Leong Chee Keong was sent to an orphanage when he was a three-year-old toddler. His father passed away when he was young, therefore he never had an image of his father and lost contact with his mother, who stopped visiting when the orphanage moved.

Leong, together with his brother, grew up independently. He started working as a salesperson with little hopes of getting into tertiary education until he came across the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation Community Scholarship through an NGO called StART Society.

After six years of hardwork from diploma to degree, Leong graduated with first-class honours in BSc (Hons) Financial Analysis and started his career as a Citibank Management Associate. Having gone through hardships and understanding the importance and value of financial support, Leong decided to contribute monthly to the Foundation as soon as he began his career.

Giving back is more than through financial means – giving of time is also important. Leong believes that being actively involved by offering motivational talks to scholarship recipients and volunteering with the foundation is also a form of contribution as well. 

This article appeared in Blaze (Issue 50).