Vegetable vendor Chen Shu-chu donated a US$50,000 award she received for her philanthropy to Mackay Memorial Hospital Sept. 3 to help with construction of an intensive care ward at its Taitung City branch in southeast Taiwan.
Chen was presented with the Ramon Magsaysay Award, the Asian equivalent of the Nobel Prize, in Manila, the Philippines, Aug. 31, in recognition of her long-term charitable efforts.
Although Mackay’s Taitung branch was built 25 years ago, due to insufficient resources, patients in need of intensive care services have had to be sent to other health care facilities, the hospital said. Work on the new unit began in April, with an estimated price tag of NT$1 billion (US$33.5 million). The hospital will contribute NT$800 million and the rest is to be raised through private donations.
Yang Yuh-cheng, hospital superintendent, praised Chen, who operates out of a traditional market in Taitung, for her “outstanding generosity” during a ceremony held to thank her for her selfless act.
ROC President Ma Ying-jeou received Chen earlier the same day, noting that her kind deeds have inspired many individuals to engage in philanthropic acts, to the benefit of countless numbers of people in need. (SB-THN)