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Text: Yu Yu
Edited by Yu Yu
Preface:
He was once a legend in China's philanthropic circle, shocking the world with a mountain of cash piles, and in just a few years, he made a high-profile donation of 2 billion yuan, becoming China's first charity.
However, just as he became famous, he suddenly disappeared from public view, what caused his retirement? What does his story teach us?
From a poor teenager to a business wizard
In 1968, an ordinary farmer in Sihong County, Jiangsu Province, welcomed their fourth child, Chen Guangbiao, and no one could have imagined that this child, born in poverty, would become a legend in China's philanthropic world.
Chen Guangbiao's childhood was spent in material deprivation, with five children in the family, his father suffering from asthma, and his mother in poor health.
When his peers were still worried about exams in junior high school, Chen Guangbiao had already begun to set up a stall to sell popsicles, and the income of a few yuan a day was insignificant in the eyes of others, but for Chen Guangbiao, it was the first step to change his fate.
His business acumen and hard work soon earned him a reputation as a thousand-dollar household in the local area, and this precocious business acumen was further honed during his college years.
The small trading of daily necessities and snacks on campus has accumulated valuable experience and the first pot of gold for Chen Guangbiao.
In 1996, 28-year-old Chen Guangbiao founded Nanjing Jinweili Electronic Medical Equipment Co., Ltd. with years of accumulated experience and funds.
The success of this product not only brought considerable profits to Chen Guangbiao, but more importantly, he saw the huge potential of the medical device industry.
In just a few years, Chen Guangbiao has transformed from an unknown rural youth into a successful entrepreneur worth hundreds of millions.
This entrepreneurial history from zero to one is not only a testimony of his personal struggle, but also an important capital for him to devote himself to philanthropy in the future.
However, Chen Guangbiao was not satisfied with his business success, perhaps because his childhood experience of poverty gave him a special empathy for the bottom of society, or perhaps driven by the sense of social responsibility brought by wealth, Chen Guangbiao began to set his sights on philanthropy.
This turning point not only changed the trajectory of Chen's life, but also brought a new force to China's philanthropy.
However, no one could have predicted that this road to philanthropy would be so bumpy, full of controversy and doubt.
Chen Guangbiao's philanthropic contributions
In 2003, when the SARS epidemic ravaged the country, Chen Guangbiao resolutely donated a large number of epidemic prevention materials to the society.
This act became the beginning of his philanthropic career and gave him his first taste of social acclaim for his good deeds.
As if opening a Pandora's box, Chen Guangbiao's charity road was out of control, and in 2004, he donated 5 million yuan to the Indonesian tsunami.
In the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, he personally led a team to the disaster area, saving more than 200 lives.
However, what really made Chen Guangbiao the focus of public opinion was the sensational cash wall incident in 2010.
At a charity event, Chen Guangbiao stood in front of a cash wall made up of 43 million yuan bills to announce his determination to donate to the world.
This scene was like a bombshell, which caused huge repercussions in the society, and some people praised his generosity and called him China's first kindness; Others have questioned the motives of this high-profile approach, arguing that it is sensationalism.
After the investigation, the reporter found that 33 million of the 43 million yuan was Chen Guangbiao's personal one, and the rest came from donations from all walks of life.
According to statistics, in just a few years, he has donated as much as 2 billion yuan, setting a new record for China's non-governmental charity.
Others even questioned whether his huge donations were genuine and whether the company had such a strong strength to support these charitable acts.
From China's first philanthropist to a show philanthropist, Chen's public image has plummeted, and what was once praise has turned into overwhelming doubts, and his every move has been put under the microscope and cannot be hidden.
This tremendous pressure of public opinion has not only affected Chen Guangbiao's philanthropy, but also brought profound reflection to the entire Chinese philanthropic community.
People are starting to wonder: what is true philanthropy, high-profile or low-key, which approach is more suitable for China's philanthropic environment, and does the motivation of philanthropists matter, or is it just about the results?
Chen Guangbiao's story has become a mirror in the development of China's philanthropy, reflecting the profound changes in society's understanding and expectations of philanthropy.
The turn of public opinion from the first good to the first deception
In 2015, Chen Guangbiao's philanthropic career ushered in an important turning point, once China's first charity, but now he has been labeled as China's first fraud.
This dramatic shift not only reflects the changing public attitude towards philanthropy, but also reveals the deep-seated problems facing philanthropy in China.
As skepticism continues to grow, Mr. Chen's philanthropic behavior is placed under a magnifying glass, and every donation he makes, every public appearance, provokes heated discussions.
Some have pointed out that the amount of his donation does not correspond to the actual situation, and others have questioned whether his business is really capable of supporting such a large amount of charitable spending.
