History

Early Years

Since its establishment in 1985, the Foundation has supported numerous education and healthcare-related projects. To promote tertiary education, the Foundation funded the establishment of two student residential halls: the Simon K Y Lee Hall at The University of Hong Kong and the Simon K Y Lee HKU-UBC House at The University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, and contributed towards several scholarships for university students.

On the healthcare side, the Foundation contributed to the establishment of the S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Simon K.Y. Lee Seniors Care Home at Vancouver, Canada and the Hong Kong Liver Foundation; and supporting an endowed professorship in gastroenterology at The University of Hong Kong and the VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation in Vancouver, Canada etc.

Recent Development – Trio-Foci: Elderly, Children, and Young Adults

The Foundation entered a new phase in the 21st century. It set up three daughter funds, the Simon K.Y. Lee Elderly Fund and the Simon K.Y. Lee Children’s Fund, the Simon K.Y. Lee Karen’s Fund, in 2007, 2011 and 2019 respectively. The Elderly Fund aims to improve the quality of life of the elderly. The Children’s Fund is committed to tackling intergenerational poverty, focusing on empowering children from deprived families to lay a robust foundation that amplifies their prospects for future success. The Karen’s Fund is specifically devoted to assisting young adults with career planning and development, fostering their self-actualization.

In refocusing its efforts, the Foundation has also reshaped its funding strategies. It now plays a more proactive role in identifying the needs in our society and pioneering projects to fill the service gap. Research elements are incorporated to create sustainable and proven impact. Moreover, stakeholder collaboration is emphasized to achieve greater leverage from pooling ideas and resources together.