J & J releases sustainability study

Johnson& Johnson, a leading healthcare company, has released its 2015 China Citizenship & Sustainability Report profiling the company's strategic practices and achievements in sustainable development. It focuses on the company's commitment to sustainability management, customers, employees, and the community. Key topics covered include J&J's mission and strategies in sustainability management, product quality, innovation, talent development, volunteer activities, philanthropy, environment protection and compliance. Vladimir Makatsaria, Chairman of J&J China, said: "We are looking at innovative ways to support the building of a healthy China. The C&S report represents a signature milestone in our efforts to build a healthier future in partnership with Chinese stakeholders and the broader society."

Books for blind donated nationwide

Huang's Elite, an apparel company founded by Huang Sitong, joined hands with the China Foundation for Disabled Persons to push forward a book donation program for blind children in China. Huang and Yi Yi, charity ambassador for the company, donated 500,000 yuan ($74,954) to the program. Research shows that, on average, 160 blind children have to share only one book. The program has financially supported 54 schools for the blind and so far donated more than 25,000 books benefiting some 5,000 blind children. Huang's Elite will be donating money for the program every year and working more closely with the foundation.

Teach for China alleviates poverty

Teach for China, an education program set up by the Beijing Lead the Future Foundation, has been authorized to run the Xinglong Primary School in Donggua township in Yunnan province by the local education bureau. The first group of 12 experienced teachers with excellent educational backgrounds, including graduates from Peking University and Sun Yatsen University, have been recruited and will start working as full time teachers in Xinglong. Teach for China has been recruiting college graduates as volunteers since 2008 to help teach students in remote rural areas in Yunnan, where public educational resources are severely insufficient. This new form of cooperation between charity programs and public schools could be a new measure targeting poverty alleviation, according to Teach for China.

Home-based care services enhanced

The People's Government of Beijing is carrying out new policies on home-based care services for the city's elderly in line with the rising ageing population. Market competition will be introduced and the social capital fund will be deeply involved in assisting the government's leading role in developing home-based care services. According to the new policies, the first senior housing community in Beijing with more than 300 apartments, will be launched soon. And people over 60 years of age will get a magcard, which has links to their personal medical information and can be used as a free card for boarding the city's metro system.

Event raises funds for ambulance aid

The annual Bazaar Stars Charity Night, a charitable auction party initiated by Harper's Bazaar China and cosponsored this year by China Siyuan Foundation for Poverty Alleviation, was held in Beijing on Sept 9.More than 60 celebrities attended the auction party, raising 64.21 million yuan ($9.61 million) through the auction and donations. The money goes to a long-term ambulance donating program supported by Bazzar Charity Fund to speed up emergency treatment and medical service in China's impoverished rural areas. A total of 1,008 ambulances were donated to more than 400 poverty-stricken towns, offering first-aid for at least 300,000 people per year. Starting in 2003, Bazaar Stars Charity Night has so far raised more than 320 million yuan to fund 39 charity programs and support 30 organizations.

China Daily

(China Daily USA 09/22/2016 page15)