Four Singaporeans have made it to Forbes Asia’s second list of philanthropic heroes. One – Mr Chew Hua Seng (in main pic) – is relatively new to the charity scene.

He joins three familiar names on the list: the chairman of United Overseas Bank, Mr Wee Cho Yaw, 81; the head of the Lien foundation, Mrs Margaret Lien, 66; and the Kwee family, headed by Mr Kwee Liong Tek, 66, chairman of Pontiac Land, which owns luxury hotels and office buildings in Singapore.

Mr Chew, the founder and chief executive of Raffles Education Corp, a private education provider, made headlines last year when he launched the $100 million Chew Hua Seng Foundation.

The money will be disbursed over 10 years and will focus on educating disadvantaged youth, both in Singapore and the region. So far, the foundation has pledged more than $24 million and given away more than $4 million.

Forbes Asia chose 48 people in its second list of philanthropists, four from each of 12 Asia-Pacific economies.

Unlike its well-known list of Asia’s wealthiest individuals, this one does not rank them by their net worth or the amounts they donate to charity. Instead, it highlights people who have interesting altruistic pursuits, and people who give away their own money as opposed to money donated through their companies.

Some of the non-Singaporeans on the list include Hong Kong’s Mr Li Ka-Shing, who donated more than US$30 million (S$46.6 million) to victims of last year’s Sichuan earthquake, and the chairman of Indonesia’s Lippo Group, Mr James Riady, whose organisation provides free medical care, disaster relief and education services to needy Indonesians.

The four Singaporeans on last year’s list are Ms Mavis Khoo, daughter of the late hotel tycoon Khoo Teck Puat; Creative Technology boss Sim Wong Hoo; executive chairman of the Raffles Medical Group, Dr Loo Choon Yong; and founder of the Sunlove Abode for Intellectually Infirmed, Mr Wee Lin.

At 54, Mr Chew is the youngest of the four Singaporeans chosen this year. His foundation has given bursary funds to Chinese universities.

In Singapore, he made contributions to his alma mater, Monfort Secondary School, to build an indoor sports hall. The foundation has also pledged money to build a kindergarten and to help Family Service Centres.

Said Mr Chew on making this year’s list of philanthropic heroes: “I’ve never been a hero. I just want to do my part.” Last month, Mr Wee Cho Yaw and his family donated $30 million to set up a foundation to help young people continue their education, and assist the poor and aged in Singapore and Asia. It will also promote Chinese language and culture.

The Kwee family was acknowledged by Forbes for its contribution to arts and education. Mrs Lien, the widow of banker Lien Ying Chow, was lauded for her efforts in areas of elder care and education. The Lien foundation has also spent $26 million over the last four years on projects such as clean-water and sanitation systems in the region.

This article was first published in The Straits Times.