On 12 August, J.P. Morgan brought together a private audience of clients, partners and friends at The Foundry in Singapore for a curated screening of films from the Inspiring Asia Micro Film Festival. Titled Beyond Poverty: Stories of Opportunity and Social Mobility, the evening used film as a starting point for J.P. Morgan’s network to engage in a broader conversation about philanthropy, opportunity and social mobility across Asia.
The screening featured four award-winning micro films from the 2023 and 2024 editions of Inspiring Asia, spanning Indonesia, Singapore and China. Together, they explored poverty not simply as a question of income, but through the opportunities, support systems and choices that shape whether individuals and communities can move beyond it.
The four films were:
The screening was followed by a panel discussion moderated by Faye Ong, Head of Philanthropy Centre, Singapore and Southeast Asia, J.P. Morgan Private Bank. The Philanthropy Centre works with clients to explore their philanthropic goals, develop strategies for giving, and connect them with opportunities to create meaningful social impact across the region. Faye was joined by Dr. Ada Zhang, Executive Producer of Inspiring Asia and director of Walk Again and Journey of Hope; Sue Toomey, CEO of Asia Community Foundation (ACF); and William Gondokusumo, Founder and CEO of Campaign for Good, one of Inspiring Asia’s regional partners in Indonesia.
The conversation explored a central question: how can stories of social challenges and community action deepen understanding, build empathy and ultimately lead to action?
Ada shared that while data, reports and impact metrics can show the scale of a social issue, stories bring audiences closer to the people behind the numbers — their barriers, emotions, dignity, strengths and aspirations. She recalled a girl she met while filming 3Pumpkins’ work during one of her visits. The girl told Ada, “I don’t have any friends at school. Most of my friends are here because they don’t judge me.” For Ada, those words captured something that statistics could not: children’s need for dignity, belonging and acceptance. It was moments like this that reinforced the power of film to make complex social issues more tangible and human.
William built on this idea by sharing Campaign for Good’s Community Vetting process, which invites friends, family and new supporters to take on challenges inspired by each film’s themes. In this way, audiences become more than viewers, with storytelling serving as a starting point for participation and action.
Sue then addressed what makes action possible beyond inspiration. She highlighted ACF’s role in providing the giving infrastructure that enables philanthropy to move across borders. For donors responding to issues they encounter through stories and other forms of engagement, reliable information, credible partners and clear pathways for giving are critical. ACF helps connect donors with credible organisations and community-based actors across Asia, enabling cross-border giving with greater confidence.
The impact of these stories can also extend beyond the screening itself. Ada shared how Walk Again was screened at Lions Club dinners and other events after its completion, reaching new audiences. As awareness grew, the prosthetics assistance program featured in the film attracted additional donations, public attention and new participants. One of the film’s protagonists, Ailing, who lost all four limbs, also gained a new employment opportunity through connections created by the film.
The Q&A that followed drew candid reflections from the room, including from guests who spoke about their own experiences with poverty or journeys supporting grassroots organisations.
Anthonia Hui, Co-founder of Clotho Family Office and Weavers of Change Foundation, offered a perspective on how philanthropy can translate empathy into action. As a long-term supporter of the 1000 Days Fund, she recalled first encountering the organisation when it was still developing its financial systems, business planning and governance structures. Despite this, she and other supporters chose to trust the team’s commitment to the community and determination to address the issue.
Other guests shared their own observations and understanding of poverty, with some further elaborating on the power of films in spurring action. For J.P. Morgan’s clients and partners, the evening offered an opportunity not only to encounter compelling stories from across Asia, but also to engage directly with practitioners working to address the issues behind them.
The evening demonstrated the potential of bringing together storytelling, philanthropy and networks for action, with J.P. Morgan providing a platform for its community to engage with issues of opportunity and social mobility, Inspiring Asia bringing stories from communities across Asia into the room, and organisations such as ACF and Campaign for Good creating pathways from awareness to action.
The Li Foundation is grateful to J.P. Morgan for bringing its community together for this meaningful conversation, and to the panellists and the audience for their thoughtful contributions.
Stories can open the door. But what happens next depends on the people, partnerships and resources that walk through it.
Please fill in the info below:
Note: Fields with an asterisk* are required.
We’ve received your message, and we’ll get back to you soon…
