IN BRIEF (Page 8)

Mercedes-Benz concerts

Automaker Mercedes-Benz has announced it will strengthen cooperation with National Center for the Performing Arts on promoting a series of affordable weekend public concerts in 2009.

The move follows the successful 2008 series, and 50 concerts are scheduled be held next year. Prices of the weekend performances range from 10 to 40 yuan, compared with most concerts priced at over 300 yuan.

Healthcare education centers

South Korea-based healthcare equipment manufacturer Ceragem has just announced cooperation with Agedness Healthcare Society of China to set up Ceragem Healthcare Education Centers nationwide specifically for senior citizens.

Meanwhile, the company is to join hands with the society to train staff engaged in healthcare education for elderly people.

ABB's multiple donations

ABB, a leading Switzerland-based global power and automation technology group, recently donated a total of 4.88 million yuan to the China Red Cross Society, the China Green Foundation and China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation.

The contributions will be used to support post-earthquake reconstruction projects in Wenchuan of Sichuan province, the anti-desertification project in Ordos, Inner Mongolia , and financially disadvantaged college students from poverty-stricken areas.

To date, ABB's total charitable donation towards residents and relief programs of local power facilities in the Sichuan disaster zone has reached 11.45 million yuan.

BMW's child safety cause

German automaker BMW recently celebrated the successful conclusion of its fourth Children's Traffic Safety Education Program in Beijing, which aims at helping children be aware of traffic safety and self-protection.

Through April to November, over 3,200 children from 100 kindergartens all over the country participated in the program.

In addition, BMW has prepared Traffic Safety Packages and distributed them to 500 kindergartens all over the country, increasing the number of children who can benefit from this program to 100,000 this year.

Google design contest

Google China has begun the second session of Chinese University Students Creative Charity Program Design Contest, and design collections will last until Jan 20, 2009.

Last year, the company announced it would invest 10 million yuan to sponsor the annual contest for three years, in order to attract young Chinese people to take note of philanthropic activities and to inspire their creativity.

(China Daily 12/15/2008 page8)