Kiran Mazumdar Shaw is most notable giver, focus on cancer

New Delhi, May 30: Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, PNC Menon, Vineet Nayar and Ronnie Screwvala - figure in Forbes Asia magazine's list of Asia-Pacific's most remarkable "givers".

The annual list of 'Heroes of Philanthropy' is compiled by Forbes Asia magazine and features 48 persons from the the Asia-Pacific region.

"The selections are subjective and we aim for a mix of notable people and causes. We also try to identify new philanthropists each year and pick only true philanthropists who are giving their own money, not their company's because donating shareholder's funds is not charity," Forbes Asia Senior Editor John Koppisch said.

The article on the list leads with Biocon's founder and chief Kiran Mazumdar Shaw and the magazine calls her as one of "the most notable givers". She is working to improve cancer care and has pledged to give away 75 per cent of her wealth.

Biocon's founder and chief Kiran Mazumdar Shaw

She is the most notable giver. She is working to improve cancer care and has pledged to give away 75 per cent of her wealth. Since 2005 she's donated some $33 million to philanthropic causes, and diagnosing and researching the disease and caring for patients. In 2009 she built in Bangalore the 1,400-bed Mazumdar-Shaw Cancer Center. She aims to blend good-quality cancer treatment with affordable care. At the cancer center there's a tumor board, which evaluates each case determines the treatment regimen for every patient. The board has a radiotherapist, a medical oncologist, a pain specialist, a speech and swallowing expert, a financial expert and a sociologist.

Sobha Developers' Chairman Emeritus PNC Menon

To give away half his estimated $435 million fortune. The Sri Kurumba Trust, his family's charitable arm has adopted four villages in his native Kerala state in 2006 and helps families with a monthly income below $90. On a 10-acre site it runs Sobha Hermitage, a home for senior citizens and young widows; Sobha Academy, a free school for more than 700 poor children; and a medical center.

HCL Technologies Vice Chairman Vineet Nayar

Sold some shares in the outsourcing company in 2010 for $7.8 million and the rest of his stake for $24 million last year to invest in Sampark, a charity started with his wife, Anupama. It mission is to "create a million smiles." It works with local governments to improve schools, fund social ventures and expand water supply.

Entertainment mogul Rohinton 'Ronnie' Screwvala

He plans to spend $180 million over 5 years to uplift 1 million villagers in Maharashtra. Half will come from him, half from Indian and overseas philanthropists. His aim is to increase access to education, health care and clean water, ultimately to make the villagers self-sufficient.