Chen Shu-chu
{{Short description|Taiwanese philanthropist (born 1950)}}
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{{Infobox person
| name = Chen Shu-chu
| image = Chen Shu-Chu.jpg
| image_size = 170px
| caption = Chen Shu-Chu in 2010
| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1950}}
| birth_place = Yunlin County, Taiwan
| birth_name =
| death_place =
| occupation = Vegetable Vendor, philanthropist
| children =
| spouse =
| nationality =
| party = NA
| website =
| signature =
| awards = Ramon Magsaysay Award (2012)
}}
Chen Shu-chu ({{zh|c=陳樹菊|poj=Tân Sū-kiok|p=Chén Shùjú}}; born 1950) is a retired Taiwanese vegetable vendor known for her charitable donations in the fields of education, health care, and social welfare.
Biography
Chen Shu-chu was born in Yunlin County and moved to Taitung County at the age of seven. She completed her education at Jen-Ai Elementary School.
Philanthropy
After her father died in 1993, Chen Shu-chu donated NT$1 million to Fo Guang Buddhist Academy. In 1997, she donated NT$1 million to her alma mater, Jen-Ai Elementary School.{{cite news|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2012/07/28/2003538805|title=Honoring Chen, Shu-chu|newspaper=Taipei Times|date=July 28, 2012}} In 2005, she donated NT$4.5 million to Jen-Ai Elementary School to build a library.{{cite news |last1=Lu |first1=Tyson |last2=Lo |first2=James |title='Time 100' recipient gets honorary doctorate from Taitung university |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/culture/202506080006 |access-date=13 June 2025 |agency=Central News Agency |date=8 June 2025}}{{Cite magazine |title=The 2010 TIME 100 - TIME |language=en-US |magazine=Time |url=https://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/completelist/0,29569,1984685,00.html |access-date=2023-08-14 |issn=0040-781X}}
As of 2014, she had donated over NT$10 million (equivalent to $350,000 American dollars or £210,000 British pounds).{{Cite news |last=Sui |first=Cindy |date=2014-10-06 |title=The Taiwanese vegetable seller turned philanthropist |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-28863019 |access-date=2023-03-09 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}
Chen Shu-chu provides support for three abandoned children at the Christian Kids Alive International Association, donating NT$36,000 annually to the organization.{{cite web|url=http://www.kidsalive.org.tw/|title=Kids alive International Association at Taitung|accessdate=May 1, 2010}}
In 2018, Chen Shu-chu was invited to attend the flag-raising ceremony during the National Day of the Republic of China held by the Taitung City Government. At the ceremony, she announced the donation of her two life insurance policies to the East-based Medical Foundation of Taitung Christian Hospital and Mackay Memorial Hospital Taitung Branch. The policies were used to establish the "Ms. Chen Shu-chu Medical Fund for Poor and Cancer Patients" and "Ms. Chen Shu-chu Medical Fund for Charities", respectively.{{Cite web |date=2021-08-29 |title=Philanthropist gives NT$15m to help pregnant women |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2021/08/29/2003763407 |access-date=2023-03-09 |website=Taipei Times}} The two insurance policies are worth NT$16 million. The funds will be allocated posthumously to support medical care for underprivileged patients.
In 2021, Chen Shu-chu donated NT$15 million in honor of her mother to create a fund providing financial aid to pregnant women and scholarships to children who lose their mothers in childbirth.
Personal life
Chen Shu-chu is a Buddhist adherent and a vegetarian. She has never married.{{cite news |author1=Han Cheung |date=27 August 2023 |title=Taiwan in Time: Donating millions from a vegetable stall |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2023/08/27/2003805339 |access-date=26 August 2023 |work=Taipei Times}}
In 2018, Chen Shu-chu retired after recovering from appendicitis early in the year and moved to Kaohsiung.{{Cite web |date=2018-04-06 |title=Philanthropist Chen Shu-chu retires: official - Taipei Times |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2018/04/06/2003690789 |access-date=2023-03-09 |website=www.taipeitimes.com}}
Book
Accolades
She was selected as one of the Time 100 for the 2010 in the heroes category.{{Cite magazine |last=Lee |first=Ang |date=2010-04-29 |title=The 2010 TIME 100 - TIME |language=en-US |magazine=Time |url=https://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1984685_1984949_1985237,00.html |access-date=2023-03-09 |issn=0040-781X}} She was also one of the 48 heroes of philanthropy chosen by Forbes in 2010.
{{Cite magazine |date=March 9, 2010 |title=In Pictures: 48 Heroes of Philanthropy - Chen Shu-chu |url=https://www.forbes.com/global/2010/0315/philanthropy-gautschi-krishnan-nilekani-heroes-of-philanthropy_slide_41.html |magazine=Forbes |accessdate=April 30, 2010}} Reader's Digest also honoured her as the winner of 2010 Asian of the Year.{{Cite magazine |title=Asian of the year - The Generous Vegetable Seller |url=http://www.rd-india.com/newsite/other/facetoface_dec10.asp |url-status=dead |magazine=Reader's Digest |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101219112942/http://rd-india.com/newsite/other/facetoface_dec10.asp |archive-date=December 19, 2010 |access-date=March 1, 2011}}
In 2012, she was selected as a recipient of the Ramon Magsaysay Award.{{Cite web |last=Sarimento |first=Christine Joy |date=2012-07-26 |title=2012 Ramon Magsaysay Award winners announced |url=http://www.asianjournal.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=16794&catid=87&Itemid=200 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120728182911/http://www.asianjournal.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=16794&catid=87&Itemid=200 |archive-date=28 July 2012 |access-date=2023-03-09 }} She donated her US$50,000 prize to Mackay Memorial Hospital.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2012-09-04 |title=Chen Shu-chu donates prize money to hospital |url=https://taiwantoday.tw/news.php?unit=&post=68321 |access-date=2023-03-09 |website=Taiwan Today |language=en}}
In 2018, the asteroid 278986 Chenshuchu was named after her.{{cite news |last1=Lu |first1=Tai-cheng |last2=Wang |first2=Flor |date=September 6, 2018 |title=Asteroid named after Taiwanese philanthropic vendor |work=Taiwan News |agency=Central News Agency |url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201809060018.aspx |accessdate=September 7, 2018 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180906232456/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201809060018.aspx |archive-date=September 6, 2018}} [https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3524028 Alt URL]
In 2025, National Taitung University awarded Chen an honorary doctorate.
References
{{Wikiquote}}
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{{Ramon Magsaysay Award Winners}}
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Category:Taiwanese philanthropists
Category:Taiwanese people of Hoklo descent
Category:People from Taitung County