Jeff of all trades and a giver with a heart of gold
Founder of BD CraneTech Pte Ltd Mr Jeffrey Lim Pang Hern, explains why he gives to the University and how he hopes to make a difference in society.
By Jasmine Tiong
In the late 1970s, it was Mr Jeffrey Lim's dream to study at the then Nanyang University (or Nantah). However, life had other plans for him when Nanyang University merged with the University of Singapore to form the National University of Singapore.
After completing his National Service, Mr Lim decided to enter the workforce where he rose through the ranks to become a Division Head in a German multinational corporation.
At the age of 29, he left the organisation and founded BD CraneTech Pte Ltd.
Today, at age 59, he has established diverse business interests in crane manufacturing, precast, marine, offshore, coating, oil and gas, property, furniture, hospitality, F&B, food logistics and social enterprise.
Nonetheless, the construction entrepreneur remains a modest and unassuming man who strives to do more for the community at large. Throughout his life, Mr Lim has stood by the virtues of bravery and determination in taking risks. Hence the initials "BD" in his company name.
Mr Lim regularly works with business people to gather resources to provide care for teenage children whose parents are incarcerated by law. He has also been volunteering with a Chinese temple for more than 20 years, and seeks to help needy residents with their rental and utility bills.
"The usual ways to help needy families are to give their children textbooks, school uniforms and daily necessities. But we also need to provide help to ensure these families have proper places to stay," said Mr Lim. "Some HDB units that I've visited do not have basic items like tables and refrigerators."
Other than his contributions to society, Mr Lim also plays an active part in the OneNTU community.
Mr Lim was the Chairman of the NTU Business and Community Partners (BCP) in 2021, an initiative that supported NTU students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds while providing opportunities for member organisations to fulfil an aspect of corporate social responsibility. From 2011 to 2022, the BCP Programme grew to more than 800 members and raised over S$10.3 million for needy NTU students.
When an NTU fundraiser approached Mr Lim to set up a named bursary, it made him recall how much he had once wanted to be a Nantah student. With this emotional attachment to Nantah, coupled with his willingness and ability to help students in need, Mr Lim made a S$100,000 cash gift to establish the BD CraneTech Bursary Fund in 2011.
"I gave because I thought it was a meaningful and unique way to donate to needy students in my 'dream school'," said Mr Lim, who felt that not being able to study at Nantah was a missed opportunity for him. "Besides, I can finally be part of the NTU community – not as an alumnus but as a donor."
He has since encouraged his business partner, Mr Ang Ah Nui, to also start a named bursary at NTU. The latter agreed, and he established the Roseline Lau Bursary Fund with a cash gift of S$100,000. Mr Ang decided to name his Bursary after his wife, and Mr Lim observed with a warm chuckle: "It is a good way to keep his wife happy."
To date, a total of 27 needy undergraduates have received timely bursaries of S$5,000 each from the BD CraneTech Bursary Fund and the Roseline Lau Bursary Fund.
In 2020, when Mr Lim met a student beneficiary who came from a single-parent family, he learned that the student’s mother was unemployed. Showing compassion for the student, Mr Lim subsequently arranged for the student's mother to work at his company.
Even though his life has taken a different path, Mr Lim highly values the importance of higher education. He pursued weekend courses in electrical engineering followed by finance while continuing to work. In 2012, Mr Lim graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Master's degree in Technology Entrepreneurship from UniSIM (Singapore University of Social Sciences) when he was 50 years old.
"Just as the Chinese saying '取之社会,用之社会' goes, we earn from society, so we give back to society," said Mr Lim. "And while I volunteer and provide help to the community, I can come up with unique and creative methods to do so, which is something I enjoy doing."
Establish a named bursary fund at NTU
Just like Mr Lim, you too can establish a named bursary fund with a minimum donation of S$40,000 for a four-year term gift, or S$150,000 for an endowed fund which exists in perpetuity. Your gift is tax-deductible at 2.5 times your gift value (applicable to Singapore tax residents only) and is matched by the Singapore Government, thus increasing the value and impact of your contributions.
Please get in touch with our advancement professionals for a confidential discussion if you wish to learn more about how you can support NTU students.