Li Ka-shing considers the Li Ka Shing Foundation to be his "third son" and has pledged to donate one-third of his assets to support philanthropic projects. He has called for other Asian entrepreneurs to do the same, in the hope of altering the traditional notion of passing wealth through lineage. The Li Ka Shing Foundation's story stretches back over three decades: Having grown up as a witness to suffering and illness, Li Ka-shing cultivated a compassion that set in motion the idea of establishing a charitable foundation.
Mission
Li Ka Shing Foundation supports projects that promote social progress through expanding access to quality education and medical services and research, encouraging cultural diversity and community involvement. Every project and every donation stems from Li Ka-shing's belief in the inherent value of each human life, regardless of race, class, or circumstance. He has devoted himself to helping others overcome the educational and physical barriers preventing them from achieving their potential.
Three main focuses
Encourage giving to nurture a new culture of philanthropy in Asia
Support educational reform to create a paradigm shift that develops positive and sustainable change
Support medical research and services to create a healthier world
Major contribution
As of November 2019, Mr. Li has granted approximately HK$26 billion in charitable donations, approximately 80% in support of education reform initiatives and medical services in Greater China region. Hong Kong:
Creating HK$1 billion Crunch Time Instant Relief Fund to support embattled SMEs in Hong Kong impacted by the economic downturn—October 2019.
Opening of the Tsz Shan Monastery Buddhist Art Museum at the Tsz Shan Monastery, which has received over HK$3 billion in funding since 2003 for its development and operations—March 2019.
"Love HK Your Way!" campaign launched in 2010, granted over HK$300 million as of September 2013. Thousands of social institutions were involved serving more than 3.3 million people. Major projects include:
* Love Ideas, Love HK
* “Heart of Gold” – Hong Kong Hospice Service Program
Establishing Tsz Shan Monastery in 2013 to promote Buddhism.
Mainland China:
Committing grants of HK$10 billion to Shantou University and the Shantou University Medical College since its founding in 1981. Recent commitments include RMB 100 million annually to offer full-tuition academic scholarships for all undergraduate students starting with the incoming class of 2019—June 2019.
Providing US$2 million in funding scale socio-economic impact through technological disruption and innovation in Zhejiang and Shanghai—February 2019.
Annual Funding of RMB 52 million to support the Heart of Gold Nationwide Hospice Service Program, with has received RMB 680 million in aggregate funding since 2001—July 2018.
HK$6 billion were donated for the development of Shantou University as of 2012. The university was established in 1981 and is the only public university funded by a private foundation in China.
Initiated Hospice Service by Shantou Medical College in 1997 and extended to nationwide in 2002. To date, 32 Hospice Service centers are established.
In 2009, Pediatric Hernia Rehabilitation Program in Western China started.
In 2010, Project Define – Rural women development was run to enhance women's leadership.
In 2012, Love Ideas – Women's Project Guangdong started.
Overseas:
Sponsoring the Future Now excursion to Australia for an experimental education and exchange program—September 2019.
Contributing US$1 million to support Saildrone's Antarctic circumnavigation, while making the real-time data available to students for next-gen ocean research—January 2019.
A$4.5 million to the University of Sydney to support Australia's first clinical trial testing CAR T-cell immunotherapy in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer—November 2018.
In 2013, sponsored US$130 million to create The Technion Guangdong Institute of Technology with the cooperation between Technion – Israel Institute of Technology and Shantou University. The new institute aims to bring a new era of research and innovation in science, engineering, and life science in China.
Offered a grant of $2 million to University of California San Francisco to advance precision medicine and create a partnership between UCSF and Shantou University, also in 2013.
In 2015, renewed support for Yale Stem Cell Center with a US$1.86 million grant for education and healthcare in 2015.
Donated total HK$27.6 million to the University of Auckland Campaign For All Our Futures in 2016.
Donated US$3 million for cancer research & precision oncology to the University of Melbourne Centre for Cancer Research in 2017.
Established The Li Ka Shing Foundation Lord Sandberg Memorial Scholarship for Hong Kong students in memory of Lord Michael Sandberg of Passfield in King's College London.
