The lonely 17-year-old was about to pick up the phone to call home and say what a mistake it had been to come to America to study.

But then he had a visitor, the woman who had volunteered to be his host parent, Mrs Jackie Swenson.

'Mrs Swenson showed up with a big basket of cookies and said 'I just want to make sure you know you've got a US mum here and I'll look after you',' he said.

It made all the difference.

Mrs Swenson, now in her late 70s, and her husband, Charles, 83, welcomed Mr Seow into their home, showing him kindness which made a 'phenomenal' impact on him.

To honour the couple, who are now retired and still living in Eugene, Mr Seow, 47, has made the biggest donation to a new scholarship fund he has created for the University of Oregon, named the Charles A. and Jackie Swenson Scholarship Fund.

'As a foreign student in a strange country, you're trying to fit in. This family welcomes you, makes you feel at home, gives you family support while your family is far away,' he said at a press briefing on Wednesday to announce the scholarship.

'They made me feel that Oregon is my second home and to this day I still feel that way.'

The chairman of medical group Parkway Holdings and former investment banker declined to say how much seed funding he contributed.

Read the full report in Thursday's edition of The Straits Times.