Three Thais make the list of Forbes' seventh 'Heroes of Philanthropy ...

Home ? business ? Three Thais make the list of Forbes' seventh 'Heroes of Philanthropy'

The Nation June 1, 2013 1:00 am

Some of these altruists have embarked on big projects - funding new departments at universities or launching campaigns to improve the lives of the rural poor. Others aim to make their mark in more targeted ways, paying for holiday homecomings for low-income workers or boosting a city's library system.

Some are billionaires who have built wealthy foundations and are now wrestling with issues of transition. Others are famous singers or actors who are using their star power to promote their favourite causes.

All are leaving the region a powerful legacy - whether it's museums, symphony orchestras, a global project to eradicate polio, rural kindergartens, free health clinics or help for war refugees.

Kree, 50, chief operating officer of SC Asset, is on the list for his role in the real-estate development company's donations to school libraries, hospitals, flood victims and people with disabilities. Last year he focused on nutrition, giving US$70,000 (Bt2.1 million) so that 1,300 children could have a good breakfast, while enlisting hospitals and the governments to put nutrition programmes in place. Next he plans aid for new mothers and infants.

Heinecke, 64, founder and chief executive officer of Minor International, is recognised for his patronage of the displaced and for elephants in Thailand, where he has been a citizen since 1991. Over the past 10 years he has donated more than $1 million to help elephants and their mahouts. His assistance has ranged from providing medical care to opening a protected retirement ranch for elephants - culminating in an annual high-profile fund-raising elephant polo match.

Piriya, 71, a retired professor of art history, is recognised for the establishment of the Piriya Krairiksh Foundation to promote art, which challenges orthodox beliefs and encourages research into the art history of Thailand and nearby countries. The foundation also sponsors lectures, publications, research and study trips as well as providing scholarships. On the agenda for 2015: a conference about the region's art history to coincide with the launch of greater economic integration for Asean countries.

Sukum, 88, chairman of City Sports & Recreation, has through his Sukumo Foundation contributed more than $3 million to educational and cultural activities. He chairs the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra Foundation, which promotes classical music and music education. He is also a long-standing patron of Huachiew Chalermprakiet University and Sukum Navapan Uppatum School. In addition, he is an active member of the Thai Olympic Committee and the Table Tennis Association.

According to Forbes, the selections are subjective: Figures for contributions are not always available, so a ranking by size of donations is not possible. Instead the project aims for a mix of people and causes. Forbes also tries to identify an entirely new group of philanthropists each year, though a few people return to the list because of a newsworthy donation or project.

And it picks only true philanthropists - people who are giving their own money, not their company's (unless they own most of the company), because donating shareholder funds is not charity.

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