(20 March 2015) The Library Modernization Fundraising Campaign this week broke the 40 million baht barrier as major donations from the Na Lamphun family, Amata Corporation, alumna Ms. Loh Ai Lee, and SEAFCO Plc., pushed the campaign total to over 80% of its goal of 50 million baht.
The Na Lamphun family, who are all AIT alumni, on 13 March 2015 donated a total of 2 million baht for the AIT library’s modernization effort. Dr. Chainarong individually donated 1 million baht, and his three children Dr. Phannachet Na Lamphun, Dr. Pornlapas Na Kamphun, and Mr. Rathawait Na Lamphun also joined hands to contribute another 1 million baht.
A day earlier, on March 13, Amata Corporation pledged 1 million to the fundraising drive. The donation was made by Mr. Vikrom Kromadit at his Amata Corporation Bangkok headquarters when he met AIT President Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai and Prof Voratas Kachitvichayanukul, Dean of the AIT School of Engineering and Technology.
Mr. Vikrom also said he would help mobilize additional funds for AIT’s campaign from large foreign corporates now operating at his industrial estate in Chon Buri, Thailand. Mr. Vikrom is a business leader, philanthropist, best-selling author and a man with a mission “to bring Asia to the world and the world to Asia.”
According to President Worsak, he wants AIT to set up a front office at his industrial estate to collaborate with thousands of R&D companies expected to set up operations.
On March 11, it was announced that AIT alumna Ms. Loh Ai Lee (SEC ’81) had pledged US$ 30,000 to the campaign to give new life to AIT’s library. A Malaysian national, Ms. Ai Lee is a fully qualified Chartered Professional Engineer registered with the Board of Engineers in Malaysia and Australia. She has more than 30 years of experience in Malaysia and overseas, having worked with international companies such as TYLin, Parsons Brinkerhoff, Bilfinger and Berger, and Bechtel.
Currently, Ms. Ai Lee serves as the Technical Advisor of Prasarana Malaysia Berhad, the asset owner which operates the LRT and the Monorail Systems in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Kicking off the week of notable donations was SEAFCO Plc’s contribution of 300,000 baht. Mr. Narong Thasnanipan, President of SEAFCO, pledged 0.3 million baht to support the campaign on March 9.
SEAFCO initiated collaboration with AIT in 2007 when Mr. Narong established a scholarship program in dedication and memory of his late elder brother, Mr. Supot Thasnanipan, the founder of SEAFCO, and a former AIT student.
The AIT website has the announcement.
