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Four Indonesians tycoons are among the most generous in the Asia Pacific region, according to a list of philanthropist “heroes.”
The list, compiled by Forbes Asia magazine for the third year, features 48 of the region's most prominent givers.

They were chosen from 12 countries — Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand.

James Riady, the 50-year-old chairman of Lippo, was included in the list for starting and continuing to support Yayasan Obi, a humanitarian relief organization that has provided free medical care to more than a million people since 1999. He was also credited for his family's support of schools and hospitals. The Jakarta Globe is associated with Lippo.

Also on the list was Putera Sampoerna, the 59-year-old founder of the Sampoerna Foundation, a group focused on improving public education in the country, training teachers and supporting model schools. He has recently pledged $150 million to the foundation over the next decade.

The co-founder of investment firm Saratoga Investama Sedaya, Edwin Soeryadjaya, 58, also got a mention for funding microcredit programs, schools and humanitarian groups. Edwin had helped rebuild his family fortune, which is now worth $250 million, after his father lost nearly $2 billion covering debts of another son in the early 1990s.

George Tahija, 49, and Sjakon Tahija, 54, sons of late mining tycoon Julius Tahija, also made the list. Through the family’s foundation, Yayasan Tahija, the two have sponsored schools in Banda Aceh, supported a US Centers for Disease Control program to reduce dengue fever, donated land for nature reserves and supported other causes.

Among the most notable honorees is Chen Shu-Chu, a 59-year-old who Forbes said has been selling vegetables in Taiwan's Taitung central market since 1963 and who had to drop out of school to support her family. Her donations include $32,000 for a children's fund in 2004 and $144,000 to help build a library at the school she once attended. She plans to set up a $313,000 fund this year to help poor people access education and health care.

“These aren’t always the biggest givers,” said John Koppisch, associate editor of Forbes Asia.

“Instead we aim to highlight a varied group of generous people, some holdovers from last year but mostly new names who deserve recognition.

“By calling attention to these 48 we hope to encourage more giving,” he said in a statement.

Forbes Asia said the past year was a good one for philanthropy as tycoons and more modest donors continued to fund charitable projects.

The causes supported ranged from disaster recovery, education and health to culture and science, with education being a top choice among featured philanthropists this year.

Australian Elisabeth Murdoch, the 101-year-old mother of News Corp’s chief Rupert Murdoch, was honored, along with the country’s richest man, Fortescue Metals founder Andrew Forrest, who was praised for bringing jobs and development to Aborigine communities.  

Reuters, JG