A group of entrepreneurs, who came from the prefecture-level city of Shaoyang in Hunan province and set up their own enterprises elsewhere, have been dedicating to an aid project by offering help to impoverished students in the city since 2015.

More than 300 students in the city's Shaodong, Shaoyang, Xinshao, Xinning, Dongkou and Longhui regions have received donated materials worth 3.2 million yuan ($449,000) during the period.

Many of the assisted students have entered their desired universities through concerted efforts, and some have already graduated and found jobs.

In a bid to expand the aid project, the group of entrepreneurs officially launched a public-welfare foundation on June 6 in Central China's Hunan, with an aim to establish a long-term mechanism for assisting underprivileged students, and supporting them to become useful talents beneficial to society.

The Hunan Baoqing Public Welfare Foundation, as a non-public fundraising foundation and a public welfare social organization, has been approved by the Hunan Provincial Department of Civil Affairs, and has a board of directors and a board of supervisors.

Jin Yuxing, honorary chairman of the foundation, reiterated that it will adhere to its original intention of educational public welfare, promote the culture of charity, and provide opportunities for children from financially challenged families to change their destiny through education.

The foundation has received strong support from various sectors of society and the caring enterprises, with a fund size now reaching 4 million yuan.

Also on June 6, the first meeting of the foundation's board of directors elected the foundation's chairman, vice-chairman and secretary general, with Liu Jiao, board director and general manager of Shenzhen Huayisheng Mold Co Ltd serving as the chairperson. Luo Lin was elected vice-chairman, and Li Wu as the secretary general.

It has been learned that the foundation will stick to three operating principles — offering direct aid to students without any intermediary agencies, continuous free assistance until the student or their family achieves financial independence, as well as providing mental care and face-to-face interaction with the supported students.

The foundation was initiated in 2015 by this group of Shaoyang natives working and starting businesses outside their hometown.

Please contact the writers at zhuangqiange@chinadaily.com.cn