AmCham South China Kicks Off its 2013 Charity Fundraising Effort with RMB500,000 from Mead Johnson

GUANGZHOU, China, Nov. 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Chamber of Commerce in South China (AmCham South China) today announced details of its annual charity fundraising effort. This year's program is co-organized by the Guangzhou People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the Guangzhou Charity Association (under Guangzhou Civil Affairs Bureau) and the Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, aiming to raise donations of materiel and funds. The in-kind donations will be distributed in Guangdong's impoverished Changyuan Village (part of Meizhou city) on January 9, 2014. Additionally, cash donations will be used to help poor villages and poor causes; finance medical treatments for orphaned children at the Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center and to help build a safe water facility for a poor village in Guizhou. All donations will go through Guangzhou Youth Development Foundation with proper receipts issued to the donors.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131106/CN11599 )

AmCham South China President Harley Seyedin disclosed the plans and beneficiaries. He also noted that weeks before the official launch, Mead Johnson Nutrition, had already pledged 500,000 yuan in cash.

Events planned under the cooperative effort include:

1. Press Conference, Nov. 6^th

• To inform the press and the public about the background and action plan of the Charity Theme Events and to build awareness of the need for philanthropy and to collect donations for initiating poverty alleviation projects in Changyuan Village and orphans in need of medical treatment.
• To call for more donors' participation.

2. Inspection Tour of Changyuan Village, January 9-10^th, 2014

A corporate delegation with potential investors and experts will visit Changyuan Village for projects, accompanied by a team from the Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center who will provide free medical services to villagers, and build awareness of the need for philanthropy.

About The American Chamber of Commerce in South China

The American Chamber of Commerce in South China (AmCham South China) is a non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to facilitating bilateral trade between the United States and the People's Republic of China. Certified in 1995 by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington D.C., AmCham South China represents more than 2,000 corporate and individual members, is governed by a fully-independent Board of Governors elected from its membership, and provides dynamic, on-the-ground support for American and International companies doing business in South China. In 2012, AmCham South China hosted nearly 10,000 business executives and government leaders from around the world at its briefings, seminars, committee meetings and social gatherings. The American Chamber of Commerce in South China is a fully-independent organization accredited by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C. All AmChams in China are independently governed and represent member companies in their respective regions.

The mission of the American Chamber of Commerce in South China is to promote the development of trade, commerce and investment between the United States and the People's Republic of China with a special focus on South China; to provide a forum in which member businesses can identify their common interests and discuss solutions for common problems; to work with and advocate member interests with relevant organizations in South China, elsewhere in China and the United States, and to set the standards for corporate social responsibility for the community that the Chamber serves.

About Mead Johnson Nutrition Company and Mead Johnson Nutrition China Ltd.

Mead Johnson Nutrition Company was founded in 1905 by Edward Mead Johnson. Its global Headquarters are located in Glenview, Illinois, and the Global Research and Development Center and Global Operations Center are located in Evansville, Indiana, in the United States. Mead Johnson has a proud history of over 100 years and is a global leader in infant and children's nutrition. We have been committed from our very beginning to become the world's leading pediatric nutrition company by nourishing the world's children for their best start in life.

Mead Johnson Nutrition China was founded in 1993. Our manufacturing facility is located at Dong Ji Xia Yuan Road of Guangzhou Economic and Technological Development Zone, and covers an area of 60,000 square meters and boasts one of the world's most advanced production facilities. Currently, our sales network is established in 29 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities nationwide.

With deep roots in China for 19 years, Mead Johnson is committed to deliver professionalism, care and support to Chinese consumers in need, provide high quality nutritional products for pregnant women, infants and children, and introduce advanced knowledge through various customer activities to enhance Chinese young parents' awareness of early childhood education.

About Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center

Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center has three hospital sites including the Zhujiang New Town Center, Remin Zhong Road Children's Hospital, Renmin Zhong Road Women and Children's Hospital, where Guangzhou Institute of pediatrics and Guangzhou Institute of Eugenics and Perinatology are established. Undertaking the clinical, maternal and child hygiene instruction, training and promotion tasks, it functions as Guangzhou children's treatment center for severe diseases, Guangzhou neonatal diseases screening center, Guangzhou maternal and children's health care training and promoting center, and Guangzhou's umbilical cord blood bank.

The goal is to base in Guangzhou, service South China and gear to the world. Our mission is to bring about health, keep medical ethics and virtues and benefit women and children. Our motto is righteousness, professionalism, wholeheartedness and diligence.

About the Guangzhou Charity Association-Guangzhou Civil Affairs Bureau

Founded on June 5^th, 1994, Guangzhou Charity Association is a registered citywide charitable society group approved by the municipal government. It is also a member of China Charity Federation. The aim of the association is to promote the spirit of humanitarian, to contribute to poverty alleviation, to help people with less fortune and people in need, which indicates the progress and development of the society. The board consists of people from all walks of life who are active and dedicated to the philanthropic industry is the decision-making organ of the association. Secretary under the board mainly handles the fundraising effort, salvation and other daily issues.

The association has hosted various charitable fundraising and salvation events in past years. Till the end of 2012, the fund collected has reached 2.179 billion yuan, and the donated fund by the association has added up to 1.878 billion yuan. With the donation, the association has contributed a lot to the society, especially on allocating social resources, narrowing the gap between the rich and the poor, alleviating social contradiction, and promoting social equity, which are of vital importance to building a harmonious and happy Guangdong.

About the Guangzhou People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (GZPAFFC)

The GZPAFFC is a division of the Guangzhou Foreign Affairs Office, which is overseen by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Association's primary duties include the implementation of national foreign affairs-related guidelines and policies, liaising with international non-governmental and economic organizations on behalf of the municipal government, the reception of visiting personnel and delegations from the same, the organization of outbound goodwill delegations, and "[the execution of] other tasks as instructed by the CPC Guangzhou Committee and Guangzhou Municipal Government." More information about the Association can be found on the Guangzhou Foreign Affairs Office website (www.gzwaishi.gov.cn/Item/3993.aspx).

About Changyuan Village

Located in the west of Zhuanshui Town of Wuhua, a famous hometown of Chinese expatriates, Changyuan Village boasts 124.5 hectares of arable land, 68.9 hectares of which are paddy fields. Covering a mountain area of 134 hectares, Changyuan Village is home to 620 households, with the total population reaching up to 3,125. The villagers earn their livelihoods basically by growing rice locally and laboring as migrant workers outside the village. A preliminary household survey shows that 119 households of the village (627 people) currently live below the poverty line, accounting for 19.2% and 20.1% respectively of the total household number and the total village population. These 627 poverty-stricken villagers are thus designated as the focus of assistance in this new round of poverty-alleviating effort. The village is home to one primary school, namely, Changyuan Primary School, with 310 students and 16 teachers.

About Guangzhou Youth Development Foundation

Guangzhou Youth Development Foundation (GZYDF), a non-governmental and non-profit organization, was founded in Guangzhou in 1994.

The non-profit or "third" sector in China developed during a period of reform and opening-up. An open, dynamic market economy was gradually replacing a closed, centrally-planned economy, resulting in widespread social change and breakdowns in the welfare system. No longer able to rely on the government to ensure job security and social benefits, people became increasingly self-sufficient and more independent. The rejuvenation in Chinese society created an unprecedented friendly environment for the development of China's previously insignificant non-profit sector. As one of the earliest non-profit organizations to be established, the GZYDF has seen remarkable success.

SOURCE The American Chamber of Commerce in South China