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Fang Qingyun: A charity Leader
By Hu Meidong and Zhu Xingxin (China Daily Fujian Bureau)
Updated: 2009-07-24 17:22

Fang Qingyun, the president of the Fuzhou Charity Union, was recently honored as a "China Charity Outstanding Worker" in recognition his creation and leadership of several new charity programs.

Fang was given the award by the China Charity Federation, a nationwide non-governmental charity organization that nonetheless has close links with the Chinese government, on July 16, 2009.

The programs that attracted the China Charity Federation's attention included Fang's most recent and ambitious effort, the "331 project. Active in 9 less-developed counties which including over 1300 villages, the 331 project is designed to assist poor orphans, elderly people, and high school students. The name symbolizes the projects goals: the first three represents the three groups of people it is meant to help; the second three represents the 300 specific people who it assists; and the 1 represents 1000 yuan the project gives its beneficiaries annually.

In addition, Fang has also focused on helping poor elderly people with no one to take care of them. His programs include an effort to train laid off workers to take care of China's growing elderly population, helping them with everything from washing clothes to groceries, to financial challenges. He also has worked with local hospitals to create a medical program designed to help poor people pay to see doctors, and a smaller program that provides free flowers for elderly people's funerals.

As of early June, through these programs, the Fuzhou Charitable Union has donated 92.54million RMB to support over 70 thousand people. This year, the organization has raised 60.76 million yuan, 95.7% of the amount they requested, and spent a total of 53.32 million yuan. Most of the money comes from private companies, with some individual donations as well.

Fang has also raised money through auctions for specific causes. For instance, during the tsunami of Southeast Asia, Fang hosted a painting and calligraphy exhibition, during which he auctioned off some of the art, making 130 thousand Yuan. In the aftermath of the Wenchuan earthquake last year, Fang, himself a talented calligrapher, sold two of his own works, along with those from other painters and calligraphers, making 200 thousand yuan. He gave it all to the victims of the earthquake.

Fang, who assumed the leadership of the Fuzhou Charity Union after retiring from his position as Vice Party Secretary of Fuzhou in 2006, has also worked to encourage people to give to charity.

"To vulnerable groups, more economic support and spiritual assistance should be given in order to help them establish confidence and get rid of sorrow, loneliness and depression," he says.

"Mr. Fang attaches great importance to the brand and culture of charity. That is why he appointed me as the first ambassador of Charity and Love of Fuzhou Charity Union," says Yang Mi, a compere of Fujian Straits TV.

Fang has also organized charity promotion activities, such as a "Charities Seminar" co-hosted with Civilization Office of Fuzhou Municipal Committee and Association of Society and Science. The seminar collected papers on charity, and published the 40 best ones as the "Charities Corpus". Fang has even written his own book on the subject, the "Three Character Primer for Charities," which explains Fang's understanding of the meaning and best methods to pursue charity. It also explains how to participate and select projects to support.