Inspirational Men & Woman

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.

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.

Bhai Patwant Singh is a famous Sikh writer, commentator, journalist, editer and publisher, as well as a frequent TV presenter. He was born in New Delhi on March 28, 1925. He grew up and carried out his school and University education in Delhi. He began his career in the family business of building and engineering but soon merged these interests with his love for writing. He started up his first periodical, The Indian Builder, in 1953 as publisher. In 1957, he unveiled his most influential journal, Design, the only magazine of its kind in the world at that time.

Singh wrote over 10 books on history, politics and international affairs. His latest ‘Empire of the Sikhs: The Life and Times of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’ was released in Washington DC on June 18. Educated in Delhi, Patwant Singh, who made headlines with path-breaking Design magazine before turning his focus to issues that the Sikh community was grappling with, authored a definitive biography of Bhagat Puran Singh and several books about Sikhs.

As Chairman of a family Trust, Patwant Singh established a unique rural medical facility in the state of Haryana in 1977. The Kabliji Hospital and Rural Health Centre is today acknowledged as a one-of-a-kind initiative in providing medical coverage and promoting preventive health in rural India. It was born out of Patwant Singh’s conviction that very little was being done for the medical and educational needs of the rural population in India, and that private initiative must play a role in providing these. A school was also founded next to the hospital a few years later. Both continue to flourish.
Travel

He travelled to many countries, often as a guest of their governments. Among these are Germany, USA, UK, Sweden, Australia, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.

I have never met teachers who worked with special kids till coming to Canada and because my kid’s class has a special kid.  Having to explain why this good kid is different to my kid was a wee tough but seeing how one of her teacher dealt with this special kid was very touching.  The patience and the kindness from this teacher really taught me something - it touched a sentimental chord in me.  One can never imagine - what a teacher like that have to go thru’ daily - everyday is a new challenge - for i know one day - the kid ran outta the class into the streets because she thought that recess bell was the going home bell.

So at the end of the school year - we all decided to chip in and get this special teacher a gift - a thank you gift - even though she wasn’t dealing with my kid - but I figured it would be a thoughtful thing to do as well for a teacher so special.  So we decided to get her an ipod touch and I read up on some ipod reviews to make sure we get the right ipod for her but instead chose a ipod nano for her gift.  Why?  with an ipod touch - she needed a subscription to go online where else the ipod nano - she can just use it for her daily walking and exercises - that was all she needed according to the rest of the parents in school.  Yes ! special teachers deserve something special from parents - regardless whether it’s your special kid - we should all honor and appreciate these “special” teachers.

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.

Shirley Douglas is the mother of Kiefer Sutherland from 24 - the tv series that had been running for years now.  It is only today that I learned about this - and what a beauty she was - i mean she still looked really stunning for her age.   I bet if she was living in Asia - her dad would need some good deadbolt locks to keep the suitors/admirers out hahahah!!   But of course in the West - things are quite different and locks are only meant to keep the crooks out and not those who genuinely admire their daughters.

Shirley Douglas, the daughter of the Greatest Canadian, Tommy Douglas carries on his legacy by being actively involved in lobbying federal and provincial government officals to retain and improve Canadians’ medicare system.

In 1965, Shirley married Douglas Sutherland - the year i was born and moved to California, where she actively protested against the Vietnam War and helped to establish Firends of the Black Panthers.  Refused a US work permit, she eventually returned to Canada in 1977.  Her had many acting role after returning home and in 2000, Shirley received a Gemini Award for Best Featured Actress in the 1999 television film, Shadow Lake, an honourary doctorate from Ryerson Polytechnic University in 2001, and the diamond award from the Variety Club.

Sheela Murthy is a successful immigration lawyer and founder of the Murthy Law firm  . Sheela’s story  showcases the ability of philanthropists in the U.S. to live, give and do business in both worlds, India and the U.S. Sheela moved from India in the 80s and graduated from Harvard Law School. She started her own law firm in 1994 in Maryland with a liaison office in Chennai. The Murthy Law Firm was honored in 2008 with the Maryland International Global Award for contributing to international issues. Ernst & Young also honored Sheela as  Entrepreneur of the Year in 2009.  She is listed among the top 100 women in Maryland.

In addition to business success, Sheela was named 2009 Philanthropist of the Year by United Way Central Maryland for her $1 million gift. Sheela and her husband started the  MurthyNayak Foundation  to support projects in India and the U.S. The Foundation focuses their work on children and women’s health and educational issues, programs that assist immigrants, and disaster relief efforts. In India, the Foundation supports adult education and literacy, orphanages and old-age homes, and offers scholarships.

I was reading on  www.sensareviews.net about my health but instead was distracted when i saw a newspaper article on Margaret Mitchell this morning.  You see I am inspired by Margaret Mitchell - and hoped that all MPs in Canada or anywheres in the world would be more courageous like Margaret.  Margaret Mitchell is a MP for NDP in Canada and in 1982 - when she raised the issue of violence against women she was laughed at in the House of Commons but that did not stopped Margaret Mitchell there.  The outcry from women brought national attention to the issue - and Margaret Mitchell made sure - she was heard.  And heard she was because till today - there are people still going up to her and talking about that incident.

A social worker by professional -and how can i not be inspired by her when she was the only MP who was against the pay raise for MPs and then donated hers to charity and thus went to the Margaret Mitchell Fund for Women.   When I think of Margaret - what I do for my community is not even 10% of what she did. She is not only the voice for immigration, housing, status of the women here, health and welfare and multiculturalism and citizenship.  Yes - she inspires me - and i hope she will more people in the parliament and do the right thing for the people in Canada - we need more people who would do things for the greater good and not for their own good.

We all loved pilots - whether they are female or male - but i think we don’t come across many female pilot but born in 1971 - from Quebec - Maryse Carmichael is not only a pilot but a Captain. She is not a commercial pilot but one with the Canadian Air Force.  Maryse is not an ordinary pilot, she is what we called  a VIP pilot - those that flies the Prime Minister or the Governor General of Canada.  If you want a model for a top rated diet pill , Maryse Carmichael is definitely the candidate - till today - she is still as fit.

In November 2000, she became the first female pilot to fly with the Canadian Forces’ national aerobatic team, the Snowbirds.  In 2001, she was promoted to the rank of Major.  She is married to Major Scott Greenough who is also a pilot with the Canadian Forces.  By 2006, posted to 3 Wing Bagotville, she was name one of the top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada in the category of Trailblazer by the Women’s Executive Network.  I’m in awe when I hear about the Snowbirds - they were here for two consecutive years.

Harmony Rice is close to home exactly like the  smoke shop for the outlaws- because i read the Spirit Magazine all the time - born in 1979 - she is the publisher and writer for Spirit Magazine.  She is a Pottawatomi/Cayuga writer, performer and a multimedia artist from Wasauksing First Nation in Ontario.  Raised as a jingle dress dancer, hand drum singer and ceremony girl in Wasauksing.

Harmony Rice was published in a motherhood anthology called Between Interruptions and is the host of a television show called When the Music Speaks on Sun TV.  She also received the 2008 Youth Entrepreneur Award from the Waubetek Buisness Development Corporation.  She is developing a SPIRIT Magazine television show and is producing the 4th annual SPIRIT Music Issue CD compilation.

Rice is on the Board of Directors for the Harmony Movement, a national non profit race relations organization and she is on the Youth Engagement Program Advisory for the Laidlaw Foundation.  She is also the co-treasurer for the Association for Native Development in the Performing and Visual Arts. A woman with many hats and full of achievement.