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Vendor flies to US to receive ‘Time’
award
'IT'S NOT A CONTEST'’: So poor she could not finish
elementary school, Chen Shu-chu has donated about NT$10 million to various
causes over the years
By Shelley Huang
STAFF REPORTER
Monday, May 03, 2010, Page 2
Chen Shu-chu, center, a vegetable vendor from
Taitung who made Time magazine’s list of the 100 most influential persons in the
world because of her philanthropy, enters the Bureau of Consular Affairs
accompanied by Taitung County Commissioner Justin Huang, left, and Minister of
Foreign Affairs Timothy Yang, right, in Taipei yesterday to apply for a passport
as part of her preparations to visit the US.
PHOTO: CNA
Vegetable vendor Chen Shu-chu (陳樹菊) is heading to New York today to receive her
award as one of the 100 most influential persons in the world in this year’s
Time magazine list, an official said yesterday.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs deputy spokesman James Chang (章計平) said consular
affairs officials were working to process Chen’s passport application.
“We will make it ready so that Chen can apply for a US visa on Monday,” Chang
said, adding that the ministry would help arrange for the paperwork to be
completed in time for Chen’s scheduled departure for New York later today.
In addition to paying all her travel expenses, the ministry will assign staff to
assist Chen throughout her trip, Chang said.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Timothy Yang (楊進添) accompanied Chen to the Bureau of
Consular Affairs to help her receive a passport yesterday afternoon.
Ministry spokesman Henry Chen (陳銘政) said the government had communicated with
the American Institute in Taiwan to make sure Chen would receive her visa
immediately.
“Her receiving the award is an honor to Taiwan,” Chen said.
Chen left Taitung yesterday for Taipei to catch a flight to New York later
today.
She will receive her award tomorrow at the Lincoln Center in New York City.
This was only the second time the 61-year-old has visited Taipei. She visited
the city earlier this year to receive medical treatment for a leg injury.
The vendor became one of the hottest conversation topics in Taiwan after she
ranked eighth in the “heroes” category of this year’s “Time 100” list.
“Out of her modest living, Chen, 59, has managed to donate nearly NT$10 million
[US$320,000] to various causes, including US$32,000 for a children’s fund,
US$144,000 to help build a library at a school she attended and another
US$32,000 for the local orphanage, where she also gives financial support to
three children,” the magazine said.
“What’s so wonderful about Chen’s achievement is not its extraordinariness, but
that it is so simple and matter of fact in its generosity,” states the citation
in the magazine, which was written by New York-based Taiwanese film director Ang
Lee (李安).
Chen, who was so poor she was unable to complete elementary school, told media
that “money serves its purpose only when it is used for those who need it.”
Last month, Chen was also selected by Forbes as one of 48 heroes of philanthropy
from Asia.
When Chen first heard she had won an award, she seemed surprised and displayed
humility by saying: “What is the prize for? It’s not a contest!”
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