volunteerism movement announced in October.

The Singapore government will be matching donations to the social service sector, in order to mobilise more resources to help the disadvantaged and to promote the spirit of giving among Singaporeans as they prepare to celebrate the country’s 50th birthday in 2015.

In financial year 2013, Community Chest will be funding 228 critical social service programmes offered by 83 charities, which require a total of S$85.9 million (US$68.7 million) of community funding to help over 300,000 people.

SMRT is one of the key partners in the campaign, generously sponsoring advertisement space at major MRT stations and providing valuable technical advice on the implementation process.

“SMRT is excited to collaborate with our long-time partner Community Chest, and identify new and innovative ways that Singaporeans can give back to society. We support the Care & Share Movement as part of our continued commitment to the social services, and are very happy to promote this programme in our transport network,” said Mr Patrick Nathan, Vice-President of Corporate Information and Communications for SMRT.