WHEN Ms Anusha Hennedige gets married this weekend, all her hongbao (red packets) and gifts will go to the KK Hospital Health Endowment Fund.

Inspired by her father's philanthropy and love for children, the 27-year-old doctor said that she wants to share the joy of her big day with the needy.

Ms Hennedige said: "We want this celebration of our future to reflect our personality and beliefs. When I was a child, my father always taught me to give, and it has become so natural for me."

More Singaporeans are celebrating special occasions like weddings, birthdays and even housewarmings by forgoing the usual hongbao and presents, requesting instead that their guests donate to a chosen charity.

These donations are usually made in the name of the person celebrating the occasion, and receipts are later shown as proof.

In one instance, my paper learnt that someone made a donation of $50,000.

It was reported earlier this month that there was a 14 per centincrease in individuals making donations - from $211 million to $240 million - in the whole of last year.

Ms Hennedige's generous gesture follows in the footsteps of her younger sister, 26-year-old Selina.

Selina, who is also a doctor, donated over $50,000 worth of cash and presents received at her wedding last year to the same fund.

Their father, Dr Oliver Hennedige, 68, had pored over lists of charities related to children and orphans before deciding on the fund.

Dr Hennedige, a principal partner of a dentalpractice group, said he expects to see the same amount of donations raised from Anusha's wedding for the fund, which provides financial assistance for children and young mothers.

Others, like civil servant Ming Sassoon, 32, do it to make a statement of their personal convictions.

Mrs Sassoon said: "My husband and I are not firm believers of the common practice of making back whatever we give.

"Attending wedding dinners has become a breakdown of how much to give - evaluating the cost of the table and how fancy the hotel is," she added.

She celebrated her wedding last year, and asked that gifts be made in the form of donations to Kiva, a global micro-financing charity organisation which loans cash to individuals to start businesses.

She did not know exactly how much each of her 15 wedding guests gave to the charity, but she estimates it to be about $280 a person.

For some, like Ms Nicole Tan, forgoing gifts has become the norm.

Instead, the 39-year-old has informed guests to her housewarming party next week to make donations to the Vision Fund International - a micro-financing organisation - and Lions Befrienders, a socialoutreach organisation for the elderly.

"I have already bought all that I need for my newly renovated flat and don't need money for anything else," she added.

She has been volunteering with Lions Befrienders since leaving her job in the financial sector last year.

She added: "I am just an average person, but I think I can play a part to make the world a better place."