Inspiring Underprivileged Kids Through Performing Arts

CariReporter

InspiringUnderprivileged Kids Through Performing Arts

KL Pac and StART Society BandTogether for a Day of Learning, Fun and Laughter Through the NovartisCommunity Partnership Day 2013

KUALA LUMPUR, 16 May 2013- Novartis Corporation in conjunction with the company’s globalinitiative of Community Partnership Day recently collaborated withthe KL Performing Arts Centre(KLPAC) and StART to play hostto underprivileged kids from the welfare homes of Sunbeams, RumahOzanam and Ti-Ratana  in a performing arts and dance workshop at theKL Performing Arts Centre.

Facilitated by TheActor’s Studio and taught by KLPAC’s very own performing artsluminaries Mark Beau deSilva, Christopher Ling andLex Lakshman Balakrishnan,the one-day workshop entitled “The Performer in You!” gave thekids an opportunity to learn various methods of artistic expressionthrough dance, singing and acting accompanied by Novartis’employees. “Once again The Actors Studio Academy congratulates theorganizers. Opportunities like these should be done more often forthe sake of the children,” said Dato’Faridah Merican, ExecutiveProducer and Director of The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre.

Joshua Lee,Programme Director of StARTSociety also shared the samesentiment when he mentioned that it was nothing less than wonderfulwhen a local powerhouse in performing arts like KLPAC and amultinational pharmaceutical company like Novartis takeunderprivileged children with the same passion and penchant undertheir wings.

During the event, the various partieshad also organized a fund raising drive by selling T-Shirts, CDs andkids painting. “As a socially active and responsible company, weare proud to be able to bring new and once-in-a-lifetime experiencesto these underprivileged kids in conjunction with our globalinitiative called Novartis Community Partnership Day (CPD),” saidAnnie Lim,Head of HR for NovartisCorporation Malaysia. “Wewanted it to be fun and creative. When we spoke to KLPAC and StARTabout this idea, we knew it was something that would be significantnot just for the kids but also members of the Novartis family,”added Lim.

At the end of the session and after along day of learning the various performing arts techniques, theunderprivileged kids had the honor of presenting a well-choreographedshow at the lobby of KLPAC to the delight of all the guests present.

This workshop collaboration is done inconcurrence with Community Partnership Day (CPD) on April 25, andan opportunity for more than 16,500 Novartis Group company associatesin 56 countries - both large and small - to make an activecontribution to their local communities. Around the world, theworking day will be spent volunteering for charitable causes, asNovartis divisions contribute to a huge variety of projects.Established in 1996, CPD marks the anniversary of the creation ofNovartis, and exemplifies our long-standing commitment to corporateresponsibility. The majority of Novartis Group companies celebrateCPD today, while others are set to organize volunteer activities overthe remainder of 2013.

AboutNovartis
Novartis provides innovative healthcare solutions thataddress the evolving needs of patients and societies. Headquarteredin Basel, Switzerland, Novartis offers a diversified portfolio tobest meet these needs: innovative medicines, eye care, cost-savinggeneric pharmaceuticals, preventive vaccines and diagnostic tools,over-the-counter and animal health products. Novartis is the onlyglobal company with leading positions in these areas. In 2012, theGroup achieved net sales of USD 56.7 billion, while R&Dthroughout the Group amounted to approximately USD 9.3 billion (USD9.1 billion excluding impairment and amortization charges). NovartisGroup companies employ approximately 129,000 full-time-equivalentassociates and operate in more than 140 countries around the world.For more information, please visit http://www.novartis.com.