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Chen Shu-chu
Chen Shu-Chu in 2010
Born1950
Yunlin County, Taiwan
Occupation(s)Vegetable vendor, philanthropist
AwardsRamon Magsaysay Award (2012)

Chen Shu-chu (Chinese: 陳樹菊; pinyin: Chén Shùjú; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Tân Sū-kiok, born 1950) is a Taiwanese retired vegetable vendor and philanthropist.

Biography

Chen Shu-chu was born in Yunlin County. When she was seven, Chen and her family moved to Taitung, where she graduated from Jen-Ai elementary school.[1][2] She lived in a household of eight who were all dependent on her father, a vegetable vendor. Her mother died due to obstructed labour because the family could not afford the medical expenses.[2] After her mother's death, at the age of 13, Chen began working as a vegetable vendor in the Taitung Central Market to earn money for her family.[2][3] Her youngest brother died in 1969 from influenza unable to afford treatment.[2][1] Her second youngest brother later died from a traffic accident. Chen continued working and sponsored her older brother's college studies.

After her surviving siblings began their own families, Chen decided to focus her philanthropic efforts on others, so that her wealth would not become a topic of family disputes.[1]

Philanthropy

After her father died in 1993, Chen donated NT$1 million to Fo Guang Buddhist Academy. In 1997, she donated NT$1 million to her alma mater, Jen-Ai elementary school.[4] Since she could not afford to go to school as a child, she wanted to help children receive better education. Later, she donated NT$4.5 million to Jen-Ai elementary school to build its own library.

In 2010, she was listed in the 2010 TIME 100.[5]

As of 2014, she had donated over NT$10 million (Equivalent to $350,000 American dollars or £210,000 British pounds).[2]

Chen adopted three abandoned kids at the Christian KidsAlive International Association,[6] and donates NT$36,000 to the organization every year.

In 2018, Chen was invited to attend the flag-raising ceremony during the National Day of the Republic of China held by Taitung City Government. At the ceremony, she announced that she had donated her two life insurance policies to East-based Medical Foundation Taitung Christian Hospital and Mackay Memorial Hospital Taitung Branch to set up "Ms. Chen Shu-chu Medical Fund for Poor and Cancer Patients" and "Ms. Chen Shu-chu Medical Fund for Charities", respectively.[7] The two insurance policies are worth NT$16,000,000.[7] The money will be paid by the insurer upon the death of Chen Shu-Chu.

Also in 2018, Chen officially retired following a bout of appendicitis early in the year, and moved to Kaohsiung.[3]

In 2021, Chen, in honour of her mother, donated NT$15 million to create a fund to provide financial aid to pregnant women and scholarships to children who lose their mothers in childbirth.[7]

Personal life

Chen is a Buddhist and a vegetarian.[2] She never married.[2][1]

Book

Sensational Kindness is a 2011 biography of Chen written by Liu Yung-yi.[1] The writer spent about half a year interviewing Chen.

Accolades

She was selected as one of the Time 100 for year 2010 in the heroes category.[8] She was also one of the 48 heroes of philanthropy by Forbes in 2010.[9] Reader's Digest also honoured her as the winner of 2010 Asian of the year.[10]

In 2012, she was selected as a Ramon Magsaysay Award winner.[11] She donated her US$50,000 prize to Mackay Memorial Hospital.[2][12]

In 2018, the asteroid 278986 Chenshuchu was named for her.[13]

References

Wikiquote has quotations related to Chen Shu-chu.
  1. ^ a b c d e Han Cheung (August 27, 2023). "Taiwan in Time: Donating millions from a vegetable stall". Taipei Times. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Sui, Cindy (October 6, 2014). "The Taiwanese vegetable seller turned philanthropist". BBC News. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Philanthropist Chen Shu-chu retires: official - Taipei Times". www.taipeitimes.com. April 6, 2018. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  4. ^ "Honoring Chen, Shu-chu". Taipei Times. July 28, 2012.
  5. ^ "The 2010 TIME 100 - TIME". Time. ISSN 0040-781X. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  6. ^ "Kids alive International Association at Taitung". Retrieved May 1, 2010.
  7. ^ a b c "Philanthropist gives NT$15m to help pregnant women". Taipei Times. August 29, 2021. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  8. ^ Lee, Ang (April 29, 2010). "The 2010 TIME 100 - TIME". Time. ISSN 0040-781X. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  9. ^ "In Pictures: 48 Heroes of Philanthropy - Chen Shu-chu". Forbes. March 9, 2010. Retrieved April 30, 2010.
  10. ^ "Asian of the year - The Generous Vegetable Seller". Reader's Digest. Archived from the original on December 19, 2010. Retrieved March 1, 2011.
  11. ^ Sarimento, Christine Joy (July 26, 2012). "2012 Ramon Magsaysay Award winners announced". Archived from the original on July 28, 2012. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  12. ^ "Chen Shu-chu donates prize money to hospital". Taiwan Today. September 4, 2012. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  13. ^ Lu, Tai-cheng; Wang, Flor (September 6, 2018). "Asteroid named after Taiwanese philanthropic vendor". Taiwan News. Central News Agency. Archived from the original on September 6, 2018. Retrieved September 7, 2018. Alt URL
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