Inspirational Men & Woman

Stacy Cohen is the wife of tech savvy entrepreneur and philantropist Mouli Cohen.  Israel born Mouli Cohen businesses created thousands of jobs in United States and generated more than $3 billion in stockholder value.  So there should be no one who don’t know the famous couple whom I heard travel with their Asus everywhere they go.  And since they are so busy - with Stacy being an author to her own book called Kosher Billionaire’s Secret Recipe - I guess it’s important to have gadgets - like skype phones and LCD monitors   around you all day eh.  Raised and born in Texas - she converted to Judaism and offers her reader her personal guidelines to living a kosher life grounded in spirituality.  There are real recipes in her book and it is said to be a well being nutritional program for all.  Overall, I think Stacy Cohen’s lifestyle may not be for all - but the philanthropy part from Mouli Cohen may be a lot more interesting to some.

Dr. Pallavi Patel, accomplished pediatrician, entrepreneur and philanthropist, had always wanted to make a difference in the world.  A native of Ahmedabad, India, she worked with her physician husband, Dr. Kiran C. Patel, in Zambia for many years before coming to Tampa in 1982. In Tampa, she was soon making a major difference in her community.  The Patels started a medical practice which quickly expanded to 22 locations offering family and internal medicine, pediatrics and cardiology.  By pursuing managed healthcare contracts, these practices serviced more than 90,000 patient visits annually.  Eventually their efforts led to the formation and success of Wellcare HMO.  By the time they sold their majority interest in that company in 2002, it served over 400,000 members and employed more than 1200 people in Florida and New York.

Dr. Pallavi Patel and her husband, Dr. Kiran C. Patel recently announced a $5 million gift to the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center to establish a school in her name. She also co-founded the Annual Indian Festival at the Sun Dome at the University of South Florida. In Tampa Bay, the Patels have helped establish a charter school to meet the needs of at-risk children. Dr. Pallavi Patel was inducted into the Florida Women’s Hall of Fame. This is the first time an Indian woman has been extended such an honor in the US.

What a unique name right?  Divine Lee - Oh so Divine - so appropriate?  No i don’t know her personally but I was looking for blinds & shades and came across this magazine during one of my work assignment in Philippines.   So instead of looking for unique shades and blinds I was distracted and read up more on Divine Lee - only to end up feeling really proud of this young lady.

You see she is born an heiress but nothing like a spoilt brat in the same league as Paris Hilton but someone who is passionate about fashion and design - not interior design but clothing.  She is passionate about it and someone who believes in hard work and she should know because she worked in the mall when she first started.  Divine reminds me more of Ivana Trump - who once said that she wasn’t going to be an heiress who dance on tables without underwear.   She also takes an active role in her family business and someone with her own voice. Divine Lee looks up to her father and if you don’t know by now is the daughter of Delphin Lee the heiress to real estate giant Globe Asiatique who is also a well known philanthropist.   I wished that more young, rich and famous could be more like Divine Lee - because people look up to them and use them as a model.

We should have more people like Abdul Edhi in this world - why?  because he is known also as the Mother Teresa of Karachi - or the equivalent.  Abdul and his wife apparently worked with people and helping them for a long, long time and they are folks who doesn’t like the publicity either.  Folks like Abdul and his wife are proof that you do not need to be very rich nor very educated to care and help others.  They are totally committed to helping the poor and needy.

Abdul started the Edhi Foundation on his own in a one room office but is now one of the largest welfare organization in Pakistan.  The foundation now has over 300 centers across the country providing medical care, family planning and emergency assistance.   The foundation refuses to get any help from the government to maintain its independence and in 1985 the foundation received the Nishan - e - Imtiaz from the Government of Pakistan and in recognition of their services the Government of Philippines awarded Abdul and his wife the Magsavay award.

For those who are not aware of this - I worked in the hospitality industry for many years before migrating to Canada in the name of love.  Working a  customer service representative work -   is not as easy as you think - or see - because back home in Asia - we bend backwards to keep our in house guests happy.  So when I first came to Canada and our the hotel room wasn’t reserved for us as planned - and no apologies given - I cannot but wonder how people survive here in the hospitality industry.

Back home to work in the hospitality industry - you have to go to a school called the SHATEC - Singapore Hotel Association & Training, Entertaining and Catering for 2 years and you pay for it - thousands of dollars to get into a hotel. Of course, here in the West - you are indeed lucky - you can become a front desk clerk - without the school.   But yes - you have to admire the customer service people - because they deal with all sorts of people.  Sure we all hope for great in house guests or paying customers - but some customers can be really nasty and abusive.  Plus when you work in a hotel - and on a night shift with drunk customers coming back from night club - you really need to be very tactful - inside story.   Having said all the above - I’ve had great joy working in the hotels i worked for and I’ve gain so much experiences from them - I learned a lot and brought it a long with me - when i came to Canada.

