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Stars allied with premium car brand advance autism charity at gala

By Du Xiaoying | China Daily | Updated: 2015-07-22 07:56

How can a couple best celebrate their first wedding anniversary and share their love with others? Infiniti's Gan Ai, or dare to love, campaign ambassadors, famous Chinese actress Zhou Xun and her husband Archie Kao, did so through helping others to give.

The celebrity couple believes love is not confined only to your immediate beloved ones, but includes giving to the people or things you are passionate about.

Last Thursday, to mark their first wedding anniversary, the couple hosted the One Night charity gala in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, together with Infiniti, the title sponsor of the gala.

A benefit banquet was held the night before the gala, featuring a charity auction that included a special SUV Infiniti QX50 with a customized design by the couple.

After lively bidding, the customized Infiniti QX50 sold for 500,000 yuan ($80,450).

Infiniti also donated a 45-squaremeter painting for auction that was created by 10 autistic teenagers, named Gan Ai Planet.

The painting drew much attention and the winning bid was 120,000 yuan.

The amount raised by the two events reached more than 6 million yuan. The money will go to One Foundation's Ocean Heaven project, to protect and care for children with infantile autism.

"We are delighted to sponsor the One Night charity gala for two consecutive years," said Daniel Kirchert, president of Dongfeng Infiniti.

"Because of the same love shared by Infiniti and our Gan Ai ambassadors, all of us are fully committed to autism charities."

"With the principles of long commitment, broad participation and real effect, we will make efforts together to keep expanding our charity platforms, attract public involvement and create an equal, harmonious, and dynamic living environment for the autistic children," Kirchert added.

Zhou and her husband brought happiness and glamour to the event from the moment they walked onstage. They believe that attention and understanding are what children with autism need most.

The couple said although the event won't provide cures for such children, it raises awareness and allows more people to get closer to them.

The gala featured popular entertainment stars including Leo Ku, Rene Liu, He Jiong, Mavis Fan and Xie Na. Zhuang Tianyue, 33, a pianist with autism who has performed at Carnegie Hall in New York, gave a smooth performance on piano. Wei Yizhe, a 17-year-old with autism, played two songs on guitar, with cellist Song Zhao accompanying him. Their emotionally charged performance obviously moved the audience.

Invited by Zhou and her husband, dozens of children and teachers from local autism organizations attended the gala to watch the show. Infiniti car owners helped transport the children and teachers to the venue.

The One Night charity gala drew more social attention to people with autism, and Infiniti is also increasing its activities for them.

According to Infiniti, so far its Gan Ai Planet charity has benefited more than 15,000 families with autism sufferers across the country.

Supported by Infiniti, One Foundation's Ocean Heaven project has held more than 460 training and institution development projects, benefiting more than 11,000 families and teachers.

A parent network has been built to educate and train the parents of children with autism, and carried out training. Twenty-eight organizations in China have applied to join the network.

Infiniti has also held 19 activities for autism patients. Seventeen dealers and several hundred Infiniti car owners have joined the Gan Ai Planet charity network.

"The autism care charity is a longterm cause, which needs to be driven by role models," Kirchert said. "Both Infiniti and Gan Ai ambassadors Zhou Xun and Archie Kao are practitioners of the Gan Ai spirit. We will move ahead together, and build a real Gan Ai planet."

Profile

Established in North America in 1989, Infiniti is now one of the major premium car brands in the world, renowned for its unique designs and thoughtful service.

The brand entered the Chinese market in 2007 and, in 2012, moved its headquarters to Hong Kong. At the end of 2014, its first locally made Q50L model was unveiled after the joint venture, Dongfeng Infiniti Motor, was established in September 2014.

China is now Infiniti's second-largest market after the United States.

Infiniti's Gan Ai campaign was initiated in 2014 to show the value of the brand and establish emotional resonance with its customers.

In Chinese, gan means a challenging and daring spirit, breaking with tradition to do something extraordinary, while ai represents love, passion and true feelings from the heart.

duxiaoying1@chinadaily.com.cn

Stars allied with premium car brand advance autism charity at gala

 Stars allied with premium car brand advance autism charity at gala

Daniel Kirchert, president of Dongfeng Infiniti, shares his insight on charity with film star Archie Kao. Photos Provided to China Daily

 Stars allied with premium car brand advance autism charity at gala

Wei Yizhe, a teenager with autism, and cellist Song Zhao perform at the One Night charity gala.

 Stars allied with premium car brand advance autism charity at gala

Infiniti Gan Ai ambassadors Zhou Xun and her husband Archie Kao appear at the charity event.

 Stars allied with premium car brand advance autism charity at gala

Infiniti donated a 45-square-meter painting created by 10 autistic teenagers, named Gan Ai Planet.

(China Daily 07/22/2015 page7)

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