KUALA LUMPUR (June 29): Tan Sri Lim Wee Chai, the executive chairman of the world's largest rubber glove manufacturer Top Glove Corp Bhd, has been named by Forbes Asia as among the 40 individuals in its annual list of Heroes of Philanthropy in Asia.

In a statement, Forbes Asia said Lim, 59, is recognised as a "notable giver" by virtue of his philanthropic arm Top Glove Foundation, in which he currently chairs the board of trustees.

According to Forbes Asia, it picked only true philanthropists — people who are giving their own money, not their company's (unless they own most of the company), because the money and finance magazine does not consider donating shareholder funds as charity.

Since its establishment in June 2009, Forbes Asia noted the Top Glove Foundation — started by Lim and his wife, Puan Sri Tong Siew Bee — has donated about US$5 million to various causes, with a focus on education.

Lim was among 40 individuals named in Forbe Asia's annual Heroes of Philanthropy, which spans across 14 countries in Asia Pacific.

For every year since 2008, Forbes Asia said the list not only features philanthropists who have made the news with their donations in the past year but also recognises those with a long record of supporting worthy causes.

Other notable names in "Heroes of Philantrophy" include Charles Chen, the founder of Internet value-added service firm Tencent, and Neil Shen, the Founding Partner of private equity firm, Sequoia China.