Cathay United Bank Foundation [Big Tree Project]

(Taiwan Business News) Cathay United Bank, upholding the principle of "take from society, give back to society," established its foundation and has actively engaged in various public welfare undertakings for thirty-four years. The "Big Tree Project" handles two scholarship donations each year to help children from impoverished families or families that have suffered major upheavals continue their schooling with peace of mind. It is an important charitable program launched by the Cathay United Bank Foundation in 2004 and is now advancing toward its second decade.

The scholarship donation ceremony for the second semester of the 102nd academic year under the "Big Tree Project" was held on the afternoon of April 22 at the Cathay Financial Conference Hall. Taoyuan Elementary School of Taoyuan County and Zhuofeng Elementary School of Hualien County were invited to perform on site. The ceremony was presided over by Wang Kuo-hua, Chairman of the Cathay United Bank Foundation, who presented scholarships to five counties: Yilan, Taoyuan, Changhua, Yunlin and Chiayi, with Lin Wei-chih, Deputy Director-General of the Taoyuan County Government Education Bureau, delivering remarks on behalf of the educational authorities. This semester, the Cathay United Bank Foundation donated a total of NT$5 million in scholarships, benefiting 4,334 children across 137 junior high and elementary schools, to be used for paying this semester's tuition and miscellaneous fees. The Big Tree Project scholarship donations have now entered their 11th year, with cumulative donations exceeding NT$105 million, helping nearly 68,000 person-times.

The foundation is entrusted with administering the "Liao Tian-cai and Liao Chiu-kan Charitable Fund" account, which began donating scholarships in 2008. This semester it again allocated nearly NT$370,000 to donate toward the collection-and-payment fees or lunch fees of students at Taoyuan Elementary School and Guishan Elementary School in Taoyuan County. Mr. Liao Hung-ta, the donation representative, presented the scholarships. Mr. Liao took up the baton of public welfare from his father, remaining true to his original aspiration of continuously giving back to his hometown, while his siblings also all joined in, and their spirit is truly admirable. This was the 12th scholarship donation by this account, with cumulative donations of nearly NT$5.5 million, helping more than 2,000 person-times.