Marina Bay Sands Team Member Pretika R K Shares: What Volunteerism Means to Me
When Pretika R K left the Republic of Singapore Navy after nearly a decade of service to her country, she rededicated her life to another form of service – making a difference in the lives of others. Pretika has been an active member of the community since she was young and has volunteered at various organizations on her own time.
“Volunteering gives meaning and purpose to an otherwise mundane and empty life,” she said. “I will always look for opportunities to do my part to help others. My family and I volunteer with Ramakrishna Mission, which operates a boys’ home and counselling facility to deliver food and serve lunch to the residents on important occasions such as Deepavali. Through these activities, I learned the importance of giving back and trying to make a difference.”
Despite her impressive personal track record, Pretika always felt that she could do even more for the community. When she joined the Security Services Department at Marina Bay Sands in 2010, she became an avid supporter and advocate for Sands for Singapore, the Corporate Social Responsibility program at the property. Sands for Singapore and Sands Cares, Las Vegas Sands’ corporate giving program, encourage Team Members to donate their time to the communities in which the company operates.
“Before I joined Marina Bay Sands, I did not know what else I could do to help the community apart from volunteering at homes and donating money,” Pretika said. “I wanted to do something more personal, with a more lasting impact on beneficiaries. Volunteering with Sands for Singapore gave me the exact volunteering experience I was looking for. There is continuity in the things that we do and it is heartening to be able to see the difference we make, quarter by quarter.”
As one of the top volunteers for Sands for Singapore 2017, Pretika is grateful for the support that she has received from both her coworkers and husband. She fondly recalled one of her most memorable experiences with Sands for Singapore where she worked with young beneficiaries from Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore (CPAS).
“Seeing the children try their best to reach the finish line despite their disabilities is really inspiring,” she said. “It made me realize that we should appreciate what we have, rather than complaining about what we do not have. We should live life to the fullest and help as much as can. All Team Members have the opportunity to give back here in Marina Bay Sands through Sands for Singapore. Even though we cannot make a difference to everyone we meet, we can make sure we make a difference in the lives of the Sands for Singapore beneficiaries.”
