Fundraising has become harder. Global economic uncertainty and geopolitical conflict have pushed up costs even as social needs become increasingly complex. But this hasn’t stopped Esther Ho from giving.
Her fine jewellery brand, MUS Zenith Affair (MUS.za), is raising funds for ResiL!ence, the youth mental health group of Shine Children & Youth Services. Last year, MUS.za raised $370,000 through its Give While You Get campaign, with proceeds supporting the non-profit’s work in outreach, mental health literacy and psychoeducation, early identification and community-based services.
“It’s very easy: don’t think so much,” says Ho, who founded MUS.za in 2019. “We just keep doing and working hard.”
To kick off this year’s campaign in August, she unveiled Piecing You Together, a six-piece puzzle of interlocking pieces crafted from gold and lined with pavé diamonds. The design can be customised and expanded to accommodate additional pieces. Each piece can be detached and worn separately as a pendant.
For Ho, the design of the puzzle holds personal significance. Diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) last year, she believes that her openness about her experience allows her to serve as a role model for the youths she is fundraising for. She hopes those around them will show the patience needed to help them find their own pieces, instead of forcing them to fit into somebody else’s puzzle.
Like last year’s campaign, a specially curated collection of jewellery has been made available for purchase by clients and supporters. Charity Ambassadors also participated in a photoshoot and shared these images on social media to help garner word-of-mouth.
Ho sees the fundraiser as an opportunity to pass on values she hopes the younger generation in her family will carry forward. Her daughter Zoie Teo, who has her own jewellery brand Carat 55, and granddaughter Victoria Grace Lee are chipping in too. Lee co-hosts the annual charity dinner at Raffles Hotel Singapore on 9 November.
With no fundraising target fixed for the evening, Ho is focusing on giving the gift of love. “Our goal is to leave guests inspired and connected to our cause. If we can fill the room with laughter and excitement, we can create a lasting bond that will bring people back year after year.”
Why is it important to give back as a family?
Esther Ho (EH): I want my granddaughter Victoria to see how happy we can feel to be able to help others. She’s really good at this, and always shares ideas on how to make the event more successful.
Zoie Teo (ZT): I think it’s important because children learn from what they see. If giving back is something we do together as a family, it becomes normal to them. They understand that helping others is something we do when we can, rather than something that only happens on special occasions. I also think it’s a nice way for us to spend time together doing something meaningful, and for my daughters to understand that giving back can be part of everyday life.
Victoria Grace Lee (VGL): Giving back as a family allows my younger sister Amelia and me to learn and grow up with the values of compassion and empathy.
Zoie and Victoria, what important lessons about giving have you picked up from Esther?
ZT: My mum taught me that if you’re in a position to help someone, you should. It doesn’t always have to be a big gesture. I’ve seen her give time and effort to fundraising over the years, and she’s always been very willing to contribute if she feels the cause is worth supporting. Watching her do this since I was very young made it feel very natural to me. It’s not something I really had to be taught—I grew up seeing it.
VGL: My first experience of the fundraiser happened when I was just seven years old. One of the first things she taught me was, “When you give, don’t expect it to be returned.”
Esther and Zoie, does doing good make you better jewellery designers?
EH: Doing good doesn’t just make me a better jewellery designer; doing good makes me a better person. When you are a better person, it makes you better at doing anything you want to do!
ZT: I’ve always felt that jewellery is something I was naturally drawn to. I really love seeing customers happy with what I’ve created for them. Whether it’s a couple leaving with their wedding rings, or a customer seeing their finished piece for the first time, that feeling is very fulfilling. Being able to do what I genuinely enjoy while having the opportunity to give back through the business and to support causes that are important to my family makes it even more meaningful to me.
MUS.za is supporting ResiL!ence, which focuses on youth mental health, for the second year. So, Esther, what were you like when you were younger?
EH: I wanted to be a kungfu heroine! I was a happy kid because I had a lot of freedom. I had fun every day. But things are very different now! Kids are expected to do well in school so they find it difficult to enjoy their youth. When I was exploring what causes to give to, I noticed that ResiL!ence was deeply underfunded. That unleashed my inner swordswoman and I decided to step in and help. You can say that I’ve fulfilled my childhood dream!
Find out how to do your part for youth mental health here.
