Skeptical Chinese donors need concrete results

• Source: Global Times
• [21:44 June 29 2010]
• Comments

Charities gather the money from the rich and use it on the poor, in this way, social conflicts are alleviated.

What I usually tell the billionaires or millionaires is that contributing to the charity is a happiness exchange. After one has gathered a certain amount of wealth, an increase means little more than the numbers changing in the bank account.

Yet if one donates such money to people who actually need it, this money can mean a lot to them and really make a difference to their life. After the donation, you will feel good about yourself because you helped others, and the people who received your help are happy because their problems are solved.

For those who heard about this news afterward, they would have a more positive attitude toward society, knowing the charity is doing solid things to make people's life better. In this way, everyone will be happier. We are on our way to this end.

GT: The motto of One Foundation, the charity organization that you currently work for, is "one person+ one yuan + one month = one big family," encouraging each individual to donate one yuan each month. Do you think the future for China's charity work is to have each member of the society to donate or just encourage the rich to do so?

Wang: Strange as it might seem, 70 percent of the donations to One Foundation comes from ordinary individuals. This shows the general public's support to our project. Indeed, we may gather a larger sum of money from the rich if you look at each donation, but without the support of the general public, no project can prosper.

One Foundation also sets a low requirement for donations. We move away from people's previous stereotypes that once you donate, you should give a lot of money to show your generosity, and encourage the public not to make donations a big deal but take them as a routine part of life.

One yuan a month is not a huge burden for most people. Once people are used to helping people, they will continue to do so in the long run, and this is what we hope to see in the future.