Lin Zhixin’s Alternative Approach to Charitable Works

By+ZHANG+CHENYI

LIN Zhixin， head of Honghua Concentric Masonic and president of Hong Hua Childrens Home in Chinas Taiwan， is distinct from other philanthropists and charitable workers. This is partly due to his focus on vulnerable groups not included under the government budget， and partly because Honghua Concentric Masonic funds come from self-motivated voluntary donations， rather than governmental aid or appeals to the general public.

New Approach to Charity

In 1984， Lin Zhixin obtained permission to register the private Honghua Concentric Masonic charity. His aim was to donate coffins to impoverished families， bring emergency aid to people in need， and help children who have no legal guardian. In 1985 Lin set up the Hong Hua Childrens Home， which fosters and educates homeless youths.

If such benefactions do not stem from government or welfare departments， then what exactly is the source of these funds？ According to Lin， all contributions come from benevolent people.

Lin firmly believes that his wholehearted devotion to charities has finally won him recognition and approval from the general public. Donors are provided with detailed information on the poverty-stricken predicaments of people applying for funds. “Seeing is believing. These authentication materials help us to garner the trust and support of donors， and to reassure them that their money is put to good use，” Lin explained.

His 30 or more years of endeavor have convinced Lin that one should“give before receiving.” In earlier times Lin and his late wife Luo Meidai indeed donated almost all their family property to philanthropic undertakings. Lin even donated the entire insurance payment he received after his wifes accidental road death to the Hong Hua Childrens Home. “Its like digging a well. No matter how arduous the task， you have to keep working. Your reward is the eventual discovery of an underground spring. When anyone needs water， you give it to them and it is automatically replenished. Water flows only where there is room for it，” Lin said. In the recent six years， Hong Hua Childrens Home has received such abundant donations that Honghua Concentric Masonic has redirected some of them to other charities and to needy people. They include 210，000 kg of rice， along with countless general food supplies， fruits and vegetables， clothing and stationery.

Lins unique approach to philanthropy entails a risky path paved with unexpected challenges due to his insistence on not resorting to governmental support or launching any public initiative to raise funds. But from Lins perspective， public acknowledgment and growing donations are the main indicators of his success.endprint

Unsung Beneficiaries

Lin became headmaster of the Taipei Municipal GE-ZHI Junior High School in 1969. During his visit to school childrens homes he was shocked to find that large numbers of them lived in penury. Although their lives were a daily struggle， the dilapidated houses they inhabited and scraps of barren land they owned nevertheless disqualified them from government welfare. Lin accordingly set about raising money and collecting donations from warmhearted relatives and friends to support these poor children. It has since become a lifelong undertaking.

Donating coffins to indigent families so that they might give their loved ones a decent burial was Lins earliest mission. Applicants apply through township governments， public service stations， community hospitals， and local administrative offices. More than NT$ 10 million is thus spent each year.

Contact with poverty-stricken families supporting relatives who are in a vegetative state， elderly folk living alone， and disabled people sorely in need of care spurred Lin on to further actions. In addition to financial support， Lins charity also contributes second-hand supplies to impoverished households and remote rural families. Financial aid for this group of people， along with the basic necessities they receive of rice， flour， cooking oil and clothing， amounts to more than NT$ 10 million annually.

Special support for children who have no legal guardians is Lins main focus. The Hong Hua Childrens Home， affiliated to Honghua Concentric Masonic， was specifically established for children whose single mothers have abandoned them or whose parents have divorced， committed suicide， or are serving jail terms. There is no government subsidy available for this group of vulnerable children. Lins Childrens Home is consequently a haven for them.

Caring for people who have no one to turn to and are on the verge of despair epitomizes Lins concept of charity. The road to benevolence has many pitfalls， but Lins commitment keeps him on it.

Distinctive Charitable Institution

Unlike conventional orphanages， Hong Hua fosters children whose fami- lies have forgotten them and whom society overlooks.

Located in a tranquil village in Taoyuan County， northwestern Taiwan， the Hong Hua Childrens Home stands amid beautiful scenery in a pleasant climate. The courtyard commands a grand view of the provinces central mountain range to its east， and to its west is the vast ocean of the Taiwan Strait. The north overlooks Zhuyuan Fishing Port and its vista of Guanyin Mountain 30 km away， and Datun and Qixing Mountains 50 km further on. South is the Yong-An Fishing Port and Xinwu Greenery Corridor tourist destinations.endprint

Over the past 30 or more years， the childrens home has nurtured thousands of homeless children. In addition to attending to their daily life needs， it is also responsible for their schooling， training in social skills， behavioral rehabilitation and psychological consultations. It also arranges contacts with their families. This specifically designed scheme provides children with a home where they are brought up and can share their happiness and sorrows with a big family.

Daily care is not the sole domain of the facility. Life experience classes also feature. Eight years ago， Lin started a class during winter and summer vacations for urban children whose suffering had embittered and given them a jaded world view. Its participants have since surpassed 3，000.

Lin has successfully created a new approach to charitable works， characterized by his personal understanding of benevolence. His wholehearted devotion has encouraged others also to express in deeds their willingness and concern.

Fulfilling charitable causes constitutes Lins commitment to and practice of philanthropy over the past 30 years. It is now his lifetime pursuit.endprint