SINGAPORE - Forbes Asia today announced its latest annual Heroes of
Philanthropy list, highlighting 48 of the Asia-Pacific region's notable
philanthropists.
The honorees ranged from billionaires with expansive
visions of how best to help society to less well-known business people
whose generosity is also leaving a huge mark.
The list pays tribute to
these leading givers, four each from 12 markets across the Asia-Pacific
region.
- The full list can be found in the July issue of Forbes Asia as well as at www.forbes.com/altruists.
- In Australia, billionaires Andrew Forrest and James Packer are channeling their wealth into good causes. Mining magnate Forrest donated US$62 million to Western Australia's five universities last October to fund scholarships and a residential college.
- The 46-year old casino operator James Packer established the $56 million Sydney Arts Fund in November following government approval for his $2 billion casino resort at the Sydney Harbour. Half the funding will go to arts group in Sydney's poor, western suburbs.
- HNA Group's Chen Feng and Ningxi Baofeng Energy Group's Dang Yanbao of China are focused on helping youth. Feng donated $1.6 million last year to the UN World Food Programme to feed girls attending school in Ghana.
- Yanbao pledged $186 million last year to help university-bound students in his native Ningxia region of northwestern China.
In Hong
Kong, 65-year old Nellie Fong, the founder of Lifeline Express and
former Chairman for China at PricewaterhouseCoopers, started an eye
hospital on a train in 1997.Her project has grown beyond conducting cataract operations in rural China to doctor training and building a network of clinics. Robert W. Miller, co-founder of Duty Free Shopping, pledged $13 million this May to the Asia Society Hong Kong Center to promote the arts.
- Rohini Nilekani from India has given roughly US$40 million over the years. She set up Arghyam, which supports projects to protect groundwater and improve sanitation in India.
- She has also donated funds raised from the sale of her Infosys shares to causes such as improving the quality of India's laws and preserving biodiversity.
- Ajay Piramal, Chairman of Piramal Enterprises, has also set up a foundation that operates water-filtration plants and vending machines for selling clean water in bulk at a low cost.
Healthcare and education remained the focus of some other honorees.
In Indonesia, 62-year old Tahir, Chairman of Mayapada Group, persuaded
eight other local tycoons to each give $5 million to the Indonesia
Health Fund, in collaboration with the Bill and Melinda Gates
Foundation. The aim is to raise $100 million to fight tuberculosis and
expand family planning programs.
- Triputra Group's Theodore Rachmat supports scholarship programs at 17 major colleges and universities in Indonesia through his family's A&A Rachmat Compassionate Service Foundation.
- He also funds 32 medical clinics that have provided affordable care to 698,000 patients around the country.
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