Bhiku Patel, Co-Chairman
"Over 40 years Vijay and I have invested in charitable projects across the UK, India, and Africa; focussing on health, shelter and education. We are delighted that our children and their families are taking on this mantle. We look to them to continue our tradition of entrepreneurship, to invest in the local and national economy, and to support charitable causes across the world. We endeavour to help those in greatest need in their daily lives and during periods of crisis resulting from catastrophic events. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we sent financial aid to India, and won The Seva Ratna Sanam Award for its contribution."
Shanta Patel: Founder
Born into poverty in Kenya, Bhikhu and Vijay combined hard work with innovation and determination to build a substantial portfolio of pharma, property and private equity businesses. They attribute their drive and passion to their mother – a young widow who in difficult circumstances instilled in her children a sense of purpose and compassion – and after whom The Shanta Foundation is named.
The aim of the Foundation is to help others who are in a similar position now, as the Family was then; providing health, shelter and education through both self-funded and jointly-funded projects with partners such as the Lions Club, Devdaya and Anoopam Mission.
Shanta Patel, the inspiration behind the Foundation has sadly passed away on Friday 13th September 2019 after a short illness at the age of 98. She is the mother of 3, the grandmother of 6 and the great grandmother of 12. Shanta motivated and encouraged her family on a daily basis, for her entire life.
Loved by everyone who met her, she will always be remembered and her memory cherished. Despite her difficult earlier years and many hardships, her philanthropic work started very early on in her long life. It will continue to inspire her family and many others.
Latest projectsThe aim of The Shanta Foundation is to continue charitable work by the Family, which has been on going for over thirty years, on an ongoing basis. The Shanta Foundation supports projects in the UK and also in in Africa and India.
Individual projects are carefully chosen to match the Foundation’s aim of providing health, shelter and education and the Family plays an active role in each project, from raising funds to on-site visits throughout its duration. This participation is important for the Family, to demonstrate its complete support while also ensuring that the funds raised reach the beneficiaries directly and at minimal cost.
Providing health, water, shelter and education.
Latest news
The Shanta Foundation has a very personal commitment from the founding Trustees, Vijay and Bhikhu Patel who are actively involved in The Foundation. They are fully committed to projects from inception to completion and follow up thereafter. They travel to see the projects, meet the organisers and make sure that those in need are the beneficiaries. This commitment extends to the whole family, who all actively support the Foundation’s charitable work, and each of their children has been involved in Foundation projects; attending medical camps, fundraising events, the building of a new schools and water walls. It is the wish of the brothers that their children are involved in the running of the Foundation, and that their grandchildren also become actively engaged in charitable work.
Meet the team
Part of the Waymade Capital group of Companies.