The professor has donated billions of dong to charity many times: 'I learn from my teacher'

Professor Le Ngoc Thach (4th from left) awarded two scholarships worth 24 million VND to students of Le Hong Phong High School for the Gifted, Ho Chi Minh City, on the morning of September 10 - Photo: Provided by the character

Recently, many people have known Professor Le Ngoc Thach when he deposited 1 billion VND in his savings book with Tuoi Tre to support people in the flood-hit areas of the North. But few people know that over the years, this professor has contributed many times to social activities, scientific awards... with the amount of up to tens of billions of VND.

Before retiring, Prof. Dr. Le Ngoc Thach worked as a manager and lecturer at the Chemistry Department, University of Natural Sciences (Ho Chi Minh City National University). He is currently a visiting lecturer at the school.

"Duties of a citizen"

At 3pm on Saturday, when we arrived at Professor Le Ngoc Thach's house, he was engrossed in his computer in his office. "I'm hard of hearing, so I've only been at home for a long time, occasionally teaching a few sessions at school. So I have a lot of time to write books, research, and teach," he said with a smile.

For over 10 years, Professor Le Ngoc Thach has been a regular guest of Tuoi Tre, always present to contribute to programs, relief efforts and newspaper personalities...

His contributions have increased over the years. The number of people he has helped now reaches hundreds, so he cannot remember them all. But there are some special cases he will always remember, along with some people he still regularly sends money to help them every month.

On July 28, 2015, Tuoi Tre published an article titled "Pregnant woman gives fake name to give away child". That same morning, Mr. Thach came to the newspaper to ask for 12 million VND to help the young mother's family overcome difficulties and adversity. "When I read the article, my heart ached, tears welled up, so I told myself I had to contribute a little to take care of the baby and this family right away" - Mr. Thach recalled.

He continued: "In 2016, I read an article about Lo Thi Po (6 years old, in Muong Sai commune, Son La province), the daughter of a deceased woman, but because she had no money, her relatives had to wrap her in a mat and use a motorbike to take her home. Before that, Po's father and younger brother had died, so the girl relied on her elderly grandfather and two mentally ill uncles. Since then, through Tuoi Tre newspaper, I have sent 500,000 VND every month to help her."

Similarly, from 2012 until now, every month, Mr. Thach has regularly sent 2 million VND to four children Viet, Nam, Hanh, Phuc - quadruplets born in 2012, currently living in Tan Phuoc commune, Lai Vung district, Dong Thap province. Some people he helped become doctors and still regularly contact and visit, some even invite him to their weddings... he always attends.

Previously, in September 2012, Mr. Thach also brought a total of 161 million VND twice to contribute to buying CQ lifeboats for Truong Sa, right after Tuoi Tre launched this program. That was the amount of money he saved for 10 years from his salary to contribute to Truong Sa.

But the teacher's voice was very gentle: "A strong country is important, and my contribution is a normal thing to do to fulfill the duty of a citizen. I just learn from my teacher."

Professor Thach donated 500 million VND to contribute to the Le Van Thoi Award - Photo: PHUNG QUAN

Contribute billions to 2 science awards

The 76-year-old professor believes that volunteering is also a matter of fate. When he was in junior high school (equivalent to middle school today - PV), he participated in the blue cloth movement and Buddhist family until 1975. After that, because of his livelihood, he did not have the conditions to regularly participate in weekly activities, so he only contributed to helping his compatriots and orphans...

"My passion for charity has been there since I was a child, and it has gradually become my nature until now. I am not a rich man. Thanks to teaching, doing research, writing books... I have saved money so I can help people, that's all.

Whenever I have money, I donate it to community activities. I don't do business and don't have much money, so in recent years I have mainly focused on supporting educational activities and scientific research through contributions to awards and scholarship funds...", Mr. Thach shared.

