Foundation grants RM630,000 to charities, NGOs
KUCHING: The Tan Guek Kee and Lee Siew Ling Charity Foundation, in its annual charity drive, presented a grant of RM630,000 to several charitable bodies, nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) and educational bodies.
At the simple cheque presentation ceremony held at Lee Onn Group premises in Jalan Lapangan Terbang here were the Foundation chairman Dato Tan Guek Kee, who is also Lee Onn Group chairman, and his wife Datin Lee Siew Ling.
Deputy Chief Minister Dato Sri Dato Sim Kui Hian was invited to witness the presentation ceremony.
The Association of The Boards of Management of Aided Chinese Primary Schools Kuching, Samarahan and Serian Divisions Sarawak headed the list with RM160,000 this year, followed by the Sarawak Heart Foundation with RM100,000.
Kuching Chung Hua Primary Schools No.1-6 Committee of Management received a total sum of RM90,000, of which RM60,000 is for the regular building maintenance and development plan of the six primary schools and RM30,000 for charity fund-raising.
Sarawak Children’s Cancer Society (SCCS) received RM50,000, Hope Place Kuching was given RM15,000 and Kuching Autistic Association received RM10,000.
Breakthrough Network Centre Bhd, Kuching Life Care Society, Che Hui Khor Moral Uplifting Society for Kuching and Samarahan Divisions Sarawak, and Sarawak Hun Nam Siang Tng each received RM5,000 respectively.
Six other NGOs received RM3,000 each. They are Che Hia Khor Moral Uplifting Society Sarawak; CHK Moral Uplifting Society Kidney Foundation; The Salvation Army; Mental Health Association of Sarawak; Kuching Palliative Association; and Taiwan Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation Malaysia.
Meanwhile, Persatuan Kebajikan Masyarakat Taman Hui Sing received RM2,000.
Since its establishment in 2013, the charity foundation has disbursed some RM6.98 million to various charitable bodies and organisations.
In addition, since 2019, it has started to offer scholarships to deserving students from independent middle schools, taking into account those with excellent results but with family financial constraints.
The scholarships are for those pursuing their degree programme and it will finance them until they have completed their whole course.
This year a total of 19 students have been awarded scholarships.
Among those present at the presentation ceremony were Lee Onn Group director Kapitan Tan Kun Gee, Foundation board of directors member Dato Tan Jit Kee and Foundation secretary Dato Jonathan Chai.