Vijay Eswaran among Forbes' Philanthropy heroes Vijay Eswaran, Malaysian entrepreneur and Executive Chairman of the QI (Quest International Group) and controlling shareholder of Sri Lankan blue chip Asia Capital, features among the top 48 philanthropists in Forbes Asia's annual list of Heroes of Philanthropy in the region, The list features some of AsiaPacific's most high-profile and interesting givers to society. Four philanthropists were picked from each of the 12 markets in the region. Vijay Eswaran features as one of the four from Malaysia alongside Vincent Tan, Koon Yew Yin, and the husband & wife team of Angela & Hijjas Kasturi. Those featured
Vijay Eswaran ...
VIJay Eswaran giving away prizes to under privileged children at an event organlsed by his Foundation In Malaysia
from India include Shiv Nadar and Bollywood actor Vivek Oberoi. Vijay Eswaran, who comes from
urban and rural life by tackling poverty through productive activities, and in 2007 donated the only paeRYTHMFoundation has diatric laparoscopy machine been involved in rehain Sri Lanka to the Lady bilitation projects for some Ridgeway Hospital. As part of the most devastating of its Tsunami Rehabilitation natural disasters in recent efforts, Eswaran's RYTHM times such as the Indian Foundation set up a team of Ocean Tsunami in 2004, volunteers to distribute relief the Central Java earthquake material in affected regions in Indonesia in 2006, the in Sri Lanka and over $5 Typhoon Ondoy in the million was donated to variPhilippines in 2010 and most ous ~build1n9 projects in recently the floods in coastal the country. Sri Lanka. Vijayaratnam ., am deeply humbled by Foundation is well known this honour. I come from a for its project Footprints, family where philanthropy a mentoring program for ha~~m a way of life. My children in orphanages, parents have instilled in me Maharani, a series of eduthe value of being in sercational & empowerment vice to others from a young camps focused on adoage~ An one of my iconS lescent girls from under is M)abatma Gandhi whose privileged backgrounds te.&hings form the basis of and Taarana. a centre for RYTHM- Raise Yourself To children with learning disHelp Mankind, which led to abilities. the inception of $e RYTHM In Sri Lanka, Vijay Foundation. Eawaran has been actively involved in the Foundation of Goodness (FOGI,an organization that aims to narrow the gap between
a family of philanthropists, has been deeply involved in a number of charitable projects worldwide' through his two foundations - RYTHM and its Malaysian chapter, the Vijayaratnam Foundation. While the RYTHM Foundation, registered in Hong Kong is involved in various initiatives globally in the areas of education, disaster relief, children and community development, the Vijayaratnam Foundation, which Eswaran established in honour of his philanthropist father, is involved in youth and women empowerment, arts, culture, child mentoring and environment protection projects in Malaysia. Contd.onp3
TIle Foundation WIl8 conceived not to pnmarily be a donor or a charity, but instead to be a catalyst to innovate, inspire and implement new synergies that would allow people to stand on their own feet as opposed to looking for aid. Which is why we focus on the time and effort we are able to give people in need, as opposed to the size of the cheque. This honour is ultimately a recognition of 13 years of being in RYTHM.路 said Vijay Eswaran on being chosen as one of the 48 Heroes.