The 100th Anniversary Conference of the Chongqing Red Cross was held at the Chongqing People's Great Hall.
Yesterday marked the 64th World Red Cross Day and also the 100th anniversary of the Chongqing Red Cross. At around 9 in the morning, the centennial conference of the establishment of the Chongqing Red Cross was held at the Chongqing People's Great Hall. Standing Committee Member and Executive Vice Mayor Ma Zhengqi delivered a speech, giving full affirmation to the achievements of the Chongqing Red Cross.
Film and television actress, and native of Chongqing, Yin Tao, became the image ambassador for the Chongqing Red Cross and the Chongqing Red Cross Foundation, expressing her commitment to "strive to contribute her own strength to Chongqing's public welfare undertakings."
Yesterday, the 100th anniversary artistic performance of the Chongqing Red Cross was carried out. (Photographed by Xuhuiyi, reporter from the Chongqing Morning Post.)
Yin Tao became the image ambassador for the Chongqing Red Cross and the Chongqing Red Cross Foundation.
At yesterday’s celebration conference, 30 units received the Special Contribution Award, 20 individuals received the Outstanding Contribution Award, and 30 individuals received the Extraordinary Love Award. Mrs. Yu Linlie, aged 92 from Xinhua Road in Yuzhong District, has donated 10,000 yuan annually to the Chongqing Red Cross over the past decade, earning her the “2011 Red Cross Special Love Award” honor certificate.
Mrs. Yu is very generous towards those in need, having persisted in aiding others for 61 years, but she is very frugal with herself, even reluctant to buy herself a new pair of shoes. Yesterday, she ascended the stage to receive her award wearing a beige leather shoe that had been with her for three years, its upper already cracked, and its sole replaced twice.
"Philanthropy Road" Walked for 61 Years
Mrs. Yu’s philanthropic endeavors can be traced back to the 1950s during the Korean War era. At the age of 31, she and her husband Zhang Xijun operated a small clinic. To support the nation, the couple decided to donate part of their savings to the Red Cross.
Although Mrs. Yu does not remember the exact amount, she recalls that year they were recognized and praised by the Red Cross and society as the largest individual donors in Southwest China.
From then on, Mrs. Yu embarked on her "philanthropy road." Over 61 years, she has helped more than 400 people, including children in impoverished mountainous areas and disabled individuals living in poverty.
In the last decade, while only receiving a retirement salary of over 1,000 yuan per month, Mrs. Yu has annually donated 10,000 yuan to the Chongqing Red Cross during the Spring Festival. If disasters occur in the country or among the people, she also contributes her savings. "During the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, when I saw homeless children on TV, I decided I had to do something to help them." After the "May 12 Earthquake," the Chongqing Red Cross received 5,000 yuan in donations from Mrs. Yu wrapped in newspaper.
Determined to Continue Philanthropy
Over so many years, Mrs. Yu never calculated the total amount of her donations, but her home holds more than a dozen various honor certificates issued by the Chongqing Red Cross. "I specially prepared a wooden box to store them!"
"When the soles break, I just spend 12 yuan to replace them with new ones; this way, they can still be worn for another year." Yesterday, Mrs. Yu came to receive her award wearing a pair of beige leather shoes that have accompanied her for three years, with a cracked upper and soles replaced twice. "I am reluctant to throw them away because buying new shoes would cost money."
Mrs. Yu says that apart from being frugal, her ability to continue her philanthropic work is also supported by her children.
Mrs. Yu's greatest wish now is to carry her charitable cause forward indefinitely, "As long as I live, I will continue to support it, without going back on my word."
By Zhu Yangxia, Yang Gong, Wang Tingting, Chongqing Morning Post
A 90-Year-Old Woman Has Been Engaged in Charity for 61 Years
Despite her retirement salary being only over a thousand yuan,
She has been donating 10,000 yuan annually for the past ten years.
On the 100th birthday of the Chongqing Red Cross, 92-year-old Mrs. Yu Linlie received the Special Love Award.
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