A $300,000 donation from a philanthropist will help students and programs at Kwantlen Polytechnic University.
The donation from the Y.P. Heung Foundation will have a “transformative impact” with annual awards for 80 KPU students and support for the university’s sustainable agricultural program, said KPU.
Raymond Heung, who created the foundation with his wife, said he saw first-hand how education opened doors when he first immigrated to Canada.
“I’m passionate about helping students today find their path, no matter their background or circumstances,” he said.
Heung arrived in Canada in 1966 to study at the University of Ottawa and became a Canadian citizen several years later.
Over the years, Heung built a successful business career while giving back to his community.
In 2012, he and his wife, Terry, established the Y.P. Heung Foundation in memory of his father.
“My father was a very hard-working guy,” said Heung. “He was born into poverty in rural China and eventually started his own textile business. He is a great example of what it means to be resilient.”
The foundation supports programs that benefit youth in the areas of education, health, arts and culture.
It first made its mark at KPU in 2014 with a $10,000 donation to support a media and digital literacy program.
Since that time, Heung’s philanthropy has grown significantly, with the total lifetime giving to KPU now exceeding $627,000.
This ongoing support has helped establish several key initiatives, including the Y.P. Heung Foundation Post-Secondary Awards, which benefit students in a variety of disciplines.
Heung’s latest commitment will fund 16 annual awards over the next five years.
These awards will provide crucial financial assistance to students across a range of programs, including arts, design, horticulture and science.
The foundation also created a dedicated award for Indigenous students, underscoring Heung’s belief in equal opportunities for all.
Heung has also provided vital support to KPU’s Bachelor of Applied Science in Sustainable Agriculture program.
In June 2024, a $50,195 donation helped purchase an industrial refrigerator for the KPU Farm in Richmond, enabling the university to extend the shelf life of its organic produce and support local food banks.
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