20th Anniversary of Eastern Charity Foundation Papa Eastern Gary Wang Provides "Breakfasts Made of Love" and Delivers Supplies to Hong Ye Primary School | 東森集團

Riding on sunshine and full of love, “Papa Eastern” Gary Wang visited Hong Ye Primary School in Wanrong Township of Hualien County, which he became acquainted with through the “Breakfasts Made of Love” program. Together with the Truku children, they tried traditional archery and watched Truku dance performances during an afternoon filled with fun and laughter. Gary Wang also presented milk powder, tomato juice, mosquito repellent spray, and Taoyuan agricultural gift sets from Eastern Farm, the total value of which being NT$350,000, to the children of Hong Ye Primary School. It is his hope that Eastern can spread its love through practical actions and establish a cycle of kindness.

After the Chi-Chi earthquake on September 21, 1999, Chairman Gary Wang set up the Eastern Charity Foundation. Not only did he pay attention to the children’s needs and helped to collect supplies, but when he learned that children in remote areas often go to school hungry or even miss classes because of intergenerational parenting or parents busy in agriculture, he took the initiative to launch the “Breakfasts Made of Love” program. The service program has been running for 14 years and has benefited more than 30,000 people. Not only does it take care of the children’s nutritional needs in the morning, but has added to the motivation for the children to go to school. Gary Wang often visits these remote communities in person to interact with the children, a habit which has earned him the nickname “Papa Eastern.”

Hong Ye Primary School, located in the remote Wanrong Township of Hualien County, is a small school with only 70 pupils, and more than 90% of the children are of Truku ethnicity. The Truku people are known for their unique traditional dances and songs, and recently the school won the Grand Prize in the Hualien Competition of Folk Song for Teachers and Students in two consecutive years. However, such outstanding results are not by chance, but results of continuous efforts and practice to develop an excellent rapport, which won the judges’ attention with their angelic voices.

This afternoon, Papa Eastern Gary Wang and the children of Hong Ye Primary School learned to dance, play the xylophone, and Truku greetings together. They also took walks outside and tried traditional archery. After a day of fun and interaction, Gary Wang was completely bowled over by the enthusiasm and energy of the children. He said: “I was struck by the children’s vibrant and beautiful singing as soon as I entered the school, which reminded me that I was not good at studying when I was a child, but was able to grasp the opportunity to perform well with my talent. I am certain that when the children grow up, they will be able to enter Jungle Voice as contestants and give Hong Ye a champion.”

Gary Wang emphasized: “Breakfasts Made of Love is not my personal endeavor, but the show of love from invoices donated by the 9 million members of ETMall in Taiwan, which has been operating for 14 years. The oldest child that the program assisted has now graduated from college and entered the workforce, and gives back to the community through practical actions, which itself forms a cycle of kindness. This year, due to the pandemic, funding from all sectors have decreased dramatically, so we are bringing special supplies of love to Hong Ye Primary School, in the hopes of providing assistance to the children.”

In fact, as the Breakfasts Made of Love has evolved over the years, each principal has developed even more diverse approaches to care for the children. For example, Chen Yue-Chu, principal of Hong Ye Primary School, uses the Breakfasts Made of Love to inspire a sense of honor in the children, so that the Breakfast is no longer just a basic means to meet physical needs, but a “carrot” to spur the children on. Chen Yue-Chu said: “I would like to thank the Eastern Charity Foundation for selflessly caring for the children in remote regions. We would like to put this kindness to full use, and we are currently using the funds to provide 25 Breakfasts Made of Love to children who are working hard and making progress in their studies, as an incentive for them to learn and grow. We find that when eating breakfast becomes a moment of honor, children naturally appreciate this hard-earned happiness even more.”

Although it is only the first year that Hong Ye Primary School has started to enjoy the Breakfasts Made of Love, this method has given the children an even stronger motivation to study. For example, fifth-grade pupil Shih Pei-Chi has been learning a range of talents, including dancing, traditional xylophone, and singing, as she enjoys singing and dancing; and in order to enjoy the Breakfasts Made of Love, she has been putting in extra efforts into studying such subjects as English and math, in which she had performed poorly in the past. She hopes that by performing well, she can earn the opportunity to enjoy the Breakfasts Made of Love. She even said proudly: “Only good kids who are serious, hardworking, and responsible can get to have the Breakfasts Made of Love. Whether its buns or sandwiches, I look forward to the Breakfasts Made of Love, which provides something different every day.”

The Eastern Charity Foundation celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. In the past, it has provided long-term assistance to children in remote regions and in recent years, it has expanded its service scope to care for the health of senior citizens, as well as the employment and long-term care needs of the physically and mentally disabled. In addition, the Foundation also assisted social welfare organizations that have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic by donating NT$10 million in relief funds. Recently, the Group’s new business “Eastern Global New Network Marketing” (Eckare) has also joined the team of love. Eckare purchased and donated a thousand bags of new Chihshang rice to seven large welfare organizations through “Eastern Farm,” an initiative that supports small farmers, as well as implemented practical actions such as the donation of long-term care vehicles and organizing blood donation drives to contribute its share of efforts to help society. Eastern Group will continue to uphold the concept of giving back to society for what is taken from society, and regard public welfare as our mission to continue to spread love.