AIA Foundation marks 30 years with scholarships and new initiative – Insurance Business America
By Roxanne Libatique
The AIA Foundation has marked its 30th year by awarding scholarships to 100 undergraduate students in Hong Kong, representing the fifth group to benefit from the AIA Scholarships programme.
The event, held on Oct. 3, also recognised the graduation of the second cohort of scholars and introduced a new initiative, “AIA Purpose in Action,” aimed at furthering the foundation’s work in education, health, and community development.
Since the scholarship’s establishment in 2020, AIA has pledged US$100 million to support 100 students annually from 10 participating universities in Hong Kong. To date, the programme has supported close to 500 scholars and seen more than 140 graduates.
The scholarships are awarded based on academic merit, community involvement, and financial need, with the intention of developing future leaders who are committed to social responsibility.
During the ceremony, AIA executives highlighted the foundation’s ongoing commitment to nurturing talent and fostering civic engagement.
Jacky Chan, AIA regional chief executive and group chief distribution officer, and Stuart A. Spencer, AIA group chief marketing officer – both serving as co-chairmen of the AIA Scholarships Committee – described the programme as a platform for encouraging both academic achievement and broader societal contributions.
Alger Fung, chief executive officer of AIA Hong Kong & Macau and director of the AIA Foundation, joined other leaders and representatives, including AIA Rethink Healthy ambassador Hins Cheung, in sharing perspectives on resilience and the importance of empathy in building healthier communities.
Recipients of the scholarship spoke about the opportunities the programme has provided.
King Chan, a current scholar, explained how the support enabled him to participate in an overseas exchange and reinforced his goal of improving access to mental health services.
“The scholarship has further strengthened my commitment to providing psychological support to more people regardless of financial circumstances,” he said.
Graduate representative Mabel Ng reflected on overcoming financial hardship and her aspiration to help families facing similar challenges.
“The AIA Scholarships gave me the strength to overcome difficult times and affirmed my potential. This belief has empowered me to view every challenge as an opportunity to learn and grow. Through these experiences, I found my calling; I aspire to pursue a career in education, where I can pass on the knowledge and encouragement that I have received, to make a lasting and positive impact on the lives of others,” she said.
The “AIA Purpose in Action” initiative, announced at the event, is designed to expand the foundation’s reach beyond financial assistance.
The initiative will offer a series of experiences for scholars and graduates, focusing on areas such as social well-being, mental health, and physical fitness.
These activities will be delivered in collaboration with organisations including Microsoft Hong Kong and Macau, HandsOn Hong Kong, AIA Vitality Hub, and Tottenham Hotspur Football Club.
The foundation stated that these efforts are intended to foster connections among scholars, graduates, and the wider community, while supporting the foundation’s mission to empower students and encourage them to contribute to society.
Meanwhile, AIA Singapore, in partnership with Amplify Health, has launched a Chronic Disease Management Programme (CDMP) to support Singaporeans living with diabetes, hypertension, or high cholesterol.
The programme, available from October 2025, is offered to eligible AIA insured members through the Amped mobile application, with the first 1,500 participants able to join at no additional cost.
The CDMP is designed to address the growing prevalence of chronic conditions in Singapore, where many residents spend a significant portion of later life managing illness.
The programme aims to complement the national Healthier SG initiative by providing ongoing support between medical visits and encouraging sustainable lifestyle changes.
Participants in the CDMP gain access to a range of digital tools and professional support, including unlimited text-based coaching, video consultations, and personalised health plans.
The programme also offers AI-powered meal logging, activity and sleep tracking, educational content, and regular progress updates.
Irma Hadikusuma, chief marketing and healthcare officer at AIA Singapore, said the initiative reflects a shift in focus toward improving health span rather than just lifespan.
“As Singapore’s population ages, we must shift our focus from extending lifespans to extending health spans – and this requires us to rethink what healthcare should look like. The most powerful changes we can make for our health are often simple, everyday lifestyle changes,” she said.
Amplify Health CEO Axel Baur noted that the programme has already shown positive results in helping individuals manage chronic conditions.
“Patients using Amped by Amplify Health have seen real improvements in managing chronic conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure. Doctors reported that patients stay engaged between visits, understand their diets better, and feel more supported,” he said.
The CDMP is available to AIA insured members aged 40 and above who have been diagnosed with one or more of Singapore’s most common chronic illnesses.
The programme is the latest addition to AIA Singapore’s portfolio of wellness solutions, which includes AIA Vitality and partnerships with healthcare providers such as Mount Alvernia, Raffles Hospital Group, and WhiteCoat.
AIA Singapore also enhanced its corporate insurance offerings to include expanded inpatient mental health coverage, aiming to provide more comprehensive support to over 1.3 million employees in Singapore.
