Shenzhen has raised 633,000 yuan (US$76,727) to help 75 college
recruits from impoverished families go to university.
The money was handed over at a ceremony at the Shenzhen
Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau on Wednesday evening.
The largest donor is Gu Mingjun, owner of an electronics
company, who gave 500,000 yuan (US$6,000).
Head of the municipal civil affairs bureau Liu Runhua said each
new student needed about 10,000 yuan to start college life. He said
that proceeds from the Shenzhen Welfare Lottery would help fill any
shortfall.
A campaign to help needy students was launched in early June by
the bureau and Shenzhen Economic Daily. Apart from Gu, who
donated most of the money, many other individuals donated from
10,000 to several hundred yuan. About 80 workers at the Shenzhen
Maritime Pilot Station donated more than 16,000 yuan. An important
city official who called Liu, but insisted on remaining anonymous,
donated 10,000 yuan. A man surnamed Qiu and his son donated 10,000
yuan and 2,000 yuan respectively.
Chen Shaoyun, who has been recruited by the Guangzhou-based
Zhongshan University, said although his family was poor, he was
lucky because of the financial help from the people.
(Shenzhen Daily August 20, 2004)