| Message
from the Founder─Bruce
C.H. Cheng |
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| There is an old Chinese proverb
that says we benefit from society and we give back.
This idea is basically where our philanthropic calling
is rooted. |
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| However, we have learned over
the past decade that simply giving away money does
not necessarily make society a better place to live.
That is to say, no matter how grand the monetary value
is, the rewards to society from our grantmaking are
more substantial when we use resources effectively. |
| |
We want to make a difference.
Today, there is a cry for innovation in the
philanthropy and non-profit sectors. I have a sense
of urgency especially knowing we have no time to
waste in terms of changing our high consumption
style of living. This is exemplified in the production
and use of energy.
Scientific studies tell us the amount of plants
that went into the fossil fuels we have burned since
the Industrial Revolution—starting just 250 years
ago—is equal to all the plants grown on Earth for
13,300 years*! Yet, it is even more shocking that
nearly half of the energy we have produced and used
has been needlessly wasted due to our long-term
negligence of environmental costs.
|
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| Innovation,
collaboration, and action
For the sake of both current and future generations,
the Foundation is putting special focus on the environment
and energy related issues. We hope to play a facilitative
role, locally and globally, for action among a wide
range of philanthropists, nonprofit partners, and
even private corporations or public policymakers and
in this way, to generate positive results from our
collaborative efforts.
It will be
a fruitful journey of exploration and discovery, and
we are grateful to be a part of it. |
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| * The data estimates the amount
of photosynthetically fixed carbon stored by ancient
plants that was required to form coal, oil and gas. |
