Air China has donated RMB200,000 to the China Youth Development Foundation to secure a pair of track shoes worn by Liu Xiang, China's 100-meter hurdles Gold Medalist at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.
The gift was made at the "Warm Spring 2007 – I Have A Dream" charity auction organized by China Central Television to raise tuition funds for children who cannot afford to go to school in China.
Air China also provided the auction with eight "Forbidden Pavilion" first class and "Capital Pavilion" business class tickets on the airline's North American and European routes. Charitable buyers at the auction aggressively bid the tickets up to RMB800,000 to benefit the children's scholarship fund. Li Jiaxiang, Chairman of Air China Limited, announced at the dinner auction that the carrier would also contribute RMB600,000 to the China Youth Development Foundation, providing a similar US$100,000 donation in total.
In the past five years, since 2002, Air China has contributed more than RMB430 million to different kinds of charitable activities.
"We are so pleased to demonstrate our commitment to these causes and, at the same time, to remind people of Air China's commitment to the Olympics," said Zhang Chunzhi, Secretary-General for the Air China Olympic Project Committee and General Manager for the Air China Marketing Department. "Air China has an important role as corporate citizens and national representatives, and we enjoy the opportunities we have to show it."
