The Good Club is the most exclusive of clubs. The members are a tiny group of global elite and billionaire philanthropists. Their combined net worth is estimated to be around $125 billion and they have been instrumental in improving the lives of millions of people across the world and now they are working to save the planet. With members like Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, Oprah Winfrey, David Rockefeller and Ted Turner the club inspires others to give and help the underprivileged.
The wealth in Asia is multiplying faster than the rest of the world but philanthropy as a concept is yet to establish itself in the region. Despite long traditions of charity the rich are hesitant in giving away. Bill Gates and Warren Buffet have been sharing their experiences with the rich and encouraging them to give. It has had a profound impact on the new super rich of the region. Brian Yim, founder of MillionaireAsia, a regional multi-channel platform has launched a similar club called the Legacy Club that will help members to network at the highest levels and engage in philanthropic activities. Some of the members of the new club already have established institutions and foundations that are doing good work for philanthropy.
Mohamad Nasheed, president of the Maldives; Tan Sri Francis Yeoh, managing director of YTL Corporation; Kevin Yeong, chairman of Unicef’s Special Fundraising Committee; and Dr Keith Goh, neurosurgeon and chairman of the Make-A-Wish Foundation Singapore have agreed to sign up as members with the Legacy Club. There are some members who don’t want their membership publicized. Brian Yim hopes that this club will create an opportunity for high net worth individuals to be in the same club as tycoons, billionaires, royalty, heads of state and individuals who have made an impact on society. The high membership fees will partially benefit charities like Maiti Nepal, Make-A-Wish Foundation Singapore, Living Hope, East Bali Poverty Project and Unicef.
The club has been launched at the right time as charitable and philanthropic giving appears to be rising alongside wealth in Asia. 42-year-old Chinese billionaire Chen Guangbiao put it very appropriately when he likened wealth to water and said, “You have a glass of water, you drink it. You have a bucket of water, you keep it in your house. If you have a river, you must learn how to share it with others.†Datin Paulene Tunku Mu’tamir of the royal house of Negri Sembilan is a prospective member who has a track record of giving to orphanages and charities from behind the scene. She thinks that Legacy Club is an exciting concept and people like her who have been fortunate to live a life of privilege must give back to society.
Yim has laid out ambitious plans for the club. They are already supporting one charity in every country but their contributions are insignificant at the moment. With more members coming on board ambitious charity projects will be rolled out. Legacy has philanthropic aims but it is a lifestyle club in its core. The membership of the club comes with many privileges like investment opportunities, luxury hotel suite stays and wellness retreats, priority booking for private jets and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. All members will receive a Legacy Constellation Quest Smartphone as a welcome gift.
Malaysia was chosen for the first regional rollout for the Legacy Club as the interest shown by Malaysians was the strongest. It has given the club some sort of a trial run before the grand official launch in Singapore on December 13. The event will be held in a state-of-the-art private aviation hangar with a patented two-level aircraft carousel. The event will be grand in every which way with flight and golf simulators, super cars, fashion shows and live entertainment.
Sunway Group founder and chairman, Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah is the newest member of the club and he is hosting a party at his ultra-luxurious property, the Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat in Perak to celebrate the occasion. Almost fifty requests for attending the party had to be turned down because of fear of overcrowding. Cheah feels Legacy is a good platform because he explains that his motto has always been to aspire to inspire before I expire. And Cheah like to talk about his philanthropic work. Ajay Piramal, the wealthy industrialist from India said that in the Asian tradition people don’t generally talk about their philanthropic work but now Gates and Buffet encourage them to talk about it as people are looking for role models.
Legacy, the ultra-exclusive privilege program of MillionaireAsia is a good start. With influential and powerful members it hopes to energize people and take life-changing initiatives. It is evident that the rich people in the region are not doing enough and they need to do more. However the trend has taken root and is bound to grow at a fast pace with platforms like Legacy encouraging the rich to give more. The club will not only facilitate the process but create initiatives that would take the trend forward.
Via: thestar
