[SINGAPORE] What do ride-hailing company Grab, construction firm Scatech Engineering and property developer Wee Hur have in common?The families behind these companies have turned to donor-advised funds (DAFs), set up through government-affiliated non-profit Community Foundation of Singapore (CFS), to engage in structured legacy giving for generations to come.
Imagine you have led Singapore’s first expedition to the highest peak on the planet. You return home to nationwide acclaim and media attention. Everyone lauds your hard-won accomplishment and, not surprisingly, you feel invincible.But fate, as it turns out, has a capricious face. Imagine within weeks of your triumph, you succumb to a rare nerve disorder, which sends you to hospital for six months and leads to partial paralysis in both legs. How does one navigate such circumstances?
Everyday Heroes of Philanthropy is a content series celebrating the people in our community whose giving is guided by heart, purpose, and a deep belief in making a difference. This is the story of Mr Yeo Whee Jim — a man who is turning love, loss and adversity into a legacy of care that will extend way beyond his lifetime.
日前我受新加坡社区基金会邀请，出席一场主题为“基业长青——传承遗产，守护世代”（Built to Last——Sustaining Legacy and Stewardship Across Generations）的财富传承英语讲座。讲座汇聚企业家、法律及金融界代表，探讨的重点不是财富如何分配，而是制度如何完善、责任如何延续。这个题目让我印象深刻且深有感触。在中文语境中，我们谈“传承”，往往首先想到的是财富、产业或地位的延续；而在英文中，“Stewardship”一词，原意是“受托管理”，应用到财富传承中，它所传达的精神，是财富的持有人并非永久的拥有者，而是被赋予管理与延续责任的人。财富与资源的真正价值，更在于被妥善管理并代代传递。
The Dr and Mrs Chee Kim Hoe Endowment Fund (the Fund) imbues a legacy of perseverance, learning, and service spanning three generations. Established in memory of Dr and Mrs Chee Kim Hoe, it carries forward their belief in education as a transformative force, enabling children from diverse backgrounds to access better opportunities and brighter futures.Today, the Fund is guided by a grant committee led by Robin Chee, son of the late Dr and Mrs Chee Kim Hoe, together with his wife Pele, cousin Janet, and family friend Anthony. Together, they ensure that the family’s philanthropic mission continues to grow in reach and relevance.
Ryan Lee’s Journey of Love and PurposeOne thing Ryan Lee will never forget is helping his late father through times of deep vulnerability.
Rachel and Bryan’s Family Story of GivingAt her grandfather’s funeral, young Jerlyn quietly sat down and began to sketch. What emerged was a tender portrait of him holding her as a baby, a simple drawing that spoke volumes.
David Lim knows what it means to lose confidence – and to slowly rebuild it.In 1998, after leading the first Singapore Mount Everest expedition, David developed a rare nerve disorder that left him with permanent weakness and mobility challenges. Even simple movements became a struggle. Walking required intense effort, and the loss of independence chipped away at his confidence.
Everyday Heroes of Philanthropy is a new content series celebrating the people in our community whose giving is guided by heart, purpose, and a deep belief in making a difference.We begin with the story of one of our donors Mr Choo Heng Thong, whose quiet generosity is creating a legacy of compassion – one that will continue to touch lives for generations to come.
When people in Singapore hear the word “philanthropy”, I suspect the first picture that crosses their mind is a well-dressed person holding up a large mock cheque at a grand ceremony. Accompanying that mental picture is the thought that philanthropy is too lofty, and unattainable for them. This is understandable, given how the media tends to spotlight the big – and newsworthy – gifts to charities, and how beneficiaries want to recognise such generosity.But the reality, certainly in the time that I have been involved at the Community Foundation of Singapore (CFS), focused on growing philanthropy, is far removed from this. The donors that the team and I have met over the years have been diverse. In many ways, this is a microcosm of Singaporean society.
