Celebrating love through giving
NUS alumni who found love on campus have chipped in to support the NUS Campus Couples Bursary Fund which aims to help financially disadvantaged students. The Bursary Fund was officially launched at the NUS Campus Couples Valentine's Dinner on 13 February by Guest-of-Honour Emeritus Senior Minister (ESM) Goh Chok Tong at the National University of Singapore Society Kent Ridge Guild House.
The Bursary Fund, the brainchild of Mr Yeo Keng Joon, has raised over $325,000 to date from generous alumni, including 12 NUS campus couples who each made gifts of $25,000. Mr Yeo and his wife Madam Kong Yuet Peng met on campus. A cheque for the amount raised was presented to NUS President Professor Tan Chorh Chuan by Mr Yeo and Mr Johnny Tan, Chairman of the NUS Alumni Student Advancement Committee.
Eager to help financially disadvantaged undergraduates and having received financial help with their education, setting up the bursary fund is the big-hearted couple's way of giving back to the NUS community.
According to Mr Yeo, the financial support he had received changed his life. He said: "Even though most people think Singapore is rich, there are still students who come from humble backgrounds who will benefit from financial support. Mdm Kong added: "We would not have what we have now if we had not met on campus. We believe there are many more couples like us. With this Fund, we hope we can raise money to help needy students.
The Fund, open to all eligible needy Singaporean NUS undergraduates, is expected to disburse up to five inaugural bursary awards, valued at up to $2,250 each, in the new Academic Year 2015/2016. In line with Singapore's 50th anniversary celebrations, it aims to attract gifts totalling $1.25 million so as to disburse 50 bursaries annually.
Besides fundraising, Mr Yeo has also initiated the NUS Campus Couples Alumni Group as an effective social platform for alumni who are campus couples.
More than 100 couples who met on campus from the 1950s to the present day, attended the inaugural Valentine's Dinner. This will set a new annual tradition of campus couples returning to NUS to mark Valentine's Day.
The Bursary Fund was initiated by Mr Yeo who met his wife Mdm Kong on campus
