Update on Evergreen Lunch and the Fundraising Status

The protem DP team has been working hard to get estimates on the costs involved in getting Miss Norris’ home ready for her return. The numbers are still coming in, however we have some high level estimates that we’d like to share :

  • Startup costs which include minor renovations, and purchase of equipment eg hospital bed, wheelchair : S$40,000 – S$50,000
  • Monthly running costs which include medications, therapies, household expenses : S$8,000

The DP is working on obtaining a reverse mortgage on her existing property that will fund the monthly running costs. This is expected to come through in the next 3-6 months. In the meantime, the Protem DP together with RGS has been working to raise the amount needed through the alumni community.

Thanks to your generosity, we have S$62,000 pledged with S$17,000 raised during the Evergreen Lunch held at the Evelyn Norris Hall, RGS on May 1. This should take care of the startup costs plus the running costs for just over a month. The current target is to raise S$100,000 to cover the startup costs and 6 months of running costs until the reverse mortgage comes through.  If you’d like to contribute, please make out cheques to “Raffles Girls School ( Secondary)” and write the following on the back of the cheque:

  • “FRIENDS OF MISS NORRIS”,
  • Your name,
  • Your class in RGS,
  • Your address/email/phone number.

Mail you cheque to :

Raffles Girls School

20 Anderson Road

Singapore 259978

Attention: Friends of Miss Norris / Ms Gina Soh

Funds will be administered by RGS and any unused portions of the money raised will be donated to the school.

Here are a few photos from the Evergreen Lunch, watch this space for more.

Entrance to Evelyn Norris Hall - Evergreen Lunch 2012

Entrance to Evelyn Norris Hall – Evergreen Lunch 2012

School Song - Evergreen Lunch 2012

School Song – Evergreen Lunch 2012

An Email from Choi Fan, RGS Class of 1971

I am sharing with you an email from Choi Fun ( Class of 1971).
When she heard about Miss Norris from Peck Sim (Class of 1971, advisor (homecare) to Protem DP about Miss Norris’ stroke, she unilaterally rounded up a group of her RGS friends to raise funds for her. Last week, RGS received a cheque for SGD9,000 for Miss Norris from Choi Fun and friends.
When I wrote to thank her on behalf of the DP and MN, this is what she said.
Choi Fun has given me permission to reproduce her email.

—————————–

Sent: Friday, 16 March, 2012 11:02 AM
To: Madeleine Lee
Subject: Re: Miss Norris

Dear Madeline,

You are most welcome. The Donations come primarily from the Alumni of 1971 ( Secondary 4 different classes) with a few donations from ladies from other years. I know I speak for all when I say that we enjoyed our time at RGS ( secondary) and have benefitted from our education.

Two things that Miss Norris did sets her apart from other principals. She  would personally go to all classes and give permission to the girls who live in flood prone areas to leave school early so that they can arrive home safely. And she managed to persuade the Ministry to let us have an English woman teach us English in School. You may wish to put this on the Blog about her.

As for the fund raising, I can only say that the undertaking was made easy because of the generosity of all who heard and responded. Special thanks to Olivia who connected me with Carmee and who spearheaded the collection from her own group. All the best to the Alumni in their Fund raising effort.

Best Regards,
Choi Fun

Originallly posted, Friday 23 March 2012

Fundraising for Miss Norris

In order for Miss Norris to be discharged and go back to her own home, the protem DP must put together a plan for homecare.

One of the items of this plan is the one-off expenditure in the form of :

1. Home Modifications ( eg ramps, anti-slip flooring etc); and

2. Home Equipment ( eg adjustable bed, wheelchair, day chair, physio therapy exercise equipment and supplies of medical equipment eg feeding tubes, catheters etc)

The protem DP estimates that items 1 and 2 will cost up to SGD50,000.00. Whilst our role is not primarily to go out publicly to raise funds for Miss Norris, these are the 2 items which need immediate solution.Th ere is also the on-going medical and home care which is still being estimated.

Many of you have generously offered financial assistance in your emails. Whilst the protem Deputy Panel is awaiting court appointment ( which will take 6 to 8 weeks) , Miss Julie Hoo, Principal RGS (Secondary) has kindly offered to assist in facilitating fund-raising. The school will set up a special sub account called “FREINDS OF MISS NORRIS” for this purpose. This account is kept within the school fund and is where all gifts for Miss Norris’ care will go.

We hope to have enough funds to allow us to get her house ready for her return, at the same time as the court application is underway. When appropriate, the DP will post a complete set of accounts detailing the receipt and expenditure. Utilisation of fund will be authorised by any 2 of the 3 authorised signatories from the DP and counter-signed by one of the Deputy Principals of RGS.

To contribute to the fund, cheques should be addressed to “Raffles Girls’ School (Secondary)“.

Please write on the back of the cheque:

  • “FRIENDS OF MISS NORRIS”,
  • Your name,
  • Your class in RGS,
  • Your address/email/phone number.

If you are in touch with your classmates, you could gather your class together to donate in a group. You may post this cheque to the school at:

Raffles Girls School

20 Anderson Road

Singapore 259978

Attention: Friends of Miss Norris / Ms Gina Soh

Originally posted Thursday, 22 March 2012