The Hong Leong Foundation, established in 1980, drives the Group's philosophy that corporations should give back by paying it forward. The Foundation's vision is to create opportunities for residents of Singapore to grow and develop by:

• fostering education
• helping the elderly, poor and needy to have fulfilling, healthy and active lives
• encouraging the proliferation of culture and the arts

Its mission is to achieve the following charitable goals:

• provide educational opportunities for all children in Singapore
• provide avenues to improve living standards for the aged, poor and needy
• nurture local talents and extend Singapore's creative horizons

Each company in the Group also has its own community support programmes. Following the May 2008 Sichuan Earthquake, Millennium & Copthorne Hotels plc (M&C) responded swiftly with a $200,000 donation towards the rebuilding of the Wolong Primary School by aid agency, Mercy Relief. By January 2009, the school welcomed back its students, who had been relocated to temporary shelters after the quake rendered their original school structure unsound.

Examples of some of the Group's initiatives are:

• Charity - The Hong Leong Foundation has conducted an annual year-end giveaway to the needy elderly since 1982. In 2008, the Foundation gave cash gifts of nearly $380,000 to over 3,600 needy elderly people, taking its overall cash donations for 2008 to $7 million. After the devastating Asian tsunami of December 2004, the Foundation donated S$200,000 to the Singapore Red Cross Society's Tidal Waves Asia Fund. more…
• Heritage - In 2009, Hong Leong Foundation committed to a $5 million donation to the Asian Civilisation Museum, in an effort to bolster appreciation and awareness of Chinese history and culture.
• Arts - The Foundation, a long-time supporter of the Singapore Arts Festival, was also a sponsor for the immensely successful 2009 season.
• National initiatives - Hong Leong Foundation was a sponsor of the inaugural Singapore Season in London which brought performances by the renowned Singapore Dance Theatre, T'ang Quartet and The Singapore Chinese Orchestra to appreciative audiences in the United Kingdom. The Foundation was also a sponsor of the second Singapore Season in Shanghai. In 2009, M&C was a sponsor for the successful Singapore Day in London. more…
• Environment - City Developments Ltd (CDL) is an industry leader in green practices for its residential and commercial properties. Its initiatives have ensured that it was awarded the most Green Mark awards by the Building & Construction Authority in 2009. Sister company Hong Leong Holdings is also no stranger to green practices, having also attained Green Mark awards for its recent developments such as Aalto and The Gale. more…
• Corporate Social Responsibility - CDL is the only Singapore corporation to be recognised for its CSR programmes at the Asian CSR Awards 2008. Some of CDL's award-winning programmes include its “1°C Up” Pilot Campaign and Water Recycling and Silt Water Treatment Programme at Construction Sites (Environmental Excellence category) and Work-Life Harmony programme (Best Workplace Practices category). M&C is also working towards a comprehensive CSR programme which will position the company as a hotelier of choice. more…