Mr. Tin's charitable deeds are like the countless, dazzling stars in the summer sky—numerous, brilliant, and awe-inspiring. Across the Greater China region, whether in Hong Kong, Macau, Mainland China, or Taiwan, one can see schools, libraries, educational foundations, hospitals, youth centers, bridges, roads, and more, all named after "Tian Jiabing." This Hong Kong "King of Artificial Leather," who created miracles in life with strong willpower and extraordinary courage, humbly says: "Spending my money in the most useful places is more meaningful than using it for myself."
In his youth, Mr. Tin started his business in ceramic clay in Vietnam. Later, due to the war, he moved to Indonesia to engage in the sale of rubber products. Finally, he decided to relocate his family to Hong Kong to start from scratch. He worked tirelessly, building his business from the ground up, always adhering to the business principle of "I would rather be wronged than wrong others," which impressed many business partners and earned their trust. His success in the plastics and synthetic leather industry allowed his wealth to grow, but he remained frugal and humble. He even sold his own house to continuously fund the construction of schools, renting a place to live to this day. His personal sacrifices were made to provide educational opportunities for thousands of students in over 20 schools. He said: "The economic benefits are greater, and the spiritual comfort is much more."
Mr. Tin has now retired from the "Tin Ka Ping Foundation" as an honorary chairman without decision-making power. He has donated all his properties to the foundation to ensure its operations move toward institutionalization. His determination, courage, modesty, sincerity, and deep care for his country and fellow citizens embody all virtues. Mr. Tin is not only a successful businessman and philanthropist but also a source of pride and honor for the Chinese-speaking world!
His friends describe him as someone who "always sees the future direction of Taiwan and the areas that need attention, diving headfirst into transformative projects." His "irresistible passion" is driven by a desire to "save the last breath of Taiwan." At 66, Yan Changshou, the chairman of the Atour Hotel, has long been dedicated to promoting Taiwan's tourism industry. With his inspiring books and speeches, he became a best-selling author and the best spokesperson for Taiwan's tourism and culture, winning numerous national and international awards.
However, in recent years, this "Lion-hearted CEO" has refused to retire and enjoy a life of leisure. Instead, driven by his vision of the future and his imagination for Taiwan, he is determined to "ride the wind" and "plant hope for the land of Huatung." The title he values most now is "Chairman of the Junyi Academy, Taitung County private junior high school and the Waldorf Preschool CiXin in Taitung County." Through his "The Alliance Cultural Foundation," over the past three years, he has brought 5,000 people to experience the beauty of the mountains, seas, and culture of the Huatung area. He has also adopted four high schools and vocational schools in Taitung, offering courses themed around local advantages and connecting students to employment. His goal is to provide rural education with more promising hope and a brighter future.
With his love, determination, sense of mission, and the heart of a religious leader, he is fully committed to protecting the pristine land of Huatung and rewriting its future, enjoying the process without feeling the weight of age.
The "Taiwanese Grandriders" motorcycle round-the-island event organized by Lin Yiying has become a symbol of passionate dreams for many elderly people, showing the infinite possibilities of seniors and encouraging more people in Taiwan, especially younger generations, to connect with the elderly. Older adults are often seen as a burden to society due to their perceived lack of competitiveness and productivity, which leads to feelings of inferiority and passivity among them. Lin Yiying believes that to change this societal attitude and achieve harmony, we must first embrace and accept each other, and also help seniors develop their value and realize their potential.
After taking over the leadership of the Hondao Senior Citizen's Welfare Foundation in 2005, Lin Yiying made it her mission to help the elderly, who had been overshadowed by darkness, regain confidence in life. Her work goes beyond providing basic care and nutrition; she focuses on nurturing their hearts, helping them rediscover their value in society. From teaching them to write their names and take the subway, to organizing the "Taiwanese Grandriders" event in 2007 despite widespread opposition, she made it possible for elderly people to ride motorcycles around Taiwan and fulfill their dreams. Through mutual support and encouragement, they achieved this remarkable feat, their dreams validated, and their courage received attention and recognition from society.
Hondao's services extend to the younger generation as well, with initiatives like the "Micro-Filial Piety Action" and "Elderly Experience" encouraging younger people to care for the elderly. However, gaining societal support has not been easy. Lin Yiying's path to elderly innovation has been challenging, but the transformation of the elderly has deeply moved her. She feels the spirit of her grandmother, who is now in heaven, supporting her to continue forward.
At the age of four, Zheng Shuyun contracted polio, leaving her legs impaired. However, she did not pity herself due to her physical limitations. Instead, she became more proactive in social welfare work, helping the most vulnerable groups in Taiwan. Her greatest wish was to promote an accessible tourism environment in Taiwan, helping people with disabilities to step out of the darkness and enabling them to work and travel freely, no longer being a burden to their families and society. Zheng Shuyun's resilient personality and determination led her to establish accessible tourism development, the Taiwan Osteogenesis Imperfecta Association, and the Angel Choir over the course of 15 years. She organized accessible dream bus tours, served as a life education lecturer, and assisted government departments in surveying accessible facilities and creating relevant policies.
By overcoming her own obstacles and dedicating herself selflessly, Zheng Shuyun's love and influence on others grew exponentially. Through her life and actions, she demonstrated that people with physical and mental disabilities also possess incredible vitality. She optimistically smiles and says, "I'm not a perfect person, but I am a nearly perfect one." Zheng Shuyun's beauty comes from the heart.
At the beginning, there was only him as a volunteer teacher and one student who had dropped out of school. After two years of persistence, the initiative has now grown to over 2,000 volunteer teachers and more than 1,800 students from low-income families signing up. Over 740 students are receiving free tutoring, and the numbers continue to rise.
What makes this even more remarkable is that Chan, who helps students abandoned by the mainstream education system, comes from a family that is not wealthy. He also has three children to support, placing the financial burden on his wife, who works as a civil servant. What is truly admirable is that he has the understanding and support of his wife. Despite a significantly lower standard of living, he has no regrets and remains solely focused on helping those students. As for the funding, it comes from donations from kind-hearted people or the few thousand dollars he earns from writing articles for newspapers, which help cover expenses. He has sacrificed the economic safety net of a comfortable life for his family. This selfless dedication is the best example of "leading by example" for his children and society.
Chan firmly believes that these underprivileged students at least deserve a more equitable learning support system, which could bring hope for a brighter future. He has vowed to dedicate his life to this educational cause.