Li Ka Shing Foundation

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Li Ka Shing Foundation
Type Charity
Founded 1980, Hong Kong
Headquarters Hong Kong
Slogan Knowledge changes fate
知識改變命運
Website http://www.lksf.org

The Li Ka Shing Foundation (李嘉誠基金會) is a Hong Kong and Canada based charitable organization founded in 1980 by Hong Kong entrepreneur and philanthropist Li Ka Shing(also spelled as Li Jia Cheng in Mandarin Chinese or Pinyin), with a mission to nurture "a culture of giving" in the society. The Li Ka Shing Foundation focuses on a two-pronged approach: capacity empowerment through education; and the building of a caring society through medical and healthcare related projects. To date, the Li Ka Shing Foundation and other private charitable Foundations established by Mr. Li have supported numerous charitable activities with grants, sponsorships and commitments of approximately HK$7.7 billion (approx. US$ 990 million).


Contents

[edit] Background

Mr. Li Ka Shing considers education and medical care to be two of the most important assets to the well being of a nation, and is determined to devote himself to charitable activities that will help improve education and healthcare services. However, he also understands that his contribution as an individual is limited. In order to foster a social culture of giving and encourage others to join him in his charitable cause, Mr. Li founded the Li Ka Shing Foundation in 1980 to coordinate and provide donations towards medical, educational, cultural and other community welfare projects in a systemic manner with focuses in Hong Kong and Mainland China.

To date, the Li Ka Shing Foundation together with other charitable Foundations established by Mr. Li have supported numerous charitable activities with grants, sponsorships and commitments of approximately HK$ 7.7 billion (approx. US$990 million). In addition, The Cheung Kong Group of Companies has also made many contributions under the procurement efforts of Mr. Li.

On Aug 24th 2006, Mr. Li Ka Shing announced that the Li Ka Shing Foundation would continue to make further donations to reach more than one-third of his personal wealth, valued at about HK$ 48 billion (approx. US$6,174 billion). He also made it clear that the Li Ka Shing Foundation is entirely devoted to the charity cause and that personal interests would not play a part in the Foundation’s operations.

On September 5th 2006, Mr. Li Ka Shing was awarded the Malcolm S. Forbes Lifetime Achievement Award to honor his brilliant achievement in entrepreneurial capitalism. It is the highest individual-based of recognition representing the successful achievement in global business by Forbes Inc.

[edit] Purpose

The Li Ka Shing Foundation primarily focuses on two areas:

  • capacity empowerment through education
  • building of a caring society through medical and healthcare related projects.

The mission of the Li Ka Shing Foundation is, as proclaimed by its Founder Mr. Li Ka Shing, to set up a Foundation as he refers to as his third son : "Since 1980, I have dedicated to him not only my assets but all my heart... reshaping destiny through education and seeking efficient initiatives that can forever help those in need", he said.

[edit] Projects

[edit] Education

Mr. Li Ka Shing understands that education is pivotal to a nation’s development, as it not only establishes the basis for human civilization and technological advancement, but also bears a profound impact in social welfare and prosperity. As a firm believer in the importance of quality education, Mr. Li has devoted himself to the improvement of education in Hong Kong and Mainland China through the years. To date, over two-fifths of the Li Ka Shing Foundation’s donations have been put to education-related initiatives. Major programs and projects include:

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Li Ka Shing Tower
Enlarge
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Li Ka Shing Tower


In May, 2005, the Li Ka Shing Foundation announced the donation of HK$ 1 billion (approx. US$129 million) to the University of Hong Kong, which was the largest education-related donation in Hong Kong and was about one-third of the total annual expense of HKU.To regconise the contribution from the foundation, HKU has named the Faculty of Medicine after Mr Li Ka Shing. The official name of the faculty is now 'Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine'. The Li Ka Shing Foundation has donated altogether HK$ 2 billion (approx. US$258 million) to education-related causes in Hong Kong since 2000. The University of Hong Kong, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and other colleges are all among the beneficiaries.

[edit] Medical

Medical care is a basic necessity for human lives. In addition, it measures progress and advancement of a nation. To help provide quality healthcare to patients in Hong Kong and Mainland China, especially those who lack financial means to obtain medical treatment, the Li Ka Shing Foundation has initiated numerous programs aimed at providing professional medical staff and advanced facilities. To date, healthcare-related donations represent the largest donation category provided by the Li Ka Shing Foundation, accounting for nearly half of all donations made by the LKSF. Some major health care projects includes:

[edit] The Ning Yang Service Plan (寧養服務計劃)

The Li Ka Shing Foundation has accumulatively donated RMB 110,000,000 ( approx. US$ 14 million) to Mainland China to extend a service program, which is provided to people who are suffering from cancer and in need of financial aids to obtain necessary medical care. The blueprint of the program was first brought about in March, 1998. In November of the same year, the first professional medical institution was set up in Shantou -- the“Ning Yang Yuan” (寧養院) by Li Ka Shing. The program provides free services and medications as well as psychological assistance to cancer patients. This program receives financial support of RMB 1,200,000 (approx. US$ 152 000) from the Li Ka Shing Foundation every year. Today, there are 20 Ning Yang Yuans covering 130 counties in Mainland China and the total number of patients served has reached 40,000 with 427,000 visits to their homes.

