A famous philanthropist and a firm believer in the value of education, the late Dr Lee Kong Chian was born in the humble village of Furong, Fujian Province in 1893. At 24, he joined the Tan Kah Kee Rubber Company as head of its rubber department and later ventured out to start his own rubber business.
The Lee Rubber Company grew rapidly into a multi-million dollar business and together with the success of his pineapple business, Lee Kong Chian was popularly known as the “Rubber and Pineapple King”, and widely recognised as one of the richest men in Southeast Asia. He expanded his business to banking and real estate and by 1962, became Chairman of the Overseas Chinese Banking Corporation.
An unassuming man who never lost the “popular touch”, Lee Kong Chian remained academically inclined throughout his life, giving night classes while working for the municipality. While stranded in the United States during World War II, he gave lectures at Columbia University. His strong commitment to education is also embodied in the foundation he set up which helped fund many school establishments over the years.
Despite the great wealth he amassed, Lee Kong Chian remained humble and gracious throughout his years. Even at his death bed, he requested that his funeral be kept simple. Journalists who covered the funeral described it as “devoid of grandiose display usually associated with dead millionaires”.
Then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew fondly remembers him as “a respected member of the community not just because he amassed a great wealth but more because of the contributions he made to the advancement of our society, particularly in the field of education.”
Dr Lee Kong Chian poured his wealth into education and other philanthropic work. In 1952, at a time when charity was highly dependent on the rise and fall of business fortunes, the Lee Foundation was established as a philanthropic institution. In the last 40 years, the Foundation has supported a variety of causes; with more than half the support going towards projects in education.
Today, the Lee Foundation continues to be a leading philanthropic institution in Singapore led by the capable hands of Lee Kong Chian’s son, Dr Lee Seng Gee. To this date, the foundation has donated over S$750 million to various causes with a strong focus on arts and education. Notable donations made by the organization include a S$30 million donation to the National University of Singapore and a S$150 million donation to establish the school of medicine in the Nanyang Technological University; considered to this date to be the largest private donation ever given to an educational institution in Singapore.