Philipp Graf von Hardenberg Featured in Forbes Asia's 40 Heroes of Philanthropy

Thanyapura Phuket's President and CEO, Philipp Graf von Hardenberg, has been named as one of Forbes Asia's 40 Heroes of Philanthropy for giving underprivileged children a much-needed boost through the post-tsunami establishment of the Yaowawit School and Lodge in Phang Nga, Thailand.

The German national - who has helped reinforce Thanyapura's standing as Asia's leading sports training, education and healthy lifestyle institution since coming on board in February 2014 - is joined on the ninth annual list by the 'most noteworthy givers' from 13 Asia Pacific countries, people 'who have compiled a long record of supporting worthy causes'.

Mr Graf von Hardenberg also set up Steven Spielberg's Shoah Foundation in Germany, a non-profit organisation that recorded the video testimonies of Holocaust survivors.

From 1996 to 1999 Mr Graf von Hardenberg headed the Advisory and Executive Board of the International School Berlin/Brandenburg. He was also a manager at Hotel Le Beau-Rivage, Lausanne, The Savoy Hotel, London and the Hotel Gravenbruch Kempinski, Frankfurt, before joining Ritz-Carlton Hotels in 1987 and becoming its Senior Vice President for Development and Operations in 1993.

"At the Yaowawit School it has always been about a team effort. From day one our team has worked passionately, tirelessly and with a big heart to turn my vision into a successful reality – ten years on and going stronger than ever," said Mr Graf von Hardenberg. "Given we're a self-funding, government-approved boarding school, we rely on the kindness of others. Luckily, we have received amazing support from our generous partners, donors and sponsors from around the world, with more than US$ 5 million raised since the school opened in 2006."

Other names on the Heroes of Philanthropy list include Nepal billionaire Binod Chaudhary, who turned his eight schools into shelters and facilitated food, water and medical supplies following the 2015 Nepal earthquake. Australian billionaire Len Ainsworth made the list after donating US$ 30 million to hospitals, universities and other causes over the past three years, while in 2014 husband and wife billionaires Pan Shiyi and Zhang Xin from China pledged an incredible US$ 100 million to fund overseas study by Chinese undergraduates at the world's top universities.