{
  "id": 5515453,
  "title": "Teacher leaves $500,000 to ST School Pocket Money Fund in his will",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/teacher-leaves-500-000-to-st-school-pocket-money-fund-in-his-will",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-04T07:35:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Straits Times",
    "slug": "straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/teacher-leaves-500000-to-st-school-pocket-money-fund-in-his-will"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Secondary school teacher Victor Lee passed away in 2018 at the age of 70, leaving behind a significant legacy. In his will, Lee designated $3.5 million to support education in Singapore, earmarking 70% of his assets for three beneficiaries: The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund (STSPMF), National University of Singapore (NUS), and Nanyang Technological University (NTU). At a private reception on September 4, the executors presented Lee's $500,000 contribution to the STSPMF, which aids financially disadvantaged students with their schooling needs. The remaining half-million dollars was split evenly between NUS and NTU, in honor of Lee's father, who was an economics professor at both universities. Lee's generosity stemmed from his father's experience growing up in Sichuan, China, where financial constraints prevented him from accessing basic necessities. Lee aimed to alleviate similar hardships faced by students in Singapore through his endowment. Tay Hwee Leng, general manager of STSPMF, expressed deep gratitude for Lee's foresight and generosity, emphasizing the profound impact his donation will have on children and youth who might otherwise struggle with everyday school expenses. Launched in 2000, STSPMF primarily assists families with a per capita gross monthly household income of $1,000 or less. The fund provides $65 to primary school pupils, $100 to secondary school pupils, and $125 to students at institutes of technology, junior colleges, and polytechnics, having already benefited more than 230,000 individuals and disbursed over $110 million in aid.",
  "summary": "Chemistry teacher Victor Lee left $3.5 million to support education, naming STSPMF, NUS and NTU as beneficiaries.",
  "key_points": [
    "Victor Lee, 70, died in 2018, leaving $3.5M for education in Singapore.",
    "$500K from Lee's estate goes to ST School Pocket Money Fund.",
    "Remaining $500K split between NUS and NTU in memory of his father."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}