Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) has announced the launch of the inaugural RWS Cares Festival, a new annual community event focused on promoting social inclusion and environmental sustainability while raising funds for meaningful causes across Singapore. Taking place from 22 to 23 August 2026, the festival aims to raise S$2 million in monetary and in-kind contributions, including a fundraising target of S$700,000 for the President’s Challenge.
President Tharman Shanmugaratnam will officiate the opening day of the festival as Guest of Honour. The event serves as the flagship initiative of RWS Cares, the integrated resort’s corporate volunteerism and community engagement platform dedicated to supporting local communities, education and climate action.
A key highlight of the festival is the inaugural Steps of Hope walkathon on 22 August, which is expected to bring together members of the public, community partners, President’s Challenge beneficiaries and RWS team members in a collective show of inclusivity. Participants will complete a 1.4-kilometre route that takes them through some of RWS’ most iconic attractions.
The journey begins at Universal Studios Singapore, where participants can meet beloved characters including Illumination’s Minions, DreamWorks Animation’s Kung Fu Panda and Shrek, Sesame Street friends, and Transformers characters such as Bumblebee, Optimus Prime and Megatron. The route then continues through WEAVE, where Popmart’s Twinkle Twinkle characters will make appearances, before moving on to the Singapore Oceanarium and ending at Adventure Cove Waterpark. The event concludes with a breakfast rave featuring live music, and participants can continue enjoying Adventure Cove Waterpark for the rest of the day.
Complementing the walkathon is the Green Living Fair, which will be held from 22 to 23 August at the RWS Research and Learning Centre. The fair will showcase eco-friendly products from local brands and social enterprises, alongside hands on workshops, interactive exhibits and performances by artists of all abilities. Designed to make sustainable living accessible and engaging, the event builds on RWS Cares’ ongoing efforts in sustainability and education.
Over the two-day festival, RWS aims to engage approximately 4,000 participants. Every ticket sold for Steps of Hope will go directly towards the President’s Challenge. This year, RWS is supporting three beneficiary organisations under the President’s Challenge: the Autism Resource Centre (Singapore), TomoWork and MILK (Mainly I Love Kids) Fund.
Funds raised for the Autism Resource Centre (Singapore) will support its Employability and Employment Centre, which equips adults on the autism spectrum with workplace skills and job placement opportunities. Contributions to TomoWork will support its Talent Accelerator Programme, which helps graduating and recently graduated students from the Institute of Technical Education and polytechnics transition into employment through tailored workplace training. Donations directed to the MILK Fund will support the Uplift! Programme, which provides at risk youths aged 16 to 24 with career readiness training, financial literacy education, mentoring and networking opportunities.
The festival also marks the beginning of a three-year partnership between RWS and the President’s Challenge, reinforcing the organisation’s long-term commitment to social and environmental impact.
Beyond fundraising, the RWS Cares Festival supports the goals of Genting Singapore’s 2030 Sustainability Master Plan, which outlines the company’s vision to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 while creating positive socio-economic impact. The initiative seeks to surpass 500,000 cumulative volunteer hours, strengthen long term partnerships that support sustainability education, encourage behavioural change through outreach and immersive programmes, and create opportunities for local businesses and social enterprises.
The festival builds on the impact already achieved through RWS Cares. In 2025, the programme reached 24,700 beneficiaries and contributed more than S$2.1 million in cash and in-kind support. RWS team members also completed more than 1,600 volunteer hours across 67 activities, bringing the cumulative volunteer hours recorded since 2010 to 478,085.
Early bird tickets for Steps of Hope are available until 31 July at S$80 for adults and S$70 for children. Regular ticket sales will run from 1 to 15 August, priced at S$85 for adults and S$75 for children. All tickets include same day admission to Adventure Cove Waterpark, offering participants an opportunity to enjoy the attraction while contributing to meaningful causes and supporting a more inclusive and sustainable future.
