At the heart of Hong Leong Group’s success lies in the philosophy that corporations should give back by paying it forward. The Hong Leong Foundation was formed in 1980 as the main driver of the Group’s philanthropic campaigns, such as fostering education, supporting the elderly, and championing for culture and the arts. In addition, the Group’s companies also actively give back to the community through a myriad of initiatives. Hi Life takes a look at some of these efforts.

Supporting the elderly

Hong Leong Foundation organises an annual giveaway event, making cash contributions to beneficiaries under the Ministry of Social and Family Development’s ComCare Long-Term Assistance scheme. The Foundation also organises a special activity, which provides a platform for meaningful interaction between staff volunteers and senior beneficiaries. Some activities in the past include workshops on baking Chinese New Year goodies and tea appreciation, and visits to local places of interest like the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, and Singapore Zoo. While the pandemic halted in-person activities, staff volunteers continued to bring cheer to the needy elderly with virtual tours to Hong Kong and the River Safari.

The Group’s companies also reach out to vulnerable seniors through monthly food distributions, befriending and taking care of their needs.

Hong Leong Holdings is a long-term supporter of social service organisation Lion Befrienders, with staff regularly volunteering through the Corporate Adopt-A-Region initiative in the Bukit Merah area. Due to the pandemic, the monthly food distribution was put on hold, although Hong Leong Holdings staff still ensured that the seniors at risk of social isolation were still able to enjoy delights over the festivities such as Chinese New Year and Christmas, with special goodies and log cake deliveries.

CDL’s employee volunteering platform, City Sunshine Club, also regularly organises staff distribution of food to elderly residents in the Bukit Merah and Bedok areas. Though the activity was temporarily put on hold due to COVID-19, CSC volunteers will be resuming the food distribution this month.

CDL is also a longstanding supporter of Assisi Hospice, regularly taking part in Hospice’s fundraising activities such as the Assisi Fun Day, along with other Hong Leong companies, which has been done virtually for the past two years due to pandemic restrictions. CSC also has a tradition of celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival with the hospice residents, bringing them some festive cheer to brighten up their day.

Hong Leong Finance has also underscored its commitment as a Dementia-Friendly organisation, working with the Agency of Integrated Care to extend Dementia Awareness training to its staff. Some 560 employees across various departments have received this training, allowing the company to better consider the needs of customers in this ‘seniors’ age group.

In Hong Kong, as pandemic measures were tightened, New World Millennium Hong Kong has also stepped up to provide meals for vulnerable elderly. For over a week, the hotel’s culinary team whipped up some 1,800 nutritious meals which were distributed by the Hong Kong Young Women’s Christian Association.

Fostering education

Hong Leong Asia sponsored a series of student workshops and mentoring sessions at Dazhong Primary School. The series was part of the school’s Green Maker’s Programme which aimed to equip 1,200 students with the awareness and skills to become green ambassadors. Among the activities was a partnership with international youth organisation VIVITA to mentor twenty Primary 4 and 5 (aged 10 and 11) students in a five-week workshop on how to reduce and reuse waste. The mentoring sessions were conducted via Zoom, and students were taught techniques to create new products out of recycled materials. By the end of the five-week programme, each student had developed five prototypes from waste products, such as making mouldable materials from leftover coffee grounds and rice, and learnt the value and uses of recycling.

City Sunshine Club also organises regular character building sessions with children aged six to 12 from disadvantaged background. Staff volunteers also arrange outings for the children and have brought them on excursions to learning places such as the ArtScience Musuem and the Singapore Sustainability Academy. It also supports the Arc Children’s Centre, an independent charity centre dedicated to nurturing and enriching the lives of children with serious illnesses. Staff regularly organise and host celebrations for the children, bringing them festive cheer over special occasions like Christmas and Mid-Autumn Festival.

The Singapore Sustainability Academy, a ground-up initiative and zero-energy facility in Singapore designed and built by CDL with industry partners, has also partnered with local organisations including the National Library Board and Tembusu CSR to provide virtual storytelling sessions for children.

Millennium Hotels and Resorts’ (MHR) six properties in Singapore – Orchard Hotel, Grand Copthorne Waterfront, M Hotel, Copthorne King’s Singapore, M Social and Studio M – also ran a year-long charity initiative and raised $65,000 for The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund. The fund provides necessary financial assistance to over 10,000 school-going children from low-income families.

Giving back to the community

Over the years, China Yuchai has been volunteering in programmes that help to alleviate poverty in China’s Guangxi region and promote opportunities for the young and needy, as well as helping in community building to strengthen relations. Some activities included helping passengers at the Yulin Railway Station and raising awareness on epidemic control during the COVID-19 period. They also participated in summer tutoring with children, and supporting needy kids with books, stationery and recreational activities.

In Malaysia, Tasek Corporation rushed to the aid of workers that were affected by severe floods that damaged equipment and raw materials at two of Tasek Concrete’s batching plants, providing monetary assistance and mobilisation of resources. Tasek also contributed some 60 bags of cement towards the carpark extension of Tawas Police Station.

Hong Leong Asia, together with non-profit organisation Eden Reforestation, planted 510 mangrove trees in Biak Island, Indonesia. Not only did the tree-planting initiative support mangrove forest restoration efforts, it also helped local villagers earn a consistent income.

In New Zealand, Copthorne Hotel and Resort Bay of Islands is a proud sponsor of Project Island Song, a wildlife sanctuary in the North Island. It aims to reintroduce native species of birds, to create a thriving native island ecosystem and help the islands sing again. Some bird species that were reintroduced over the years include the Toutouwai, or North Island robin, and the Tieke, or North Island saddleback. Hotel staff also volunteer to participate with the sanctuary’s activities, such as assisting with weeding.

Millennium Rotorua has also supported the Wingspan Birds of Prey Trust since 2009, taking on the sponsorship of Karearea, or New Zealand falcons, which is the country’s most threatened bird of prey. Most recently, the hotel took a falcon chick under its wing. The bird is named Hiwa, after Hiwa-i-te-rangi, one of the stars in the Matariki star cluster. Earlier this year, the hotel’s Housekeeping team also volunteered at the Trust’s wildlife sanctuary, tending to one of the gardens and enjoying a falconry show.

To support needy households while at the same time managing food waste, MHR has collaborated with local partners to provide excess food to the less fortunate.

In Singapore, MHR’s six properties have partnered with Divert for 2nd Life (D2L), a community organisation that help to rescue and divert excess prepared food that might end up discarded in regular operations. The excess food, along with excess food ingredients, now goes to beneficiaries such as the low-income and rental flat residents.

In the UAE, MHR’s Dubai properties have also worked with Food Bank UAE to donate iftar meals from its buffets to the less fortunate during the Ramadan period.

Around the world, MHR properties also regularly reach out to help the community in different ways. This includes holding blood donation drives to support their local blood bank, collecting and donating food to help ensure food security for those in the local community, and organising community events in support of various causes.

In Beijing, Riviera Country Club and Beijing Riviera also partners with local charities including the Migrant Children Foundation. Its recent golf tournament held last year raised some RMB 25,000 for the non-profit organisation that supports disadvantaged schools in the city and surrounding region.

In Singapore, CSC has also been a long-term partner of the North West Community Development Council. For over the past decade, CSC has supported outreach initiatives to lower-income residents living in public rental units in Limbang. Most recently, staff volunteers took part in a festive pack distribution and help selected households improve their living situation with appliances such rice cookers, standing fans and furniture items.