[edit] The "Yangtse River New Miletone" Initiative (長江新里程計劃)

This program was carried out in Mainland China and has received donations of HK$100 million (approx. US$ 13 million) by the Li Ka Shing Foundation. It lasted from 2000 to 2005 covering 5 categories, which included the provision of artificial limbs, teacher training for deaf children, helping provide education to blind children in the central and western regions, general service for disabled in poor areas, and training for deaf massage therapists.

[edit] Culture

A rich arts and cultural program is one of the indicators signifying an advanced civilization. As a traditional humanist, Mr. Li is passionate about Chinese heritage and about preserving our nation's cultural wealth. As such, he is an enthusiastic advocate and contributor to the promotion of sports, arts and cultural exchanges. However, cultural programs bear lower priorities in the LKSF’s initiatives (account for less than 10 percent of the Foundation’s overall donations to date). Major programs include:

Art Performance

Dance Performance

Music Performance

Cultural Relics

[edit] Community Welfare

In addition to healthcare, education, and cultural programs, the LKSF also devotes its efforts to community welfare. Over the years Mainland China has been experiencing numerous natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes. Through its initiatives in this category, the Foundation has made generous donations to help disaster relief efforts and to encourage others to make contributions. Some of the major contributions to community welfare are as follows:

[edit] Latest Event(Funding)

[edit] Medical facilities support in rural villages in Shaanxi

Through the China Health and Medical Development Foundation, the Li Ka Shing Foundation has donated RMB 8 million to support the betterment of medical service provisions in rural areas in China. As an example, the Shaanxi local government will utilize the funding to build one hundred medical institutions in the region. These facilities will help improve the healthcare services in the area, benefiting a large number of population (most of which are farmers), and in turn contributing to the overall social and economic development in the region.

[edit] Chaozhou Flood Relief

In July 2006, the Chaozhou area in China’s Guangdong Province suffered a strong typhoon, rendering 1.5 million residents homeless. $10 million was donated by the Li Ka Shing Foundation to help rebuild damaged homes and to aid relief efforts. The Foundation and the Hutchison Whampoa Group, both under the leadership of Li Ka Shing, have also made separate contributions to assist flood victims.

[edit] Just in Time Funding

The project is set up to deal with emergency and urgent situations, incidents on civil servants and natural disasters. By means of support, the project hope further enagement and support from private and public sectors.

For the previous Just in Time Funding (JIT Fund), please visit here

[edit] Funding Principles

Interested parties can submit proposals to the Li Ka Shing Foundation. The Foundation will consider proposals that match its philanthropic initiatives and the purpose of its establishment. For further details, please refer to Li Ka Shing Foundation Official website.


[edit] Incident of changing names to Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine in HKU

[edit] Background

A HK$10 billion from Li Ka Shing Foundation was given to The University of Hong Kong which broke several records: the largest amount of educational donation in Asia, the largest amount of donation in Hong Kong, the largest amount of donation received by universities in Hong Kong and the largest amount of contribution subsidized by the Li Ka Shing Foundation. Controversial debates on re-naming of Faculty of Medicine, which started in May 2005, had lasted for more than one year. Students and alumni protested on the renaming of the Faculty. Vice-chancellor of The University of Hong Kong, Tsui Lap Chee, made several speeches to explain on this issue. The Legislative Council member Kwok Ka Kee wrote an opposing letter addressing to the public, which led to condemnation by the University of Hong Kong. Finally, the name of the building is changed to Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine January 2006.

[edit] Process and Results

However, the HKU Medic Alumni Actions Against Alias has organized many open forums to discuss the Alias. Since Mr. Li Ka Shing was rumored to be involved in the PCCW share transaction, and his reputation would affect the reputation of the HKU Faculty of Medicine. Their ultimate goal is to restore the former name of the faculty, and can celebrate the 120th anniversary of the faculty by the former name.

Please find the details in HKU Medic Alumni Actions Against Alias(香港大學醫學院正名行動組) or Donation from Li Ka Shing Foundation, HKU webpage


[edit] External Links

[edit] Related News Articles

[edit] In English

[edit] In Chinese


[edit] Press Release

[edit] Speech

[edit] Publications

  • Sphere is the newsletter of the Li Ka Shing Foundation.
  • Li Ka Shing firmly believes in "Knowledge Reshapes Destiny", and thus, the Li Ka Shing Foundation sponsors reading programs regularly. It also recommends quality books to the public. Please refer to this link for the recommended book list.
  • A video for "Knowledge Changes Fate"

[edit] Others

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