The Chou Ta-kuan Cultural and Educational Foundation stirred up controversy yesterday with its announcement that Chinese philanthropist Chen Guangbiao (陳光標) was one of the recipients of this year’s Global Love of Lives Medal.
Chen, a Chinese tycoon, caused a stir during his visit to Taiwan earlier this year, basking in the limelight of his flamboyant style of charity.
He reportedly donated more than NT$500 million (US$17.3 million) to poor Taiwanese.
For this year’s Global Love of Lives Medal, the foundation had chosen 17 out of 1,984 applicants from a variety of nations, such as Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, the US, Malaysia, Guam and Argentina.
However, a number of people could not come to terms with the foundation’s choice upon hearing the news, believing that donations made in such a vulgar way did not make Chen a role-model for charity.
A Taipei office worker surnamed Chou (周) said Chen’s high-profile charity work was nothing more than a publicity stunt.
“His previous visit already made a lot of people feel disrespected and I don’t think a Taiwanese NGO should give him an award,” Chou said.
Chang Tao-chi (張道琪), a student at National Tsing Hua University’s Sociology Department, said he didn’t understand what linked Chen to “loving life,” which the award honors.
Saying there are many Taiwanese people who love life and are devoted to charity, but do it quietly, Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Huang Wei-cher (黃偉哲) said he just didn’t understand the foundation’s nomination process.
Noting that doing charity is a good deed and that different people have different styles, Taiwan Normal University professor Wu Wu-tien (吳武典) suggested that Taiwan, as a multi-cultural society, should be more tolerant of Chen.
The foundation’s secretary-general Sun Hsin-yi (孫心怡) said the evaluation focuses on the individual’s story and whether the individual helps others and makes a contribution to society. Although Chen was controversial, the foundation hopes that people can see Chen’s charitable side, she added.
Chen was happy to hear he was one of the award recipients, said Sun, adding that Chen is slated to come to Taiwan in May to receive the award in person.
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