Like this kind we must gave her big Applause.
Ms Elaine Low makes her generous contribution to the victims of the
Japan disaster. (ST Photo)
Touched by the news about Japan's earthquake and tsunami disaster,
one Singaporean decided she wanted
to do more.
24-year-old Elaine Low presented her contribution to Japanese
Ambassador to Singapore Yoichi Suzuki on Wednesday -- a cheque for
S$1 million.
Ms Low is the daughter of Datuk Low Tuck Kwong, 63,
founder of Bayan Resources,
an Indonesia-based coal-mining company. She is in charge of
business development at the company.
Ambassador Suzuki said Low's donation
was the largest the embassy had received so far for the tsunami
victims, and it would boost the morale of those affected by the
disaster.
Low, who is leaving it to the Japanese to decide how best to
use her donation to help victims, said, "My family and I feel that
it's an unfortunate disaster and wanted to offer our help."
The cheque presentation was held at the Japanese
Embassy in Nassim Road.
Low's father, who was present at the ceremony, was clearly proud of
his daughter's generosity -- the S$1 million comes out of her own
pocket.
He said the family has friends in Japan and the company also has business ties there.
It imports equipment from Japan and supplies coal to Japanese power
plants.
The family had previously donated to disaster victims in China
and Indonesia, he added.
Low, who lives in Singapore, did not
want to answer more questions about herself or her gift, saying her
family preferred to keep a low profile.
According to The
Straits Times, all she would say was: "We
sincerely just want to help the people affected by this unfortunate
event."
Ambassador Suzuki revealed that the money would probably go to
the Japanese Red Cross
Society to decide how to use it for disaster victims.
Kazuo Shibata, president of The Japanese Association, Singapore,
who also attended the cheque presentation ceremony, said he was
surprised an individual had given so much.
"I was really glad to know that a Singaporean would pay so much
attention to what's happening in Japan. I do not know of any
Japanese who has donated such a huge amount so far," he said.
In the meantime, Singapore Red Cross
Society has collected S$235,000, excluding the S$500,000
pledged so far by the Singapore Government.
The Islamic Religious
Council of Singapore (Muis) said it will be collecting
donations at all mosques starting tomorrow.
Humanitarian group World Vision
Singapore has received more than S$190,000 in donations,
whileMercy
Relief has collected S$43,282.
Swissotel the Stamford and Fairmont
Singapore aim to raise S$25,000 through a charity
dinner on Sunday. All revenue will go to disaster victims.
Find out how you can help Japan here.
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