Global Wealth and Society Programme

The Global Wealth and Society programme seeks to identify the important role that the privileged have towards their respective society. In building this programme, we measure wealth, not by the amount of financial assets individuals amass but by the positive impact they create on society through sustainable projects. Projects that are close to their hearts and which they believe to affect their immediate society in a deep and profound manner.

Based on this philosophy of contribution and giving back to the society, we identify these individuals as “Champions of Philanthropy” as part of our Global Wealth and Society Awards Programme.

Over the next few weeks until early October, our research team will be adding new names to the list and will be reaching out to them as part of the awards evaluation process.

The list below profiles selected Champions and their shortlisted projects across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and the Middle East . In doing so, the list also tracks the way they are investing and deploying their wealth to bring about positive impacts on the society that they operate in.

Laurence Lien

Chairman of the Lien Foundation and CEO of the National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre (NVPC). - Singapore

As part of its unique brand of “radical philanthropy”, the Lien Foundation pioneers and propagates solutions that attempt to tackle the root of problems in eldercare and early childhood development in Singapore and improve access to clean water and sanitation among rural communities in southeast Asia. It also seeks to ensure comfort, dignity and care for the dying in Singapore as well as in south and southeast Asia. It collects basic performance metrics and progress indicators for our projects and work every step of the way with our partners to learn from the past and, where possible, preempt the challenges and needs of the future.

Li huijuan

Founder of International arts and intelligence interactive education platform - China

AIIES aims to guide and encourage young people to participate in public welfare undertakings as their own responsibility, care for the growth of young people, advocate young people have the courage to assume social responsibility, promote social balance and harmonious progress. It calls for pooling the power of global love, paying attention to the public education of young people, attaching importance to the potential of art to stimulate their balanced creativity, attracting more young people to put forward innovative public welfare ideas, embrace balanced creativity, and change the future world.

Qian Jun and Kunshan Yuting Public Welfare Foundation

- China

Kunshan Yuting Public Welfare Foundation is a public welfare organization that advocates and promotes the toilet revolution. It was founded by Mr. Qian Jun in 2014. The foundation focuses on public health, environmental ecology and other innovative public welfare fields, advocating civilized toilet and improving toilet environment. The mission of the foundation is to "focus on public health and toilet culture", and the vision is to "strive for improving human toilet environment".

Yu Guangchao

member of the CPC Committee and Chief Financial Officer of Huanghe Science and Technology College and the Secretary General of the Education Development Foundation of Huanghe Science and Technology College of Henan Province - China

Yu guangchao has devoted himself to private education. In the early stage, he broke through the loan policy and opened a door for private education in order to solve the problem of insufficient funds in private universities. Following the development direction of national education reform and the strategic positioning of the school, we have continuously explored the establishment of a standardized, applicable and efficient financial management system, and formed a sound financial operation mode of more than 20 units including Yellow River institute of science and technology and its affiliated technical secondary schools, affiliated middle schools, affiliated hospitals, training schools and factories. We will effectively strengthen and enhance the efficiency of financial management, budget management, supervision and auditing.

Mohamed Al Fayed

Owner, Hotel Ritz Paris - Egypt

The foundation's work focuses on improving the lives of traumatised, impoverished and very sick children. It extends from supporting world-renowned children’s hospitals, to children’s hospices, schools and individuals.

Mohammed Dewji

President and CEO of MeTL Group - United Arab Emirates

VPS Healthcare is a multinational healthcare group headquartered at Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. VPS Healthcare is an integrated healthcare service provider with 20 operational hospitals, over 125 medical centres, 10,000 employees and medical support services spread across the Middle East, Europe and India.

Shamsheer Vayalil Parambath

Chairman and Managing Director of VPS Healthcare - United Arab Emirates

Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

Founder Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Initiatives - United Arab Emirates

Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives was launched with the aim of making the best use of intergrated resources, and focusing on clear, well-defined developmental goals, towards which all affiliated institutions working under its umbrella shall operate. This foundation pays special attention to the challenges that face the Arab nation. 23 million people to be treated and protected from blindness and eye diseases. 2 million household supported and enabled in 40 countries. 10 million children benefited from education initiatives. 1 billion investment to create integrated enviroment for creators and innovators.

Mohammed "Mo" Ibrahim

Founder and Chair of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation - Sudan

The Mo Ibrahim Foundation is an African foundation, established in 2006 with one focus: the critical importance of governance and leadership for Africa. They believe that governance and leadership lie at the heart of any tangible and shared improvement in the quality of life of African citizens.

Mohammed Hussein Al Amoudi

Support healthcare and sport in Saudi Arabia, the US, Europe and Africa - Ethiopia

He funded a breast cancer research centre at King Abdulaziz University. In 2008, Al Amoudi funded King Saud University's an enhanced oil recovery research chair. Al Amoudi was named as one of the William J. Clinton Foundation Donors, according to information released as part of an obligation placed on former President Clinton.