On November 28, 2024, President Tharman Shanmugaratnam officially launched The Foundry, a transformative hub for social impact and collaboration. Located in the rejuvenated former Elections Department building on Prinsep Street, The Foundry currently houses 14 social impact organisations working to address societal challenges. Mr. Lionel Li, Founder of Li Foundation, attended the launch.
Established by The Majurity Trust, The Foundry provides a shared space for organisations tackling issues such as mental health, youth empowerment, and caregiver support. With plans to accommodate up to 24 organisations, it fosters collaboration, amplifies collective impact, and builds meaningful connections. To encourage innovation, the Foundry Forward Fund offers $500,000 over two years to support collaborative initiatives addressing Singapore’s social needs.
The Foundry stands as a symbol of transformation, repurposing the historic Elections Department building into a vibrant hub for social progress. Its modern facilities include meeting rooms, a podcast studio, and a cafe operated by social enterprise Bettr Coffee, creating a collaborative environment for changemakers.
At the launch, President Tharman commended the founders of social impact organisations for their boldness and dedication, emphasizing the importance of their “founder mindset” in challenging the status quo and driving meaningful change. He remarked: “It will all add up. All these small efforts, founding efforts – some succeed, some don’t, but they will all add up, and they will make this a better society.”
The Foundry represents a significant leap forward for Singapore’s social sector, providing a space where organisations can co-create and innovate together. Li Foundation and The Majurity Trust have agreed to fully leverage The Foundry’s distinctive space to deepen their collaboration, harness their complementary strengths, and co-create a dynamic and thriving ecosystem for public welfare. It marks a new chapter of collective action, empowering changemakers to address shared challenges and build a more inclusive and compassionate society.
The book showcases how the participants challenged their limits and conquered the World Marathon Challenge and North Pole Marathon to inspire people to challenge their own limits and pursue their dreams boldly.
The book tells the stories behind the event which saw the largest number of people in history running 1045km round Taiwan in 19 days.