Dubai: Dr B R Shetty, well-known entrepreneur and philanthropist, joined hands with Rashid Centre for Disabled to enhance infrastructure and enrich lives of the special children whom it nurtures. As a first step, he sponsored a classroom at the centre in Dubai. Marking the occasion, the re-furbished classroom was inaugurated by Dr Shetty and the guest of honour HH Sheikh Ahmed Bin Dalmook Al Maktoum, member of the Board of Rashid Centre for Disabled, in the presence of Mariam Othman, general manager of the centre.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr B R Shetty said, “Rashid Centre is doing commendable work in helping the special children face challenges of the modern world. This humble contribution from my end is toward helping them with the right infrastructure to develop their skills. It is also a token of my appreciation for the herculean efforts of the management and staff of the centre to give a brighter future to the children.”

Mariam Othman, general manager, Rashid Centre for Disabled said, “We have been attempting to make a positive difference in the lives of our special children. But it is support from the warm-hearted individuals like Dr Shetty that gives us the needed encouragement to continue. I wholeheartedly thank him for this noble gesture, which would be setting a great example for others to emulate.”

Dr B R Shetty’s principal investment portfolio includes significant holdings in NMC Health PLC, UAE Exchange, Travelex and Neopharma, as well as investments in hospitality, food and beverage businesses. He is the executive vice chairman and CEO of NMC Health PLC, the UAE’s largest private sector healthcare provider, which is listed in the London Stock Exchange and is part of the FTSE-250 index. He is the chairman of UAE Exchange, a leading global money transfer, foreign exchange and payment solutions brand, headquartered in the UAE. It was founded in 1980 and has a presence spanning 31 countries with close to 800 branches. Dr Shetty occupies the vice chairman’s position in Travelex, a leading independent retail foreign exchange business. It has a globally diversified geographic footprint, which includes almost 1,500 stores and over 1,300 ATMs in 27 countries. Neopharma meanwhile is a state-of-the-art pharmaceutical manufacturing unit in Abu Dhabi.

The fact that all his business entities are service-oriented in spirit reflects his profound humane side, which shines with examples of support to various humanitarian and environmental causes. He was among the first to stand up for the victims of natural disasters like tsunami in India; floods in Pakistan and Philippines; earthquake in India and Nepal and many more. Through his business entities, Dr Shetty also partners with the likes of UNICEF and UNWFP to spread smiles among children world over. The support to Rashid Centre was one such gesture for the welfare of the children, who are the future.