Li, Chau among top philanthropists honored

Cici Cao

Billionaire Li Ka-shing and the cofounder of his venture arm Horizons Ventures, Solina Chau Hoi-shuen, are among 15 individuals featured in the 2024 Forbes Asia's Heroes of Philanthropy.

Li, Hong Kong's wealthiest person, donated two devices to treat liver cancer to the University of Hong Kong and Chinese University in August, committing US$6 million (HK$46.8 million) for the machines, treatment costs for 20 patients and staff training. The noninvasive treatment uses ultrasound waves to liquefy and kill cancer cells.

Earlier this year, the Li Ka Shing Foundation donated 11 million (HK$109.13 million) to redevelop the University of Cambridge's Early Cancer Institute buildings and set up cutting-edge research facilities.

That followed a US$15 million donation in February to Stanford University for a program to nurture entrepreneurs, especially in health science and technology, and support research for therapies targeting immune-related and neurological genetic diseases.

Li has given away more than HK$30 billion through his foundation that was set up in 1980.

Chau, through her foundation , gave out HK$61.8 million to help more than 18,500 high school girls pay their 2025 university entrance exam fees - HK$3,300 per person.

The HS Chau Foundation donated S$1 million (HK$5.8 million) in February to Singapore's largest public health-care institution, SingHealth, to subsidize advanced cancer treatments for financially vulnerable women.

Others being honored are Xiaomi chairman Lei Jun, Uniqlo founder Tadashi Yanai and Indian billionaire Abhishek Lodha.

Lei pledged 1.3 billion yuan (HK$1.39 billion) to alma mater Wuhan University for its 130th anniversary.

The 54-year-old, worth an estimated US$23.2 billion, said the money will go toward research in maths, physics and computer science and to help talented students. It was the largest-ever donation from an alumnus for Wuhan University and also the largest cash donation to a Chinese university from a single individual.

Yanai pledged US$31 million to fund the study of Japanese humanities at the University of California, Los Angeles, in October.

Lodha, with his family, transferred 180 million shares in real estate company Macrotech Developers to the Lodha Philanthropy Foundation in early November. The shares were valued at 209 billion rupees (HK$19.15 billion).

cici.cao@singtaonewscorp.com