yewYin, ana the USband and wne team of Angela and Hijjas Kasturi. Those featured from India include Shiv Nadar and Bollywood actor Vivek Oberoi. Vijay Eswaran, who comes from 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 educa- and business leadership forums. Most recenttion, disaster relief, children and community ly he was a panelist at the WEF's East Asia development, the Vijayaratnam Foundation, Summit in Jakarta and the Commonwealth which Eswaran established in honour of his Business Forum of the CHOGM in Trinidad philanthropist father, is involved in youth & Tobago. VIJAY Eswaran, Malaysian entreand women empowerment, arts, culture, In late 2006, he was conferred with the honpreneur and Executive Chairman child mentoring and environment protection orary title 'Dato' by His Royal Highness The of the QI Group and controlling projects in Malaysia. Sultan of Pahang in Malaysia and is hence shareholder of Sri Lankan blue RYTHM Foundation has been involved in kno~ as Dato' Vijay Eswaran in Malaysia. chip Asia Capital, features among rehabilitation projects for some of the most He IS the recipient of the International the top 48 philanthropists in devastating natural disasters in recent t~ Excellence in Business award from GOPIO Forbes Asia's annual list of Heroes such as the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2001, (Global Organisation for People of Indian of Philanthropy in the region. the Central Java earthquake in Indonesia in Origin) and was conferred with an honorary The list features some of Asia2006, the Typhoon Ondoy in the Philippines ?octo:ate in management by SMC University Pacific's most high-profile and in 2010 and most recently the floods in coastal SWitzerland. ,. interesting givers to society. Four Sri Lanka. Vijayaratnam Foundation is well'-"~~---~------'---------.....4 philanthropists were picked from known for its project Footprints, a mentoreach of the 12 markets in th ing programme for children in orphanages, ion. Maharani, a series of educational & empower___ -ment camps focused on adolescent girls from under privileged backgrounds and Taarana, a centre for children with learning disabilities. Vljay Eswaran features as one of the fo In Sri Lanka, Vijay Eswaran has been from Malaysia alongside Vincent Tan, Koon actively involved in the Foundation of ~~;--.:i~==::;;;;;;;;;;;:=~ Goodness (FOG), an organisation that aims to • narrow the gap between urban and rural life in Sri Lanka by tackling poverty through productive activities, and in 2007 donated the only paediatric laparoscopy machine in Sri Lanka "Some are ig tycoons, even billiona s, to the Lady Ridgeway Hospital. As part of who have a large vision of how best to help its tsunami rehabilitation efforts, Eswaran's society and have donated millions or dollars RYTHM Foundation set up a team of volunto back up that vision. Others are little-known teers to distribute relief material in affected citizens who are extremely generous with regions in Sri Lanka and over $5 million was their limited funds," said Forbes Asia Senior donated to various rebuilding projects in the Editor John Koppisch. country. He said the magazine's goal is not to rank "I am deeply humbled by this honour. I the biggest givers by dollar amounts or per- come from a family where philanthropy has centage of assets, as those figures would be been a way of life. My paren have instilled impossible to collect. "Instead, the aim is to in me the value of being in service to others call attention to a mix of notable people and from a young age. And oJ.le of my icons is causes throughout the region and to encour- Mahatma Gandhi whose teachings form the agemoregiving,"headded. basis of RYTHM - Raise Yourself To Help Dr.Vijay Eswaran, the Executive Chairman Mankind, which led to the inception of the of the multinational conglomerate, QI Group RYTHM Foundation. of Companies, is a successful entrepreneur, The Foundation was conceived not to prta bestselling author, well-known speaker and marily be a donor or a charity, but instead to committed philanthropist. He is the author be a catalyst to innovate, inspire and impleof the highly successful book In the Sphere ment new synergies that would allow people of Silence, translated into 6 languages and to stand on their own feet as opposed to lookthree other books on life management - In the ing for aid Which is why we focus on the time Thinking Zone, 18Stepping Stones and On the and effort we are able to give people in need, Wmgs of Thought. as opposed to the size of the cheque. This A highly respected motivatioDal speaker, Dr. honour is ultimately a reco~tion of 13years Eswaran lectures around the world on a vari- of being in RYTHM," says V1:jayEswaran on ety of subjects ranging from spirituality to I being chosen as one of the 48 Heroes. business at leading universities, management
Vijay Eswaran in Forbes Philanthropy Heroes list
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