Once a social butterfly, Datin Catherine Lai steps out of her cocoon and sees the beauty in helping the underprivileged.

From an outward perspective, it seems that Datin Catherine Lai, 48, was destined to live the life of a socialite. After modelling for a few years in the eighties, Catherine started her own business, ESCA Designs. Her company thrived and after 10 years of good business, Catherine decided to call it a day. She then wrote for a local newspaper until she got deeply involved in community work at the Ti-Ratana Penchala Community Centre.

A VOW FULFILLED
“When my father was suffering from malaria, I went to see my spiritual teacher Chief Dhammaratana to seek guidance. My father was already in a coma then,” she recollects. One day, Chief Dhammaratana took Catherine to a vacant piece of land that was donated to Ti-Ratana about 10 years ago and asked her to do something with it. Sadly, Catherine’s father did not live to see the project completed. Together with the efforts of some others, RM700,000 was raised successfully. The Ti-Ratana Penchala Community Centre was launched in April 2009 and Catherine has since taken on the role of Advisor to the centre.

THE RICH AND GENEROUS
“Being financially able helps when it comes to doing work of this sort because you can get your friends involved - they have funds to spare and most of the time they are willing to help. I still have lunches with my girlfriends and I’m always around if they need me, but my priorities have changed.”

NO SPOON-FEEDING
Catherine does admit that she doesn’t want to keep helping the same people repeatedly. “I want them to depend on themselves, to stand on their own two feet. Now that’s something else you know? Helping someone get back their dignity is such a wonderful feeling,” she shares. “Don’t worry about large sums of money - how much you give is not a measure of your philanthropy. How you strategise in your giving will prove more gratifying,” says Catherine with a smile.