Businessman believes community responsibility works both ways

Li Chuanmin, an entrepreneur from the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, said, to him happiness is "being busy doing the things I like".

Helping disadvantaged children in the remote mountains of Guangxi is one of these things and he has devoted himself to it for more than 20 years.

As a BMW car owner, Li joined the BMW Warm-Heart Fund several years ago and found a new platform for his charitable work.

The BMW WHF worked in Yushu, Qinghai province, after an earthquake in April 2010. The fund's work changed Li's impression of enterprise-sponsored charitable organizations.

"I thought the fund was only an enterprise activity that takes the banner of charity to publicize its own brand," Li said.

"But the organization has fulfilled all of its promises to Yushu since the earthquake and its assistance to local residents has not stopped. Its low-profile working style, strong sense of responsibility and credibility impressed me deeply."

Li overcame altitude sickness to visit Yushu again last year together with the WHF and gave out stationery and daily essentials to local residents and students.

"It is pity that I missed the other opportunities to serve as a volunteer in Yushu. They worked as teachers and did research to help promote environmental protection causes," he said.

Li said he was impressed by the continuous efforts of the BMW WHF after the earthquake.

During the past four years, BMW has made eight trips with hundreds of car owners, dealers and associates to visit Yushu to bring winter supplies to local people and help them overcome living difficulties.

As reconstruction of Yushu reaches completion, the WHF shifted its focus from supplying materials to caring for the region's environmental and sustainable development.

Apart from the Yushu projects, the fund regularly organizes for BMW owners and local dealers to contribute to charity work in backward areas across China.

The fund held a children's activity titled "making friends with plants" with dealers in BMW Joy Home last year.

BMW owners visited children from Joy Home in Guangxi and talked to them about local plants.

"The events helped boost their knowledge, expand their horizons and help them get closer to the natural world," Li said.

Li also took part in an event called "run for love", where BMW owners teamed up with the children from Joy Home for a fun race.

"Running not only builds the children's bodies, but also helps them develop positive attitudes to life," Li said. "They now know perseverance can make a difference in their life."

Li said interacting with the children broadened his outlook on life and society and he pledged to make use of the fund's platform to continue his charitable work.

As a self-made businessman, he said he knows the importance of being thankful of the others, as well as his social responsibility.

(China Daily 04/20/2015 page7)