Star Fund marks 5 years of CSR, opens new Hope School in Ya'an

Mercedes-Benz Star Fund - the first philanthropy platform jointly launched by an automaker and dealers in China's automotive industry - celebrated five years of corporate social responsibility endeavors on Saturday.

To celebrate this milestone, Mercedes-Benz Star Ambassadors embarked on a volunteer journey to experience Star Fund's achievements in the past five years.

While revisiting the city of Ya'an, Sichuan province, the Star Ambassadors helped welcome students to a new school, bringing renewed hope and joy to local children and community members.

The town of Shiyang in Tianquan county, Ya'an, now thriving and full of life, was one of many locales severely damaged by the April 20, 2013, magnitude-7 Lushan Earthquake.

Shortly after the earthquake hit, Mercedes-Benz and its dealer partners donated 20 million yuan ($3.14 million) toward post-disaster relief and reconstruction projects in affected areas.

In addition to building a new Hope School to replace one damaged in the quake, Mercedes-Benz helped restore four hospitals and two panda sanctuaries, and conducted research on local sustainable development.

Nearly two years later, coinciding with the Star Fund's fifth anniversary, the post-quake projects in Ya'an are nearly completed.

A cohort of about 130 Star Ambassadors, volunteers made up of Mercedes-Benz executives, Star Fund Management Committee members, dealers, customers, NGO partners and media, revisited Ya'an to commemorate both occasions.

The newly built 8,400- square-meter school, now capable of withstanding a magnitude-8 earthquake, is ready for a strong, fresh start.

Mercedes-Benz has equipped the school with new educational tools, including computers, musical instruments, sports equipment and multimedia devices - capable of supporting 1,300 students and projected to benefit 20,000 people in nine surrounding villages.

Sharing compassion and high spirits, the Star Ambassadors held "Star Wish Classes," courses aimed to provide students with fun and useful knowledge outside the classroom on the topics of road safety, music, arts and handicrafts.

Concluding the day, the Star Ambassadors gave a performance for the children who were full of fun and laughter.

"In just five years, the Star Fund has developed into a mature philanthropic platform enabling Mercedes-Benz to fulfill its social responsibility in China," said Li Hongpeng, senior executive vice-president of Beijing Mercedes-Benz Sales Service and chairman of the Mercedes-Benz Star Fund Management Committee.

"Standing at this milestone, it's important for us to continue deepening our existing projects while exploring more innovative and open platforms, developing appealing content and engaging mechanisms, striving to make further contributions for the best of all our tomorrows."

In addition to the school inauguration and volunteer activities, the Star Fund's fifth anniversary trip included a visit to the Dujiangyan Panda Base, where Star Ambassadors planted bamboo, cleaned the panda base and revisited Mercedes-Benz's adopted panda, Xing'an, as part of the marque's efforts to sustain the environment and protect world heritage sites.

As part of its long-term vision, Mercedes-Benz is committed to fulfilling its social responsibilities in China in sustainable and practical ways. Upholding its mission of "Nurturing the Best for All Our Tomorrows", the Star Fund engages dealers, customers and the general public to gain strength and support for a brighter future for Chinese society.

Since its establishment in June 2010, Mercedes-Benz has donated a total of 82.5 million yuan to the Star Fund, fulfilling its social responsibilities in five core pillars and benefiting nearly 1 million people across China:

Environmental protection

The fund protected seven World Heritage sites, encompassing 40 percent of the World Natural Heritage sites in China, conserving over 35,000 sq m of heritage sites and benefiting more than 140,000 residents in the locations.

Culture of driving

The fund introduced a road safety school curriculum to 206 primary schools, benefiting more than 100,000 students; and established road safety education star bases in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, benefiting more than 100,000 children in China.

Education support

The fund established 400 Happy Music Classrooms and eight music education star bases, providing music education to more than 200,000 children in impoverished areas.

Arts and sports

The fund staged 200 Weekend Concert series events with the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing.

In 2015, it announced a partnership with the Laureus Sports for Good Foundation to train physical education teachers in Hope Schools and improve physical education courses.

Social care

The fund donated more than 42 million yuan to disaster relief projects in Wenchuan, Yushu, Ya'an and Huize.

duxiaoying1@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 09/07/2015 page15)