Many Asians give to causes here and abroad. They give to a variety of causes in their own ethnic community in the US but they also give to 'mainstream' causes as well. Drs. Kiran and Pallavi Patel's charitable activities exhibit all these characteristics and more. Their story is remarkable because their philanthropic activities span three continents. They also support many different causes, including the arts, education, and health-care in India and the US. Their story made headlines recently when Florida Governor, Charlie Crist announced the induction of Dr. Pallavi Patel into the Florida Women's Hall of Fame. This is the first time an Indian woman has been extended such an honor in the US.
Dr. Pallavi Patel and her husband, Dr. Kiran C. Patel recently announced a $5 million gift to the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center to establish a school in her name. She also co-founded the Annual Indian Festival at the Sun Dome at the University of South Florida. In Tampa Bay, the Patels have helped establish a charter school to meet the needs of at-risk children.
In addition to their philanthropic projects in the US, the Patels have also established and supported schools, hospitals and community revitalization projects in their ancestral home in India. The Patel Foundation for Global Understanding funds projects in health, education and arts and culture. The Foundation sponsors children's heart surgeries at a hospital in Bangalore, supports 41 HIV clinics and health camps, and the Patel Academy educates hundreds of rural children in India. The Patels have also started supporting the building of clinics and a hospital in Zambia and Tanzania.
In 2005, Dr. Pallavi Patel was recognized as the Tampa Bay Business Women of the Year by the Tampa Bay Business Journal. In 2006, they were recognized by the community as Philanthropists of the Year.
The Patels started a medical practice which quickly expanded to 22 locations. They pursued managed healthcare contracts and serviced more than 90,000 patient visits annually.Eventually their efforts led to the formation and success of Wellcare HMO. By the time they sold their majority interest in that company in 2002, it had served over 400,000 members and employed more than 1,200 people in Florida and New York.
