Lola Karimova Tillyaeva and her husband Timur Tillyaev, are both highly esteemed for their commitment to helping those in need. This dedication was most recently demonstrated during the depths of California´s COVID pandemic.
Both born and raised in Uzbekistan, the couple now reside in LA. Watching in shock as the COVID emergencyraged about them, they decided to act. As the President of UCLA Health and CEO of the UCLA Hospital System explained, “We were facing a shortage of face shields for our front-line healthcare workers, and thanks to the kindness and generosity of the Tillyaev Family, UCLA was able to secure enough shields to equip our entire patient-facing workforce.” Their assistance played a real role in helping the facility combat the worst health emergency in living memory. Timur Tillyaev has also decided to serve on the board of the UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital. In this way, their relationship with the LA health system will be ongoing. As Johnese Spisso, (MPA, and president of UCLA Health and CEO of the UCLA Hospital System) explained, “Tim’s dedication to improving the health of children globally is truly admirable, and we are grateful to have his leadership, active participation, and philanthropic support.”
As mentioned above, Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva and Timur Tillyaev have a longstanding dedication to philanthropy. In 2002, they launched their first foundation, You Are Not Alone. Based in their native Uzbekistan its charter is to, “ensure that vulnerable children grow up in a caring and loving environment.” Operating today, it has given thousands of underprivileged children a better chance of achieving their dreams.
One strategy employed is to enhance the standard of care at mercy homes and orphanages. Lola Tillyaeva and Timur Tillyaev decide what form that will take on a case-by-case basis. This flexible approach encompasses the full range of options from providing new equipment and training to existing institutions, right up to designing and constructing entire purpose-built facilities. One recent program saw Mercy Home No.6 in the regional city of Samarkand relocated to an entirely new facility. As the original buildings dated back to the Second World War and were designed for an entirely different purpose, they were not well-suited to the needs of the children staying there. The facility was also in a poor condition. It now boasts a swimming pool, sports hall and a football pitch. Physiotherapy, Dental and other services are available as is a wide-ranging curriculum to ensure they receive a well-rounded education. As Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva explains, “It is my sincere wish that the new home will mark a new stage in the life of our children, that they will find their way in this world and get a good upbringing and education.”
Education more generally is also a major focus. Since 2003, Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva and Timur Tillyaev´s Educational Center has offered a range of excellent programs aimed at improving educational outcomes for children who are orphans or suffer a poor learning environment at home. An impressive number of participants have gone on to study at prestigious universities such as the University of World Economy and Diplomacy, the Tashkent branch of the Moscow State University and the National University of Uzbekistan.
As Timur Tillyaev explained, “for the past two decades my wife and I have been involved in various charity projects in Uzbekistan and internationally to support the vulnerable and to support initiatives that help people.”