Ms Paul and Ms Lee were awarded a trophy and $20,000 in cash, while the other finalists received $5,000 each. The prize money was sponsored by UBS, which has supported the award since its inception.
Other sponsors included official airline partner Singapore Airlines (SIA) and global hotel partner Millennium Hotels and Resorts.
The Singaporean of the Year winners each received a five-night stay at any of Millennium Hotels and Resorts’ global properties, as well as a pair of SIA business-class tickets. The remaining finalists each received a three-night stay at any of Millennium Hotels and Resorts’ global properties and a pair of SIA economy-class tickets.
ST editor Jaime Ho said: “Today, as we honour these finalists, I hope we leave inspired by all their stories, and see the impact they’ve had in making us a better community; not just for now, but well into the future as well.”
Mr Edmund Koh, president of UBS Asia-Pacific, said the award celebrates the triumph of the human spirit, and acts as a voice that amplifies the issues of today that Singaporeans have actively taken the step forward to address.
“Our Singaporean of the Year 2023 winners – Geraldine Lee and Ronita Paul – courageously took up the challenge of founding Arc Children’s Centre in their golden years, without prior experience in the field,” he said.
“They are inspiring role models for many of us, and their story is a great example of how everyday Singaporeans can make a positive impact – regardless of age or area of expertise, as long as we are willing to take the first step.”