Dubai, UAE, February 21, 2011: The Government of Russia has presented an 'Honorary Order - Public Recognition' award to Sunny Varkey, the Founder and Chairman of GEMS Education, the largest education provider in the UAE. 

The Government of Russia, through its consulate in Dubai, said in a statement, 'Mr. Varkey has made a major personal contribution to the international humanitarian cooperation and charity support to disabled children.  He has also been a key personality in the development of friendly relations between the people of the Russian Federation and the UAE.  We are proud to be presenting this honor to him.'

Mr. Varkey was honored with the award for his philanthropic and long standing support for the Rashid Pediatric Therapy Centre.

Mr. Varkey said he was honored and humbled to receive the award and thanked the Government of Russia for the recognition. He added that the newly established Varkey GEMS Foundation would continue the focus of giving back to the community. The education focused Foundation aims to impact 10 million underprivileged children globally.

Mr. Varkey has received numerous acknowledgements and awards in the past including:

  • Padmashri Award, the highest civilian honour by the government of India in 2009 in recognition of his outstanding contributions in the field of education and social service.

  • The Rajiv Gandhi Award for Eminent Educationist, 2008 for his commitment to providing education to children of all socio economic backgrounds and for his commitment to raising standards in education.

  • Finalist in 2008, for the Ernst & Young Middle East Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

  • The CEO Middle East Award for Corporate Social Responsibility awarded in 2007 in recognition for his considerable achievements in supporting charities over the last 30 years.

  • The Global Indian Business Award presented at the Global Indian Business Summit in Singapore in 2007 recognising his achievements and contributions as an outstanding NRI and Indian entrepreneur.

  • Most Outstanding Businessman of the Year by Asian Businessman Awards, Middle East for his achievements in education and healthcare.

  • In 2001, in the UAE he received the Sheikha Fatima Bin Mubarak Welfare Prize

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About GEMS Education:
GEMS Education has a global network of world class international schools. With 50 years of experience in education, GEMS provides high quality holistic education to over 100,000 students from 125 countries. It employs over 9,000 education professionals, specialists and staff from around the world. The GEMS approach to learning focuses not only on academic excellence, but also in helping students develops their character and creativity so that they achieve their full potential as human beings.  The GEMS Education school model is unique in the world because it offers a broad range of curricula across a range of tuition fees making private education more accessible to the broader community. GEMS Education also supports Governments' education reform agenda by working with Ministries of Education to lift school performance and improve the standards and expertise government schools across the globe. GEMS Education has offices in the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, India and Singapore.

For more information, please contact:
Margaret Flanagan/ Chandan Belani
ASDA'A Burson-Marsteller
Tel: (+971) 4 33 44550
Email: m.flanagan@asdaa.com / c.belani@asdaa.com  

© Press Release 2011