"To be able to contribute to society and to help those in need to build a better life, that is the ultimate meaning in life. I would gladly consider this to be my life's work. "

Forced to quit school at the age of 12 and flee to Hong Kong with his family, Mr. Li persevered through a childhood of strife and hardship. Through his struggles, Mr. Li realized how vital quality education and healthcare are to the success of a family and society as a whole. Thereby, the twin pillars of education and health care have long been the foundation of Mr. Li’s charitable work. As his business blossomed, Mr. Li began to make strategic contributions to education and medical care projects in Hong Kong and mainland China.

Recognizing the limited social impact of traditional charitable giving in Chinese society, Mr. Li established the Li Ka Shing Foundation (LKSF) in 1980 to enhance the impact of philanthropy through three strategic objectives: 1) nurture a culture of giving; 2) support education reform initiatives that encourage long-term thinking, empowerment, creativity, open-mindedness and constructive engagement with a focus on positive and sustainable change; and 3) help advance medical research and services.

Mr. Li believes that anyone can serve society, but only someone with a giving heart can propel social progress. This is key to creating a positive virtuous cycle in society.

Mr. Li considers the Foundation to be his “third son” and has pledged one-third of his assets to it. The LKSF has developed a rigorous process to ensure that its investments serve the objective of driving positive and sustainable change. To date, the Foundation has granted over HK$11.3 billion (US$ 1.45 billion) to these investments. The Foundation also coordinates Mr. Li’s contributions made through the Cheung Kong Group.