TAIPEI: A record 40,000 people donated to the this year's charity campaign held jointly by United Way Taiwan and Citibank. United Way Taiwan in a statement Friday said the figure marked a year-on-year increase of more than 2,000 donors.

"I'm moved by the compassion shown by Taiwan donors, especially during these hard economic times," said Wei Yung-tu, chairman of United Way Taiwan and retired chairman of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Taiwan.

The value of donations, NT$85.63 million ($2.48 million) is slightly down over the 2007 tally of NT$87 million.

Among donors this year, more than 4,600 were first-time contributors. About 57 percent of donors came from northern Taiwan. Fifty-eight percent were between ages 30 and 44, according to United Way Taiwan tallies.

Female donors comprised 53.72 percent of the total, the statistics showed.

Wei said most donors wanted their contributions to help those in urgent need, children, the disabled, and the elderly. Nearly 22 percent wanted their donations to be given to environmental protection projects, he added.

The campaign was carried out between Nov 1, 2008 and Jan 31, 2009.

The 2009 donations will be used to help fund 600 cases of need sponsored by more than 400 charitable organizations on the island, Wei said.

United Way Taiwan identifies community needs and finds gaps in service delivery, raises funds for programs, and works in partnership with other social welfare agencies for the good of the community.

China Daily/CNA

(HK Edition 03/14/2009 page1)