This Japanese lady who is 75 years old lives in Italy - married to an Italian businessman who died in 1982 - leaving her a fortune.  But she decided long ago - that her mission in life is to support the arts and help fund many, many orchestras and musician.  Ardent supporter of the New York’s Carnegie Hall since 2005.  Underwrote the New York Philharmonic’s first concert in Pyongyang on Feb. 26, as well as its show in Seoul two days later. As part of the tour, music students in North Korea took classes with Philharmonic musicians and attended their rehearsal.

Yoko’s favorite quote is :”I know nothing about politics, I don’t care about the conflicts between North Korea, Japan, United States. I love music and music is a universal language. I am pleased I can make the concert possible, I hope it can contribute to peace”  And more people should be like her.

I’ve actually only know more about Carol Channing after listening forever to this song “Diamonds Are The Girl’s Best Friend”.  Carol was the original singer of this song in Broadway - or rather introduced this song to everyone.  And in most places that I’ve seen Carol in ?  are award shows - so I’ve often wondered who this person is.

Born in 1921, she is an singer and an actress - won 3 Tonys and including a lifetime achievement, a Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination.  Married 4 times - she now resides in California with her 4th husband - her high school sweetheart.  Ahhh - so sweet!

I don’t know much about James Woller but an article I read online - made me stopped and thought for a bit that if everyone would be a little like James Woller - wouldn’t this world be a much better place.  Why? James Woller can be a lot of things - afterall, has a BA in International Affairs with a concentration on Economic Development.  But instead - he is helping children who were abandoned, orphaned or destitute and is permanently now in Bulembu.  Where ? i hear you asking.  Yes where is Bulembu indeed.  Bulembu is located in Swaziland  - not Switzerland ok - Swaziland is somewhere in South Africa.

James Woller works with AIDs orphans, helping them with developing a life skill - also creating AIDs awareness within the public school system to bring understanding of the illness to children.  I cannot imagine what the condition of the place is - but it cannot be anything like where we are - now his hometown Vancouver.  It takes are really “big” man to leave the comfort of everything to do something so incredible and selfless.  That’s James Woller - I hope the world has more James Woller.

Known to be Asian 10 biggest philanthropist - at 57 runs Hon Hai Precision in Taiwan- also known to be Taiwan’s richest man with a fortune at $5.5 billion - is said to turn over his massive wealth to charity before he dies. His philanthropy focusing mainly on health care - last year alone funded a medical research for $500 million for the Taiwan University.  Wow! right?  $500 million is a lot of money!  for someone with that kind of wealth - i’m sure he uses some good document management software for all his work and personal properties.

His company is now the world’s largest contract manufacturer after leapfrogging Flextronics. Shares in its majority-owned international division Foxconn, have tripled in value since they were listed last year in Hong Kong. Gou’s annual salary: 3 cents (NT$1). Last year, he announced he would live off Hon Hai’s dividends, even though he is still keeps workaholic hours as chairman and president of the company he founded. Also put a chunk of his shares in a trust to pay employee bonuses. After his wife’s sad death from cancer last year, Gou has been receiving flowers and attention from hopeful women.

Amazingly generous - Yu Peng Nian - 88 yrs of age - gave everything away last month - to a foundation - he established 5 yrs ago.  I’m sure it rocked China - in a huge way -= what this philanthropist did.  Coming from a poor background but now a real - estate magnate - who would think that he would not leave anything for his family but to aid his pet causes – student scholarships, reconstruction after the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, and paying for operations for those like him who suffer from cataracts.  His total donation is entirely what he had  3.2 billion yuan (about $500-million).

Mr Yu was asked if his children were upset about his donation?  in which he had replied that if they were capable - they would have made their own fortune.  He also made sure that none of his donation will ever get inherited.  Harsh perhaps..?  or eccentric like he is well - known for ?  As a multi-millionaire i hear he doesn’t really display his wealth but chose to live in a hotel - his own perhaps..and eat in the restaurant like the rest of the people.

Mr. Yu, who is ranked the 432nd richest person in mainland China, has topped the Hurun Report lists of the country’s top philanthropists four years running – and will certainly do so again this year – leading by example as the idea of large-scale giving has quietly taken hold among a growing number of China’s superwealthy. His rag to riches story is quite inspiring i must say.  A man who doesn’t care what others say but just to make himself happy.  Wished i could say the same too eh.