Lim Hoon Foundation’s Noble Cause of Furthering Access to Education

That education is close to the hearts of those at JLFO should come as no surprise. Mr Lim Hoon, the late father of JLFO’s Chairman and Founder Mr John Lim, and grandfather of Mr Andy Lim, was a teacher who dedicated a huge part of his life to developing Singapore’s nascent educational system. He taught at Tao Nan School, one of Singapore’s oldest primary schools, circa the 1950s, and continued to be a public servant until his retirement in 1970.

In honour of Mr Lim Hoon, a private charitable trust called Lim Hoon Foundation (LHF) was set up in 2008. LHF aims to uplift students from low-income families and promote the advancement of education. To date, LHF has worked with organisations like Jurong Spring CCC, Mountbatten CCC and the Dyslexia Association of Singapore, with beneficiaries ranging from primary to tertiary students.

The generosity of the Lim family is exceptional. In 2022, LHF made an endowed contribution of $3 million to establish the JLFO-LHF Scholarship at SMU. The Scholarship provides financial support towards each recipient’s annual tuition fees and/or study-related expenses. Recipients become a part of the LHF Scholars Circle, which serves as a platform for them to connect, expand their networks, and undertake meaningful community service projects. Mr Andy Lim also takes the scholars under his wing, helping them build their business acumen.

Of the contribution to SMU, Mr Andy Lim says, “Since 2009, we have been working with SMU to support undergraduates from Singapore’s sandwich class and have created the LHF Scholars Circle with the aim of building deeper connections, and working together to perpetuate the virtuous cycle of giving. Having been involved in many of the activities with our scholars, I am heartened to see their growth both professionally and personally over the years. That has motivated us to renew our commitment to developing the undergraduates with the endowment. We are excited to welcome the new batch of scholars into the LHF family.”