Building a MAD future
A golf fundraiser and dinner was held for the Philip Yeo Initiative on 3 June
Several beneficiaries of the brand of mentorship espoused by illustrious NUS alumnus Mr Philip Yeo ' Chairman, Spring Singapore and Economic Development Innovations Singapore, and Chairman and Director of Accuron Technologies ' known as MAD COWs (Make A Difference, Change Our World), organised a golf fundraiser and dinner at Jurong Country Club on 3 June. The event raised $529,188 for the Philip Yeo Initiative (PYI), the highest yet through a golf fundraiser at NUS. Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Trade and Industry and Ministry of National Development Mr Lee Yi Shyan graced the occasion as Guest-of-Honour.
Ms Chong Siak Ching, a member of the NUS Board of Trustees, CEO of the National Art Gallery and Head of Singapore's Visual Arts Cluster, came together with like-minded individuals mentored by Mr Philip Yeo to launch the PYI in 2013. The initiative is a ground-up initiative to create a platform for developing entrepreneurial young talents in NUS who desire to change the world.
Mr Lee hailed the PYI, saying: "I think this is a very meaningful initiative. Students who come through this programme will hopefully take on certain entrepreneurial traits…as we stand in SG50 this year and look forward to the future, creating a better future, I think we need a lot of talents and breakthrough thinking coming out from everyone.
Holding the cheque were (from left): Mr Seah Cheng San, Co-Chairman, Organising Committee, PYI Fundraising Golf 2015; Mr Lee Suan Hiang, Chairman, Organising Committee, PYI Fundraising Golf 2015; Mr Lee; Mr Yeo; Ms Chong and Assoc Prof Teo Chee Leong, Director NUS Overseas Colleges
PYI supports two programmes in NUS ' the Philip Yeo Innovation Fellows Programme and the Philip Yeo Grant. The former supports young individuals who want to make a positive difference to the world through funding and mentorship, while the Philip Yeo Grant enables entrepreneurial NUS students to participate in the NUS Overseas Colleges programme where they spend a year abroad doing start-up internships.
In 2014, three outstanding NUS students were earmarked under the Philip Yeo Innovation Fellows Programme for their noteworthy projects. Speaking of the students, known as Philip Yeo Associates, Mr Yeo said: "I am delighted that the pioneer batch of PY Associates are young people with a passion and have made tough decisions to pursue these passions… Second, their projects contribute to making life better for other people, which is an important aspect of PYI… Third, PYI is more than a scholarship programme. It has become a place for the many colleagues and friends I have made over the years to contribute their time, their experience, their strengths, their contacts to grow the next generation of leaders.
Elaborating on why the students were chosen, Ms Chong said: "…many of them are willing to make sacrifices, and as you can see in all three of them, they stepped aside from the usual trodden path and actually immersed themselves, took some risks in pursuing their passion. I think that is also the differentiator between people who just have lots of nice ideas and those who put their heart and mind to it.
In July this year, PYI will be sending the inaugural batch of about 10 NUS students abroad on the Philip Yeo Grant.
