Indian Heroes of Philanthropy – Shiv Nadar, Premji, G.M. Rao, Vivek Oberoi

Forbes Asia published Heroes of Philanthropy list, with four Indians among the top 48 philanthropists. Four philanthropists were picked from each of the 12 markets in the region, making it a total of 48 being celebrated this year.

Philanthropists from India who are in the ‘Heroes of Philanthropy’ list are Billionaire Shiv Nadar of HCL Technologies, Azim Premji of Wipro, GMR Group founder Grandhi Mallikarjuna Rao and Bollywood actor Vivek Oberoi.

As per Forbes, a philanthropist is someone who made a huge donation or launched a big project.

Giving poor children access to education is a top priority for Indian philanthropists. For this Billionaire Shiv Nadar of HCL Technologies takes the brightest children from the poorest villages of rural India and sends them to boarding school.

India’s biggest philanthropist Azim Premji of Wipro, transferred $2 billion of his wealth to an irrevocable trust that focuses on education and children’s health and nutrition.

[advt]Infrastructure-based GMR Group founder Grandhi Mallikarjuna Rao, pledged $340 million in March, his 12.5 per cent personal stake in the business and one-eighth of his family’s share, through an irrevocable endowment to the GMR Varalakshmi Foundation works to educate and train poor youths in 20 locations in India and two in Nepal.

Bollywood actor Vivek Oberoi has donated $3 million to date and helped raise $25 million to support education, health and disaster relief.

Forbes Asia Senior Editor John Koppisch said:

“Our goal is not to rank the biggest givers by dollar amounts or percentage of assets, those figures would beimpossible to collect. Instead, the aim is to call attention to a mix of notable people and causes throughout the regionand to encourage more giving,”

The most prominent givers on the list is Hong Kong celebrity Jackie Chan.He launched the Jackie Chan Charitable Foundation in 1988 and offered scholarships and other help to young people and also include medical services, help for the poor and quick response to natural disasters.

Another donor this year is Chinese entrepreneur Cho Tak Wong of automotive glass maker Fuyao Group  handed a mix of charitable causes, including helping farmers in South-West China affected by drought.[source]

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