Robert Hung-Ngai Ho

Robert Hung-Ngai Ho CM OBC (born 1932) is a Chinese Canadian-American philanthropist and former journalist.

Robert Hung-Ngai Ho
Born1932 (age 88–89)
Hong Kong, China
EducationB.A., Colgate University
M.A., 1958, Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism
Occupationphilanthropist, journalist
Spouse(s)Greta
RelativesRobert Ho Tung (grandfather)

Early life and education

Ho was born in Hong Kong, the British Empire, in 1932[1] to one of the richest families in the former colony.[2] Ho's grandfather, Robert Ho Tung, was a prominent businessman and philanthropist.[3] Although born into a religiously Buddhist family, Ho did not become religious himself until adulthood.[4]

Ho graduated from Colgate University in 1956 with a Bachelor of Arts degree and from Columbia University in 1958 with a Master's degree in journalism.[3]

Career

After graduating from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, Ho worked for The Pittsburgh Press, National Geographic, and Hong Kong's Kung Sheung Daily Press, then owned by the Hotung family.[5] In 1989, he moved to Vancouver and established the Tung Lin Kok Yuen Canada Society, named in honour of his grandmother, Lady Clara Hotung.[6]

In 2005, Ho launched the Robert H.N. Ho Family Foundation, which encourages younger children to learn about Chinese culture.[2] He also launched the Tung Lin Kok Yuen Canada Foundation in his grandmother's honour to fund endowed chairs in Buddhist studies.[7] The following year, he donated $4 million to the University of Toronto to fund Buddhist studies programs[3] and another $4 million to the University of British Columbia (UBC) for the same purpose.[8] In 2008, his alma mater Stanford University renamed its Buddhist Studies Center in his honour after he donated $5 million.[7]

In 2009, Ho donated $15 million towards the establishment of a research centre at Vancouver General Hospital for the Vancouver Prostate Centre, the Centre for Hip Health and Mobility, and the Ovarian Cancer Research Initiative.[9] As a result of his philanthropy, Ho received an honorary degree from UBC in 2012[10] and from Hong Kong Baptist University in 2015.[11] The government of Canada also recognized Ho's philanthropic work by naming him a Member of the Order of Canada in 2018.[12][13]

In 2019, Ho donated $15 million to his alma mater Colgate University to establish the Robert Hung Ngai Ho Mind, Brain, and Behavior Initiative.[14] He and his wife Greta also donated $10 million to Lions Gates Hospital to help build a mental health centre.[15]

References
  1. "Robert HO Hung Ngai". hku.hk. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  2. "Treasuring China's own". usa.chinadaily.com.cn. December 19, 2013. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  3. Woodward, Jonathan (April 3, 2006). "A billionaire's largesse flows to U of T". Globe and Mail. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  4. Keung, Nicholas (August 26, 2006). "Billionaire's boost to Buddhist studies". buddhistchannel.tv. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  5. "Unity in diversity". casotac.com. 2006. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  6. Larry DeVries; Don Baker; Dan Overmyer (January 1, 2011). Asian Religions in British Columbia. University of British Columbia Press. p. 261. ISBN 9780774859424. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  7. "Hong Kong-based Ho Family Foundation gives $5 million to expand, strengthen Stanford Buddhist studies program". news.stanford.edu. June 24, 2008. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  8. "UBC Creates First North American Contemporary Buddhism Studies Program With $4 Million Gift". news.ubc.ca. February 2, 2006. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  9. "$15 MILLION DONATION LAUNCHES THE ROBERT H.N. HO RESEARCH CENTRE AT VGH". vchri.ca. March 20, 2009. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  10. "Dr. Robert Ho". graduation.ubc.ca. 2012. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  11. "HKBU to confer honorary doctoral degrees on four distinguished persons". bunews.hkbu.edu.hk. October 12, 2015. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  12. "Robert Hung-Ngai Ho Invested into the Order of Canada". gg.ca. February 26, 2020. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  13. Walden, Mark (January 3, 2019). "Robert Hung Ngai Ho '56, H'11 Appointed Member of the Order of Canada (C.M.)". colgate.edu. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  14. "Colgate University Receives $15 Million From Alumnus". philanthropynewsdigest.org. February 1, 2019. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  15. "The 150 Leading Canadians For Mental Health: Robert Ho". give.camh.ca. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
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