Teacher leaves $500,000 to ST School Pocket Money Fund in his will

ST School Pocket Money Fund general manager Tay Hwee Leng (far right) receiving a $500,000 cheque from the executors of Victor Lee’s will.

ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG

Published Sep 04, 2026, 03:35 PM

Updated Sep 04, 2026, 03:35 PM

SINGAPORE – Secondary school teacher Victor Lee left $3.5 million in his will to support education in Singapore, naming The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund (STSPMF), National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) as beneficiaries.

Lee, who died three years ago aged 70, left 70 per cent of his assets to the three beneficiaries to uplift students and support education in Singapore.

He worked as a chemistry teacher at Hwa Chong Institution and Bukit Panjang Government High School.

On Sept 4, cheques were presented to the three beneficiaries by the executors of Lee’s will during a private reception.

Under his will, Lee left $500,000 to STSPMF, which helps children and youth from lower-income families with their schooling needs. He also left $1.5 million each to NUS and NTU in honour of his father, Lee Sheng Li, who was an economics professor at both universities.

The executors of the will, Mok Kim Terng, 83, and another family friend who preferred to remain anonymous, met Lee 20 years ago at St John’s - St Margaret’s Church, where Mok is a volunteer.

Mok said Lee was inspired by his father’s experience of growing up in Sichuan, China, without the means to pay for things.

Lee wanted to help others facing similar difficulties in Singapore, Mok added, noting that the pocket money fund was important in helping children at the start of their lives.

Tay Hwee Leng, general manager of STSPMF, said: “We are deeply grateful for Mr Victor Lee’s generosity and foresight in remembering students in his will. His gift is a meaningful investment in the education journey of children and youth who may otherwise struggle with their everyday school expenses.”

(From left) Andy Loo of NUS, ST School Pocket Money Fund general manager Tay Hwee Leng, executors of Victor Lee’s will, and his close family friends. ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG

(From left) Andy Loo of NUS, ST School Pocket Money Fund general manager Tay Hwee Leng, executors of Victor Lee’s will, and his close family friends.

Tay added that she hopes Lee’s legacy will inspire others to consider how they can make a difference through giving.

Launched in 2000 as a community project initiated by The Straits Times, STSPMF helps families whose per capita gross monthly household income is not more than $1,000. The fund has helped more than 230,000 children and youth in need and provided more than $110 million in assistance.

Under the fund, a primary school pupil receives $65 a month, while a secondary school pupil receives $100. Students at ITE, junior colleges and polytechnics receive $125 a month.

Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund

Education and schools

《海峡时报》学校零花钱基金总经理郑慧玲（最右）从李伟强遗嘱执行人手中接过 50 万美元支票。

《海峡时报》摄影：KELVIN CHNG

发布于 2026 年 9 月 4 日下午 3:35

更新于2026年9月4日下午3:35

新加坡——中学教师李维克多在遗嘱中留下 350 万美元用于支持新加坡的教育事业，并指定《海峡时报》学生零花钱基金 (STSPMF)、新加坡国立大学 (NUS) 和南洋理工大学 (NTU) 为受益人。

李显龙三年前去世，享年70岁。他将自己70%的资产留给了三位受益人，用于提升学生的学业水平和支持新加坡的教育。

他曾在华侨中学和武吉班让政府中学担任化学教师。

9 月 4 日，李的遗嘱执行人在一次私人招待会上向三位受益人颁发了支票。

李先生在遗嘱中捐赠50万新元给新加坡科技社会基金会（STSPMF），该基金会致力于帮助低收入家庭的儿童和青少年解决教育需求。他还分别向新加坡国立大学（NUS）和南洋理工大学（NTU）捐赠150万新元，以纪念他的父亲李胜立，李胜立曾任这两所大学的经济学教授。

遗嘱执行人，83 岁的莫金德（Mok Kim Terng）和另一位不愿透露姓名的家庭朋友，20 年前在圣约翰-圣玛格丽特教堂认识了李，莫金德是该教堂的志愿者。

莫克表示，李的创作灵感来源于他父亲在中国四川长大，家境贫寒，无力支付各种开销的经历。

莫克补充说，李希望帮助新加坡其他面临类似困难的人，并指出零用钱基金对于帮助孩子们开启人生新篇章非常重要。

STSPMF总经理郑慧玲表示：“我们衷心感谢李先生的慷慨和远见，他在遗嘱中考虑到了学生的需要。他的捐赠是对那些可能难以负担日常学费的儿童和青少年教育之路的一项意义重大的投资。”

（从左至右）新加坡国立大学的卢安迪、海峡时报学生零花钱基金总经理郑慧玲、李伟俊遗嘱执行人及其亲友。海峡时报摄影：张凯文

（从左至右）新加坡国立大学的 Andy Loo、海峡时报学生零花钱基金总经理 Tay Hwee Leng、Victor Lee 遗嘱执行人以及他的亲密家人朋友。

Tay补充说，她希望李的遗志能够激励其他人思考如何通过捐赠来做出贡献。

海峡时报儿童援助基金（STSPMF）于2000年由《海峡时报》发起，是一个社区项目，旨在帮助人均月家庭总收入不超过1000新元的家庭。该基金已帮助超过23万名贫困儿童和青少年，提供了超过1.1亿新元的援助。

根据该基金，小学生每月可获得 65 美元，中学生每月可获得 100 美元，工艺教育学院、初级学院和理工学院的学生每月可获得 125 美元。

海峡时报学校零花钱基金

教育和学校