Even more troubling is that some media outlets have begun to dig into the state of Chen's business, with reports that his company is in financial trouble and may even be facing bankruptcy.
The news further heightened public skepticism, and Chen chose to remain silent in the face of overwhelming doubts.
He gradually faded out of public view and no longer appeared frequently on various charitable occasions, and this sudden disappearance has sparked new speculation and discussion.
Some people believe that Chen Guangbiao chose to quit because he could not withstand the pressure of public opinion, while others speculate that he may have had to keep a low profile because of business problems.
In any case, this former charity star seems to have lost his halo overnight, and people in the philanthropic community have different views on the Chen Guangbiao incident.
Some argue that Chen's high-profile behavior, despite its controversial behavior, has certainly boosted public attention to charity.
There has also been a marked shift in the attitude of the media, from the initial praise of the report, to the later questioning investigation, and now to the cynicism, the media's brushstrokes reflect the change in the public's perception of charity.
This drastic turn in public opinion has not only affected Chen Guangbiao personally, but also brought profound reflection to the entire Chinese philanthropic community.
People began to think: how to judge a philanthropist, whether by the amount of his donations, or by the way he does good deeds, high-profile charity or low-key charity, which is more suitable for China's national conditions?
More importantly, the Chen Guangbiao case has exposed the lack of transparency and regulation of philanthropy in China.
How to establish an open, transparent and supervisable charity system has become the focus of attention from all walks of life.
Returning to the countryside and reshaping the concept of charity
After disappearing from the whirlpool of public opinion for a while, Chen Guangbiao's figure reappeared, but in an unexpected place - in the fields of his hometown, Sihong County, Jiangsu Province.
The former Chinese philanthropist now lives the life of an ordinary farmer, growing vegetables and chickens, accompanying his elderly father, away from the once hustle and bustle of the business world and philanthropic circles.
When the epidemic broke out in Wuhan in 2020, he silently donated more than 60 million yuan in materials, and in 2024, he donated another 2,000 tons of coal to the disaster area in Gansu.
Although these behaviors are not as high-profile as they used to be, they still reflect his concern for society, and the evaluation of Chen Guangbiao by the people in his hometown is in stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of the outside world.
In the eyes of the villagers, he has always been the warm-hearted big brother next door, a villager said: After the cursor came back, he often funded the needy households to help the elderly.
This contrast makes people wonder: what is true charity, is it a vigorous large-scale gesture, or an accumulation of obscure bits and pieces?
In an interview with the media, Chen Guangbiao made a rare reflection on the past, saying: "The previous approach may have been a bit rushed, focusing too much on the form and ignoring the essence.
Now I understand that true philanthropy should be sustained and targeted, not a momentary sensation.
The remarks seem to be an explanation for the high-profile behavior of the past, as well as a vision of the future of philanthropy.
It is worth noting that although Chen Guangbiao chose to keep a low profile and do good, he has not completely withdrawn from the public eye.
These actions not only show that he has not given up his concern for society, but also reflect a more peaceful attitude towards life.
Chen Guangbiao's change has triggered a rethinking of the nature of philanthropy from all walks of life, and some commentators believe that true charity should not be a momentary sensation, but should be continuous dedication and thoughtful planning.
It has also been pointed out that while the personal image of the philanthropist is important, it is more important to have the actual impact of the philanthropic act itself.
From the elite of the business world to working in the fields, from high-profile philanthropy to silent philanthropy, Chen Guangbiao's story is legendary.
It is not only a change in the trajectory of life, but also a microcosm of the development of China's philanthropy.
Through his story, we can get a glimpse into the development of philanthropy in China and the evolution of public perception of philanthropy.
Epilogue:
Chen Guangbiao's philanthropic journey is like a mirror, reflecting the twists and turns in the development of China's philanthropy.
From the initial high-profile donation to the controversy that followed, and then to the current retreat, each stage has left a profound inspiration on us.
His story tells us that true charity lies not in the form of publicity, but in the sincerity of the heart and the continuity of action.
It requires transparency, truthfulness, long-term persistence and rational planning, and although Chen Guangbiao's approach has caused many controversies, his contribution to Chinese philanthropy cannot be ignored.
His experience provides an opportunity for the whole society to reflect and grow, and we look forward to seeing more rational, transparent and sustainable philanthropy models in the future to jointly promote the healthy development of philanthropy in China.
Let us look at charity with a more inclusive and rational attitude, and work together to create a warmer and more loving society.
Resources:
On January 20, 2024, China Fortune Network released "Chen Guangbiao's Donation of Disaster Relief Materials to Gansu and Qinghai Earthquake-stricken Areas"
China Times published on March 1, 2024 "See Chen Guangbiao Again: Being a good person and doing good deeds is more than 10 times more difficult than being a business"
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