Charity fund launches support program for premature babies

A new charity initiative in Longhua District is bringing more support to premature babies and low-birth-weight infants and their families.

The “Longhua Community Charity Month” campaign was launched Sept. 5 at Mission Hills Mall in Longhua District, marking the 11th China Charity Day. The event also saw the launch of a new subproject dedicated to helping children from disadvantaged families who need treatment and rehabilitation after premature birth.

Participants pose for a group photo at Mission Hills Mall in Longhua District on Sept. 5. Photos courtesy of the Caring Hearts United (CHU) Fund

The Caring Hearts United (CHU) Fund, under the Longhua District Charity Association, is the district’s first charity fund dedicated to helping children with serious illnesses. It provides medical assistance, rehabilitation support, household visits, psychological counseling and care guidance, while bringing together social organizations, businesses and volunteers to support families in need.

At the launch event, Caitlin Tsai, CHU's coordinating director, called for greater public participation in the new initiative. The fund has raised more than 1.52 million yuan and provided over 800,000 yuan in assistance to children in need.

The new premature infant assistance program will adopt a “funding plus services” model. It will provide financial support for post-treatment care and rehabilitation, while offering home visits, psychological support, childcare guidance and access to rehabilitation resources. The program aims to ease the financial and emotional burden on families and improve the long-term health and development of premature infants.

The initiative seeks to build a sustainable social support mechanism for children and families facing hardship.

A charity fair was also held at the event, featuring charity culture exhibitions, fundraising sales, community services and introductions to community charity programs. The activities aimed to encourage more residents and organizations to take part in public welfare efforts.

A charity fair is held during the event.

The CHU Fund was founded by three sisters of the Chu family in 2018 to provide medical and rehabilitation assistance to children with serious illnesses in Longhua and support the development of public welfare initiatives.