IN BRIEF (Page 8)

Sport wheelchairs donated

To support sports activities of Chinese disabled people, Johnson & Johnson, a sponsor of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games, in partnership with the Wheelchair Foundation, has just donated 1,000 sport wheelchairs to the China Foundation for Disabled Persons.

The specialized wheelchairs will be distributed to 20 community organizations and centers across China that work with people with disabilities. The wheelchairs will help give more disabled athletes and citizens the opportunity to achieve a healthy lifestyle through sports.

Aiding China, Italy disabled

Generali China Life Insurance Co Ltd and Generali China Insurance Co Ltd, two joint ventures of Italy-based Genarali Group, announced recently that they will provide help to strengthen exchanges between disabled Chinese and Italian people, support them to take part in more sports activities and increase their quality of life.

The two insurers have also provided hospitality for Italian athletes at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games.

Epson training teachers

Epson (China) Co Ltd began its "Epson Love Class" program at the beginning of September.

It's a long-term program, which aims to improve the quality of rural teachers and volunteers taking part in rural education. Tailored training, meeting the demands of various local conditions and levels and teachers and volunteers, will be provided.

Bertelsmann aids school

Bertelsmann AG, the Germany-based media giant, plans to donate $610,000 to Shaanxi province to finance the rebuilding of a junior middle school as well as a local school development program.

The new school will be completed by next September and around 900 children between the ages of 11 to 15 will study in the new school.

Bertelsmann will also contribute to the "Shaanxi School Improvement Education Program", which focuses on training and coaching teachers at rural schools.

Morgan Stanley donation

Morgan Stanley, the US-based investment bank, will donate $250,000 to 60 schools in Dujiangyan city, which is one of the worst-hit areas of the May 12 Sichuan earthquake.

The funds will help to purchase textbooks and rebuild school libraries. More than 130,000 books have already been sent to Sichuan. Morgan Stanley is the latest to join the school rebuild program led by the Shanghai Song Ching Ling Foundation. Up to 78,000 students will benefit from the donation.

(China Daily 09/22/2008 page8)