Don Lam, Chief Executive Officer of the VinaCapital Group, is one of the most reputable figures in Vietnam's investment community...
Don Lam, Chief Executive Officer of the VinaCapital Group, is one of the most reputable figures in Vietnam's investment community. I affectionately prefer calling him “heart ambassador” because he has saved many children suffering from congenital heart defect. He is very successful in business with enthusiastic and active commitment to many projects in Khanh Hoa, his hometown.
 |
| Don Lam and children benefiting from the heart surgery program. |
Don Lam is well-known for his success in bringing VinaCapital to become one of the leading investment management and real estate development firms in Vietnam. However, not many know that he is also a man of great passion for helping children with congenital heart defect.
In 2006, Don Lam decided to found VinaCapital Foundation (VCF) dedicated to empowering children’s lives through its Heartbeat Vietnam program. He has pledged to spend part of profit from VinaCapital to donate to the foundation. VCF has raised VND140 billion, including VND100 billion contributed by VinaCapital, for charity. 3,400 children in 50 provinces and cities nationwide have benefited from the heart surgery program. Nearly 500 children in Khanh Hoa Province have been reported to be saved thanks to the life-saving program.
Whenever back to Nha Trang, Vietnam, he always asks about the health of children who have been and are going to be funded for their heart surgery. In late 2014, he had a chance to meet the children who he has helped. “Living is sharing, that is happiness. I help the children to be healthy. When they grow up, they will help others. Doing business is not just for business. Doing business only becomes meaningful when it brings benefit to the community", he says. In spite of challenges in business, he and the VCF have maintained the support for the heart surgery program for many years.
Don Lam shared his personal story, his inspiration for founding VinaCapital. He suffered from Polio at the age of 3 and he was luckily saved by a doctor in Nha Trang. His family moved to Canada when he was 13 years old. Since then, whenever back to Vietnam, he looks for the doctor but he has not found him. “I don’t know whether he is alive or not. He has saved my life and now I save others. Success in business must accompany community responsibilities,’ he says.
He is not only a successful businessman but also a responsible father. Whenever back to Vietnam, he takes his kids to visit the disadvantaged children. Especially, his 3-generation family always spends Tet in Vietnam.
Don Lam confirms the biggest achievement he and his colleagues have gained for nearly 20 years is saving hundreds of children’s lives through VCF. VinaCapital will continue providing financial assistance for the heart surgery program until no child dies of congenital heart defect.
N.T
