CHT PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE AWARD - PHILANTHROPY
Dato' Ruby Khong
Founder & Philanthropist of Kechara Soup Kitchen (KSK)
An entrepreneur with a heart of gold, the aptly named Dato’ Ruby Khong is celebrated most of all not for her discriminating taste in precious gems but for her selfless side which maintains an altruistic glow. Opting on her own accord to relinquish a lifestyle of sheer opulence, the once socialite and island-owner went from fine-dining at luxury hotels to eating the humble pie and feeding 10,000 homeless people in a single month.
The founder and once president of Kechara Soup Kitchen for eight years, her persisting acts of kindness aren’t random. It was under her angelic wing that the organisation expanded its distribution of 20 food packets per week in 2006 to 2,500 today. With a presence in Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Kuantan, and Johor Bahru, the outfit has since broadened its services to include medical aid, laundry facilities, counselling, and job placements for the destitute.
In 2012, a mobile clinic debuted as part of her vision to offer the less fortunate access to better healthcare. The said launch was followed up with the premiere of Kechara’s Food Bank, an initiative dedicated to distributing pre-loved non-perishable provisions to underprivileged families and small non-governmental organisations across the Klang Valley.
Alternating between the infamous back lanes of Bellamy Village and television’s spotlight, she’s a renowned speaker with an extensive media presence. Past appearances include a feature on CNBC’s Executive Vision for a roundtable discussion on philanthropy, Starbucks’ Live & Inspire series, and BBC News which paid tribute to her exemplary volunteerism. While the recipient of many awards, she is a loving wife and proud mother of three.












