AmCham South China Helps Impoverished Wuxing Village Battle Poverty with RMB3,429,517 (US$545,233) in Cash and In-kind Donations from Members

Cash donations of RMB200,000 (US$31,797) from Mead Johnson Nutrition and RMB100,000 (US$15,898) from Jingxing Real Estate and in-kind donations of RMB3,129,517 (US$497,538) were raised in this year's charity effort. In-kind donations included products at market value of RMB60,000 (US$9,539) from P&G, RMB20,000 (US$3,180) from Apex Tools and Orthopedics, and RMB3,000,000 (US$476,948) from Skullcandy Audio (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.. Products of clothing, educational materials, bedding, food, stationery, and headsets were donated from member companies. All donations will be properly processed by Guangzhou Youth Development Foundation, and cash donations will be used to save the lives of orphaned children in need of immediate life-saving surgery and to help Wuxing Village combat poverty.

On February 2^nd, a team of medical professionals from the Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center and the Sanitation Center of Zhuanshui County co-offered free onsite medical checkups and consultations to the villagers. The delegation also visited the local families in need of assistance, allowing AmCham South China to learn more about the villagers' living conditions.

According to official statistics, Wuxing Village, located in Wuhua County of Meizhou City, covers an area of 11.5 kilometers and has a population of 4,034 people, comprising of 82 relatively poverty-stricken households (252 people). Before the Chamber's charity efforts last year, Wuxing Village was home to 157 poverty-stricken households (909 people), a preliminary census shows.

For years, Guangzhou People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries of Guangzhou Foreign Affairs Bureau, Guangzhou Charity Association of Guangzhou Civil Affairs Bureau, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, and Guangzhou Youth Development Foundation have been partners of AmCham South China in the AmCham South China Charity Theme Events.

* Chinese Yuan Renminbi (CNY) to U.S. Dollar (USD) exchange rate on Feb 2, 2018 was 6.29:1.

About The American Chamber of Commerce in South China

The American Chamber of Commerce in South China (AmCham South China) is a non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to facilitating bilateral trade between the United States and the People's Republic of China. Certified in 1995 by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington D.C., AmCham South China represents more than 2,300 corporate and individual members, is governed by a fully-independent Board of Governors elected from its membership, and provides dynamic, on-the-ground support for American and International companies doing business in South China. In 2017, AmCham South China hosted nearly 10,000 business executives and government leaders from around the world at its briefings, seminars, committee meetings and social gatherings. The American Chamber of Commerce in South China is a fully independent organization accredited by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C. All AmChams in China are independently governed and represent member companies in their respective regions.

The mission of the American Chamber of Commerce in South China is to promote the development of trade, commerce and investment between the United States and the People's Republic of China with a special focus on South China; to provide a forum in which member businesses can identify their common interests and discuss solutions for common problems; to work with and advocate member interests with relevant organizations in South China, elsewhere in China and the United States, and to set the standards for corporate social responsibility for the community that the Chamber serves.­

About Mead Johnson Nutrition Company

Mead Johnson Nutrition Company was founded in 1905 by Edward Mead Johnson, and its global headquarters is located in Glenview, Illinois, in the United States.

Mead Johnson has a proud history of over 110 years and is a global leader in infant and children's nutrition. The company has been committed from its very beginning to nourishing the world's children for the best start in life. Mead Johnson has a workforce of approximately 7,700 dedicated employees worldwide. The company manufactures and markets more than 70 products in over 50 countries. Those innovative products deliver tangible, often clinically-proven developmental and health outcomes, and have helped Mead Johnson earn the trust of millions of parents and health care professionals.

In June 2017, Reckitt Benckiser, one of the Top 500 enterprises, announced the completion of the acquisition of the Mead Johnson Nutrition Company. Mead Johnson will initially operate as a separate division within RB.

About Mead Johnson Nutrition (China) Ltd.

Mead Johnson Nutrition China was founded in 1993. Our manufacturing facility is located at Dong Ji Xia Yuan Road in the Guangzhou Economic and Technological Development Zone. It covers an area of 60,000 square meters and boasts some of the world's most advanced production processes and technology. Currently, the company's sales network is established in 29 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities nationwide.

Mead Johnson strives to advance its leadership role as part of the healthy growth of the entire pediatric nutrition industry. The company has operated strictly under its first-to-market "All-Rounded Safety" quality management model and GMP standards across its manufacturing, supply chains, storage and distribution networks. Having been awarded ISO9001:2008 certification, Mead Johnson China adheres to HACCP principles and meets all national food safety and hygiene standards.

With deep roots in China extending back 24 years, Mead Johnson is committed to delivering professional care and support to Chinese consumers by providing high quality nutritional products for pregnant women, infants and children and sharing our advanced knowledge of pediatric science through various activities to enhance the awareness of the importance of early childhood nutrition among young Chinese parents.

About Jingxing Company

Jingxing Company started business in 1985 in the Import and Export field, working with renowned electrical brands such as Haier, Gree and Midea. With them the business achievements of Jingxing Company were excellent. In order to broaden the business platform, Jingxing Company entered the Real Estate field in 1995 and formed Guangzhou Jingxing Real Estate Co., Ltd. Now, Jingxing Company has become an integrated enterprise with interests in residential real estate, property management, hotel, business trades and commercial real estate development. The total assets of the company exceeds RMB6 billion and has over 200 employees. The company abides by the phrase "improve living quality, elevate construction quality" as its responsibility, using the phrase to optimize the city functions and advocating for quality living.