In 2017, Prof. Dr. Le Ngoc Thach initiated the establishment of the Le Van Thoi Award at the University of Natural Sciences (Ho Chi Minh City National University). The award is to commemorate the merits and ethics of Prof. Le Van Thoi with an initial capital of 1.5 billion VND contributed by Mr. Thach.

The award contributes to supporting, nurturing, and encouraging students, trainees, and graduate students to achieve excellent scientific research results. The first selection and award ceremony was held in October 2017, with 3 bachelors, masters, and doctors receiving awards with 3 levels of value of 20, 25, and 30 million VND. Since then, the school has awarded this award to outstanding individuals every year.

As one of the recipients of the Le Van Thoi Award, Dr. Nguyen Truong Hai - lecturer of the Faculty of Chemistry, University of Natural Sciences (Ho Chi Minh City National University) - shared: "The birth of the Le Van Thoi Award has helped to encourage me and my fellow awardees in a timely manner. This is also the first award related to research achievements that I have received, giving me more motivation to publish the results up to now."

Mr. Thach confided: "Since this award was created, the number of international scientific articles of the school has increased significantly, due to the competition between candidates. I feel very happy so I contributed an additional 500 million VND to the award. This year, there will be 2 more consolation prizes for the best bachelor's thesis and the best doctoral thesis."

After teaching at school and studying abroad, Professor Thach realized that green chemistry is very necessary for developed countries. In fact, in Vietnam, the problem of chemical pollution has not been properly assessed but is becoming more and more serious through the increasing number of terminally ill people related to chemicals. In addition, many social assets are wasted in the use of "ungreen" chemicals.

"That is also the reason why we proposed the Le Van Thoi Award for green chemistry and contributed 1 billion VND to the Ho Chi Minh City Chemistry Association to make the award. I will continue to contribute to make this award bigger, promoting the study and research of green chemistry in our country to develop", Mr. Thach affirmed...

Professor Le Ngoc Thach spends a lot of time writing books at home - Photo: TRAN HUYNH

"I am happy to help others"

Over the past ten years, Mr. Thach has also been an active member in organizing scholarships for excellent students with difficult circumstances at Le Hong Phong High School for the Gifted; and has given many scientific books on organic chemistry that he has painstakingly researched and collected to the Central Library of Ho Chi Minh City National University.

He is also often present at the 2000 rice shop, thoughtfully serving each meal to the poor...

Many people wondered why the old teacher donated all his savings and later did not have enough money to spend. Teacher Thach smiled gently and explained: "I like to do charity work, to contribute to help others, I feel very happy because it is in line with my interests and wishes.

Any contribution is voluntary. As a teacher, it is right for me to contribute to the development of education and research, so if I have money, I will contribute. I am not under any pressure in this matter.

I live alone now so I don't spend much. My two sons are abroad and always support their father in his charity work. Every now and then they call to ask if he still has money...

Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee awarded a certificate of merit to Professor Le Ngoc Thach

On the morning of September 27, Mr. Ngo Minh Hai - Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Youth Union - authorized and assigned by the leaders of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee to present a certificate of merit to Professor Dr. Le Ngoc Thach - the person who donated 1 billion VND in savings to support people affected by storms and floods.

Mr. Ngo Minh Hai said: "Mr. Thach's action is a noble gesture, has the power to spread to the city's people and creates great inspiration to unite people together in difficult days. And it is also a typical image of the typical character of the people of Ho Chi Minh City in particular and the whole country in general."

"I am a student of Professor Le Van Thoi"

Many times when coming to the reception room of Tuoi Tre newspaper, Mr. Thach always wore simple but neat clothes, with a gentle and lovable smile. When introducing himself, he always humbly refused to leave a name in the newspaper, only saying: "I am a student of Professor Le Van Thoi".

The teacher he often mentioned was Professor Le Van Thoi, former dean of science at Saigon University, now the University of Natural Sciences (Ho Chi Minh City National University).

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/vi-giao-su-nhieu-lan-gop-tien-ti-lam-thien-nguyen-toi-hoc-thay-toi-20241115093614657.htm