Last week, Taitung vegetable vendor Chen Shu-chu returned from a whirlwind trip to the U.S. where she was honored as one of the world’s 100 most influential people by Time magazine. Chen, who has given over NT$10 million (US$315,000) to local charities in her lifetime, was recognized by the publication as a “hero” and lauded by the local and foreign media for her selfless endeavors.
This is not the first time the 61-year-old “battler” has received well-deserved credit for her philanthropic efforts. In March, Chen was among the most generous souls in the Asia-Pacific region, according to a list of 48 prominent altruists compiled by Forbes Asia magazine.
Leaving school at 13 to sell vegetables and help support her seven-member family following the death of her mother, the magnitude of Chen’s giving is praiseworthy, especially in this age of rampant consumerism and increasingly luxurious lifestyles. By maintaining a simple existence, she is making a badly needed difference in the lives of the economically disadvantaged.
But in Taiwan, Chen’s heartwarming story is not that uncommon. She is just one of the island’s many unsung heroes who place a spiritual and moral premium on sharing their time or income with those less fortunate than themselves.
Three other Taiwan philanthropists also honored by Forbes this year were National Taipei University professor and entrepreneur Thomas Lin, U.S.-based developer Pan Shu-yuen, and Cathay Financial Holding Co. Ltd. Chairman Tsai Hong-tu. Lin’s sizeable donations to various charities such as the Taiwan Fund for Children and Families, Pan’s support of his alma mater Taipei-based National Chengchi University, and Tsai’s strong backing of post-Typhoon Morakot relief efforts, have all flown under the radar.
Similarly reticent when it came to giving was the late Wang Yung-ching, founder of Formosa Plastics Group. He poured some NT$36 billion over the past decades into public welfare activities ranging from education and medical services to schooling for young people from Taiwan’s indigenous groups. Despite Wang’s passing, the conglomerate continues to play a major role in public welfare activities.
Not all those who give in Taiwan are individuals or large corporations. Tzu Chi, the Buddhist charity known for its rapid response to natural disasters that frequently strike the Asia-Pacific region, is a true quiet achiever, going about its business of healing the sick, feeding the needy and running recycling centers with nary a care for publicity.
Largely unknown in the West, Tzu Chi has more regular donors and active volunteers than any other Greater China-based charity. In 2008, it raised US$314 million and has played a key role in reconstruction efforts following the 2004 tsunami that struck Indonesia and neighboring countries, Typhoon Morakot and the earthquakes in Haiti and mainland China.
In a world where “no strings attached” assistance is an increasingly rare occurrence, it is refreshing to see that such an approach to giving is alive and well in Taiwan. Shaped by a unique mix of cultural and religious influences, the island’s special brand of low-key charity work leads the way in helping those who need it most, and is a model worth replicating.
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