Since our inception in May 2006, we have passionately pursued a “grass roots” foundation in the community. Over the past five years, the Singapore Slingers have teamed up with over 480 schools, organizations, and sponsors (with some being repeat hosts and partners); giving approximately 3,000 volunteer hours from all of our players reaching out to nearly 42,000 people.
Community work is also an integral part of the Singapore Slingers mandate to help promote the sport of basketball. We have partnered up with Non Profit Organizations in pursuing their outreaches and promoting their message. Whether it is bringing a smile with a positive message to kids who are less fortunate, or working with people who are physically or mentally challenged, the Singapore Slingers do their best to make a difference where ever they are called to. Alongside supporting local causes, the Slingers have also been involved with international outreach projects. They helped raise money for kids who were orphaned by AIDS in Africa by hosting a Free-Throw Marathon. Most recently, the team participated in a charitable fundraiser in Thailand to help raise money for those who were affected by the devastating floods that the country suffered.
Assisting in Singapore’s basketball development, the Slingers understands that the best way to improve the standard of play is to help young basketball players improve on their fundamentals: coaching kids at a young age and building them up. This is one of the main reasons, aside from giving back to the community, why the Slingers visit schools and conduct free basketball clinics. It is also a great opportunity for young kids to interact with the team and help them understand the basic skills of the sport they love to play.
The Singapore Slingers also find it equally important to help those in their local neighborhood. During this past Christmas season, Slingers players were seen with members of the Boy’s Brigade handing out big bags of food to the elderly in the Aljunied housing area, near the location of the Slingers practice facility and office. Another very proud promotional initiative the team participated in was “The Spirit of Sharing,” an initiative coined by our major sponsor, JobStreet.Com. The idea behind it is to be kind and encourage the sharing of a JobStreet.Com umbrella with your neighbor.
These are just a couple of our previous community and outreach work that we, as a club, want to share with our fans, both current and future. We have been working throughout the community in different and creative ways to give back to those who give us support, knowing that without the true foundation of our local community and fellow countrymen’s support structure, we would not be as successful as we are today.
The coming season should be the most exciting season yet for the Singapore Slingers, but, it is the work that we have been able to achieve off the court in the past five years that we consider our greatest achievement – helping young people become better basketball players and continuously giving back to the community. We also want to continue to be positive role models throughout the country and be a major contributor to society in different ways. It brings our team happiness and joy in knowing that we are able to help the people who are around us.
Just wait and see what we have planned for this year! GO SLINGERS!
