LAWRENCE KHONG , PBM
Founding Chairman, TOUCH Community Services
Chairman & Director, Gateway Arts Limited
Chairman, Gateway Entertainment
Illusionist & Magic Consultant
Lawrence is a pioneer in many fields. In public service, Lawrence founded TOUCH Community Services in 1986, a registered not-for-profit charitable organisation that serves the underprivileged and needy in Singapore. TOUCH Community Services has been instrumental in inspiring and mobilising the community to volunteer their service to the needy, and has contributed greatly to the establishment of the social service sector. Over the years, TOUCH has been a pioneer in addressing social issues. Among others, these include cyber wellness education since 2000, and championing diabetes awareness and psycho-social support for individuals with diabetes since 1992.
In 2007, TOUCH Community Services was named Outstanding Non-profit Organisation in Singapore, and was awarded the Charity Transparency Award 2017 by the Charity Council for its exemplary disclosure practices. In the Charity Governance Awards 2017 category, TOUCH Community Services was also conferred the Special Commendation Award for Clarity of Strategy.
For his contributions to public service, Lawrence was conferred the prestigious Pingat Bakti Masyarakat (Public Service Medal) title in 1998. He was also twice nominated for the SIP-Schwab Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award (2007 and 2008) for his work on Project SMILE.
Also passionate about the performing arts, Lawrence was not content to rest on his laurels and founded Gateway Arts in 2016, bringing together his passions for the community and for the performing arts. Now headed by his daughter Priscilla, the not-for-profit arts organisation creates productions that raise attention to important issues for children and youth, nurtures young emerging artists, and provides programmes to underserved communities. To date, the young company has produced 8 shows to a total audience of more than 24,000 including more than 1,200 beneficiaries.
A passionate innovator in the field of magic, Lawrence founded Gateway Entertainment in 2000 to realise his vision of creating illusion-theatre productions that go beyond being mere magic shows. Together with Priscilla, Lawrence melded extraordinary illusions with compelling theatre under the label, Magic of Lawrence and Priscilla. They have collaborated with acclaimed maestros of magic such as master illusionist Jeff McBride; creative advisors to the world-renowned David Copperfield, including Don Wayne, Jim Steinmeyer, Joanie Spina; as well as John Thomson, consultant for Criss Angel’s hit television series, MindFreak. The Magic of Lawrence and Priscilla’s successful productions have been enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of people around the world from Las Vegas to Seoul.
Lawrence’s work as an illusionist has earned him the honour of being the first in Asia to receive the Elite Diamond Merlin Award for Magician of the Year. Conferred by the International Magicians Society in 2010, this award is the equivalent of the Oscars in the international magic community and industry.
In 2002, fuelled by a desire to do more for the community with his magic talent, Lawrence set up Project SMILE, or Sharing Magic In Love Everywhere, with Priscilla. This one-of-a-kind community initiative teaches and trains volunteers in the art of performing magic to spread joy and wonder among the less privileged in society. Led by Lawrence, Project SMILE partnered with TOUCH International to create a bilateral exchange programme for youths in Singapore and China in which volunteers from Project SMILE and TOUCH International share the spirit of volunteerism, and promote bilingualism and cultural exchange. For 10 years, over 100 youths from different parts of China were trained in Service-Learning and Project SMILE each year, bringing smiles to local underserved communities through magic.
The multifaceted Lawrence is also a world-class polo player. He represented Singapore as part of the national polo team in the Southeast Asian Games in Thailand in 2007 at which the team bagged the silver medal. The following year, Lawrence was voted by Singaporeans as one of Team Singapore’s Top 21 Singapore Sports Idols.