Each year, the CASE Circle of Excellence Awards recognises institutions whose talented staff members advanced their institutions in the previous year through innovative, inspiring, and creative ideas. The awards acknowledge superior accomplishments that have lasting impact, demonstrate the highest level of professionalism, and deliver exceptional results. 

In conceptualising and organising SMOO Challenge 2020, Singapore Management University (SMU) is proud to receive the Grand Gold Award in the Special Events – Online (Fundraising) category. A Grand Gold Award is the highest level of recognition in the programme and Grand Gold Awards are rare (only one recipient if any), reserved for an entry that is extremely exceptional or "game-changing". 

For the first time last year, SMU launched the SMOO Challenge, a virtual fundraising run, aimed at bringing the SMU community (and beyond) together, in celebration of our 20th anniversary in 2020. It was also meant to galvanise the community during a difficult COVID-19 year by keeping fit, boosting mental wellness and morale, all for a meaningful cause. Nett proceeds raised went towards bursaries for underprivileged students adversely impacted by the economic downturn.

At the end of the campaign, 1,218 participants (students, alumni, faculty, staff, friends & family members of SMU, and even members of the public) in over 90 teams across 16 countries accomplished 57,346.35km, in 20 days, setting a Singapore National Record of “Longest Distance Covered Online by Runners in 20 Days”.

Literally making an impact with every single step, a total of over SGD413,000 was raised in 20 days, which in turn provided much needed funds to help SMU’s financially challenged students through bursaries.

SMOO Challenge was a result of interdepartmental collaboration – it brought together administrative departments, academic schools and student clubs, which worked closely to ensure the event was well-participated and well-received. Community groups and alumni fitness ambassadors were also called upon to encourage their followers to participate in the event. In addition, the fact that this was a creative and multi-goal event, with a wide reach of participants from different backgrounds and geographies, probably led Judges of the Awards into making SMU’s entry as role model for others.

You can read more about the SMOO Challenge 2020 here.

Said Ms Chan Wai Leng, Director of the Office of Advancement, “Due to the pandemic, numerous on-campus events had to be put on hold or were cancelled. However, this key campus-wide community service project went ahead virtually and it was heart-warming to see different departments, as well as different communities across boundaries, coming together collectively to ensure that SMOO Challenge was a success. We managed to hit beyond our initial targets and similarly this year, we hope to surpass our targets and engage an even wider community to support our cause.”

If you missed last year’s SMOO Challenge, fret not as we have planned a second virtual edition this year. Sign up at here and do your part to help financially challenged students.

About SMOO Challenge 2021

SMOO Challenge 2021 aims to accomplish 50,000km in 21 days (3-24 September 2021), and fundraise $400,000 to help 50 underprivileged students at SMU with bursaries. A virtual challenge, participants can be from anywhere in the world. In this COVID age, we may be apart, but we are all in it together during this “new normal”. This year, participants can expect to raise more money with each step – upon clocking specific distance milestones as a community, a donation from an organisation, foundation and philanthropist will be “unlocked”.

Thanks to a kind and generous dollar-for-dollar matching from Tote Board, all funds raised for SMOO Challenge 2021 will be doubled. Hence, apart from signing up, we invite you to also consider making a donation to support our efforts in providing quality education to deserving, financially challenged students. Your impact will go a very long way indeed.