Philanthropy
The quintuplets of Jiaxiang County, Jining, the first naturally fertilized quintuplets of China, had been discharged from hospital after three months of careful nursing. However, the hot weather and poor sanitation conditions had an adverse effect on the growth of the quintuplets. They were badly in need of help. Learning that from the local media, General Manager of Haier (Jining) Trading Company, Zhang Shixian together with installation personnel, gave an air conditioner and a dish sterilizer to the quintuplets' at Xililou Village, Laosengtang Township, Jiaxiang County, Jining, on August 13th, 2002. The quintuplets' father was so excited that his eyes were red when holding the hands of Zhang Shixian. The entire Xililou Village boiled and people, young and old, rushed into the quintuplets', not only for a look of the first air conditioner in the village, but for a look of these smiling Haier people in blue uniform.
On July 11th, 2003, Haier-Merloni of Haier Group learned that it rained heavily at the flood areas and officers and men combating the flood had to wear wet clothes all the time, which caused extensive eczema and even fester. It's no time before Haier-Merloni made the decision to donate the anti-bacteria drum-type washers with drying function to solve the problem and facilitate flood fighting.
On July 13th, 9:00 am, ten Haier anti-bacteria drum-type washers with drying function arrived at the flood fighting troops of Nanjing Military Command in Huoqiu and were delivered to the simply equipped temporary residence of the officers and men.
On May 24th, 2004, Haier Love Assistance Funds once more donated an amount of RMB 80,000 to Qingdao Health Rehabilitation Funds for Disabled Children. This was the sixth time of "Love Extension". According to the officers of Qingdao Women and Children Center, this donation would be used to provide financial aid for children suffering congenital heart disease, cerebral palsy and hard-treat cases.
Since 1999, Haier Group has invested RMB 3,000,000 in Haier Love Assistance Funds and donated the annual interest of RMB 80,000 of each year. In addition, Haier Group has set up 10 Haier Love Wards in Qingdao Women and Children Center. These wards are well equipped with air conditioner, refrigerator, television, and radiator, etc. improving the hospitalization conditions of little patients.
The earthquake and tsunami hitting the Indian Ocean drew a great attention from millions of kind-hearted people including Haier employees. On January 4th, 2005, the first day after the New Year holiday, a donation was promptly called among employees for disaster stricken people living in the earthquake and tsunami affected areas. Haier people, whether they are executives or blue collars, made contributions generously to a sum over RMB 60,000 within a single day.
Since May 7th, 2003, Haier's 42 subsidiaries have given hundreds of Haier health series to 137 local hospitals treating SARS patients. There are three types of health series, i.e. large, medium and small. A large series is composed of 5 stand-alone air sterilizers, 5 sterilizing air conditioners, 5 health water heaters, 5 microwave ovens and 5 room sterilizers; and a small series is composed of 5 sterilizing air conditioners, 5 health water heaters, 5 microwave ovens and 5 room sterilizers. Dozens of these health series have been donated to 16 hospitals treating SARS patients in Beijing.