About Wuxing Village

Covering an area of 11.5 kilometers, Wuxing Village is located in the east of Zhuanshui Town, Wuhua County, and is home to 680 households with the total registered population of 4,034 people. With its counterpart-assistance organized by Guangzhou Foreign Affairs Office, Wuxing Village is relatively poverty-stricken and in need of targeted measures to help people lift themselves out of poverty in Guangdong Province. The Village is home to 82 relatively poverty-stricken households (252 people), out of which 55 households (215 people) are labor-capable and 27 households (37 people) are not. In 2016, the Village lifted 39 households (93 people) out of poverty, accounting for 36.9% of its total poverty-stricken population.

Nowadays, Wuxing Village needs to address major issues of employing the poor population, renovating the mud buildings, and educating the young generation. With help from supporting organizations, Wuxing Village has built a separate workplace for its committee, a public health station for its villagers, and a one-kilometer road to its neighboring village.

The village is improving the residents' living condition by cleaning up the chaotic piling-up of garbage and wires as well as demolishing dilapidated buildings, ruins, broken oxen, and open-air toilets. With the help of supporting organizations, the village has established a long-lasting garbage collecting system.

About the Guangzhou People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (GZPAFFC)

Established in 1984, the GZPAFFC is a citywide local group. The Association aims at establishing friendship and strengthening mutual understanding between local people in Guangzhou and people from around the world, as well as promoting communication and cooperation between them, maintaining world peace and promoting mutual development. The Association is guided by China People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Guangdong People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and other superior departments.

About the Guangzhou Charity Association-Guangzhou Civil Affairs Bureau

Founded on June 5, 1994, Guangzhou Charity Association is a registered citywide charitable society and individual volunteer group approved by the municipal government. The association is committed to promoting the spirit of humanitarian works, contributing to poverty alleviation, and helping people with less fortune and people in need. It promotes awareness of charity, and exploration of fields of charitable services. It calls for society to contribute to fundraising, emergency rescue, care for senior people, orphans and medical treatments, and volunteer teaching, so as to help people in need. The association has established a transparent charity information platform and explored more channels for public involvement in charity in order to help accelerate innovative development of the philanthropic industry. In the past 21 years, the fund raised by the association has added up to RMB2.46 billion and fund donations added up to RMB2.17 billion. For its great contribution, the association has received the "Extraordinary Award for Philanthropic Industry in China," "Charity Award in South Guangdong Area," "2014 Excellent Social Group in Guangzhou," and "5A Grade Social Group in Guangzhou."

About Guangzhou Youth Development Foundation

Guangzhou Youth Development Foundation (GYDF) was founded on May 4, 1994. This public foundation was co-founded by Guangzhou Committee of China's Communist Youth League, Guangzhou Youth Federation and Guangzhou Working Committee of Young Pioneers. For a long time, GYDF has attracted broad attention and support from all sectors of society. Meanwhile, it has received guidance and assistance from central, provincial and municipal authorities. It's not only a public funding agency but also a private foundation and social organization. It raises public funds in Guangdong province, while receiving voluntary contributions, investment income and other lawful income from organizations, natural persons and legal persons.  

GYDF aims to raise funds and material support for development of Guangzhou teenagers' careers by connecting with enterprise & public institutions, social organizations, other organizations and individuals home and abroad; to carry on helping orphans and the poor in their studies; to develop a first aid service; to subsidize all districts and institutions in Guangzhou to hold various activities which benefit teenagers' physical and psychological health; to support and promote studies of teenagers' problems; to award excellent teenagers and social organizations and individuals who make contribution to teenagers' careers.     

Since its establishment, GYDF has taken an active participation in social welfare with support from different sectors of society. It promotes "Help the Disadvantaged," devotes itself to building a harmonious society, and remains dedicated to helping poor students learn. When the whole nation was faced with natural disasters, GYDF united and led the municipal youth to work in earthquake relief. This manifests noble spirits of great love in Guangzhou.

Through 20 years of development, GYDF, with the help of the public, has advanced with the times and solicited social resources, made a greater contribution to social welfare by building its website and Weibo, and organized voluntary service groups to broaden serving fields for teenagers.

About Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center

Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center (GWCMC) was established with the integration of the former Guangzhou Children's Hospital and former Guangzhou Maternity Health Care Center. Covering an area of 37,000 square meters and a built-up area of 130,000 square meters, the hospital is equipped with 1,400 beds. Among the 2,603 staff, 282 hold senior titles, 573 have received master's level educations or above and 47 of them are MD or MS mentors. In December 2012, GWCMC became the first public hospital in southern China to earn JCI accreditation. 

The Hospital has greatly enhanced its capacity building. Three specialties have been honorably recognized as National Key Clinical Specialties entitled by the Ministry of Health, including Respiratory, Gastroenterology and Pediatric Surgery; six as Guangdong Key Clinical Disciplines or Specialties and one as Key Medical Laboratories listed in Guangdong "12^th Five Year Plan." It has been authorized to set up the National Post-Doctoral Research Station. Affiliated to Guangzhou Medical University, it also serves as a teaching, training and internship base for Sun Yat-sen University, South China Medical University and Jinan University Graduate School.

The hospital has evolved to a high-level, comprehensive and multi-disciplinary health care institution, integrating the function of medical and healthcare, prevention, research and education.

Caring for women and children with benevolence and expertise remains at the core of the hospital's mission. Its culture stems from the motto of "Integrity, Professionalism, Endeavor and Diligence," and core values of love, harmony, prudence and practicality.

Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Centre spares no effort in communication and cooperation with counterparts nationwide and worldwide. We have developed strong connections with British Columbia Children's Hospital, Kansas Children's Mercy Hospital, Cincinnati Children's Hospital and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) through ongoing exchanges in training and research.

Ms. Rachel Chen
Communication Manager
The American Chamber of Commerce in South China
Tel:           86-20-8335-1476 ext. 39
Fax:          86-20-8332-1642
E-mail:     [email protected]

SOURCE AmCham South China