Organized by propBUDDIES and co-organized by The Brandlaureate Education, Pertubuhan Amal THZ, and Lions Club of KL Pantai Hills, the propFEST2024 (PIFPTY movement) charity bazaar, held from January 6th to 7th at Aurora Place Bukit Jalil, concluded successfully. With over 40 stalls and more than 2,000 attendees, the event not only attracted a large crowd but also successfully raised RM200,000 in donations.
Member of Parliament for Seputeh Y.B. Teresa Kok served as the guest of honour for the opening ceremony on the first day, stating, "Although the event is still in its 'youthful stage,' extending a helping hand to those in need symbolizes the beginning of a successful corporate journey. I am particularly inspired by the young volunteers on-site, working together with unity to complete this meaningful event."
Advisor for the propFEST 2024 and Founder of Pertubuhan Amal THZ, Y.M. Tengku Dato’ Dr. Hishammuddin Zaizi bin Y.A.M Tengku Bendahara Azman Shah Alhaj, expressed, "As I hunt through into the mission and spirit of the propFEST 2024, I find that this charity event not only provides economic assistance to charitable organizations but also serves as a beacon of hope through education for orphans."
Event initiator, Stable Lai said, propFEST 2024 breaks the conventional charity mindset, not just stopping at donations but also actively helping these orphans through concrete actions. We invited 390 orphans to the venue, engaging them in mindfulness games to help them rediscover their self-worth. Additionally, we provided financial literacy courses to inspire their financial thinking, nurturing their independence to transform them from societal issues to pillars of society."
The co-organizer, The Brandlaureate Education's CEO, Dr. Anson Lim, complimented the event for its commitment to promoting corporate social responsibility and elevating brand values. " In the realm of business, a brand is not just a logo or a tagline; it is the essence of who we are and what we stand for. It is the promise we make to our customers, the values we uphold, and the unique personality that sets us apart in a crowded marketplace."
President of the organizing committee, Mani Khoo, expressed gratitude to the volunteers for their dedicated efforts, acknowledging their commitment to weekly meetings despite their individual work commitments. She emphasized the importance of making the event vibrant and successful, even though charity work may seem challenging.
Fundraising president Clare Chong also thanked all businesses for their financial and practical contributions to the propFEST2024, enabling the event to achieve its fundraising target of RM200,000. The orphans will be able to use the charity vouchers donated by generous individuals to purchase their desired items.
Specially, propBUDDIES' e-commerce platform Wise Spend Mall, third-party payment provider RC365 Solutions Sdn Bhd, and supermarket Nilai Mart Sdn Bhd signed a memorandum of understanding. The collaboration involves partner merchants allocating a portion of their profits for charitable purposes, benefiting charitable organizations and achieving true economic independence for them, addressing the need for long-term fundraising.
During the opening ceremony day, other distinguished guests included Vice-Chairperson of the organizing committee Dr. Jest Wong, Aurora Place Bukit Jalil Joint Management Committee Chairman Mike Foo, propJECT Founder Dareal Kho, propBUDDIES Founder Master Huat, vice president of Lions Club of KL Pantai Hills Dato’ Ho Chi Kian, Miss Chinese Cosmos Carrie Lee Sze Kei, The Miss CosmoWorld Malaysia Tay Cheah, Dato Sri Ahmad Ooi Huat Beng, RC365 Solutions Sdn Bhd Director KC Chua, RC365 Solutions Sdn Bhd representative Jason Chin, Nilai Mart Sdn Bhd Managing Director Mr. Zeny Azuan Bin Roslee, and representative Mr. Yen.
The two-day event featured exciting performances, including international violinist Jessica Loo and her students performing well-known pieces, traditional performances and martial arts demonstrations by UM Lion Dance Troupe, Brilliant Dragon & Lion Dance Team, SR Wushu Academy, and Teck Ngai Lion Dance Selangor, children's ballet performances by Asia Ballet Academy, and various musical performances by Kanyo Bucks Art、Kepong Ukulele Club、CD2Rocks、The Hummingway Harmonica Enterprise.
The closing ceremony concluded with a group sing-along led by singer-songwriter Camillia Siaw, the artist behind the event's theme song "antNERGY."
