Look To The Stars News: Jet Li

Jet Li Urges China To Give

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 13:30:00 -0000

Action star Jet Li has urged his fellow Chinese to be more charitable.

The 45-year-old star of The Mummy 3: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor spoke to a group of entrepreneurs at a conference held by Chinese Internet giant Alibaba on Saturday, and explained his views on charity in China.

“Politely speaking, our charitable institutions in China are 20 years behind our economic development and reform,” Li said. “Speaking more directly, they are probably 30 years behind.”

He also explained that the concept of corporate social responsibility sometimes fosters the wrong attitude. While companies have money to make large donations, it is individual citizens who should take action.

Li has spent the last few months campaigning for the victims of the Sichuan earthquake, and is declining all movie roles in 2008 to focus on his charity work.

Li also established the One Foundation to provide relief to victims of natural disasters, as well as youth suffering from mental health problems. He told the conference attendees a little about what inspired him to start the charity.

“Once I was in the hospital, being treated for a neck injury,” he explained. “While I was there, I could see that everyone, no matter where they were from, no matter whether they were rich or poor. Everyone has the same needs. Everyone cries.”

Li’s One Foundation asks people to give one dollar or one Chinese yuan – or one hour of their time – to charity each month.

Jet Li Attends Earthquake Relief Banquet

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 14:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Action star Jet Li attended a charity banquet in China last week to raise money for the victims of the devastating Sichuan earthquake that struck in May.

Held in the glitzy Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Beijing, the evening was sponsored by Swiss watchmaker DeWitt and Jet Li’s One Foundation, an organization the star established after the 2004 Asian tsunami to help victims of natural disasters. Legendary film director John Woo and the cast of his upcoming blockbuster film Red Cliff – including Tony Leung and Takeshi Kaneshiro – also attended the banquet.

Li has spent the last few months campaigning for the victims of the Sichuan earthquake, and is declining all movie roles in 2008 to focus on his charity work.

A documentary about the disaster relief efforts of the One Foundation was shown during the banquet, after which Jet Li stated that the One Foundation had launched a plan for post-quake reconstruction. He called on everyone to donate one yuan per month to help the victims.

The evening raised 1 million yuan (US$147,000) for the Chinese Red Cross.

Also in Asia recently, Taiwanese pop singer Keung Hang has launched a new charity to help students, in association with the Shanghai Charity Foundation.

The new fund – Traces of Love – will help disadvantaged primary and middle school students, as well as students who suffer from serious diseases in China.

The first donation – 500,000 yuan (US$71,428) – was provided by Daphne Shoes.

“I think I should do something for them, but my own power is not strong enough to help all the needy students,” said Keung. “So I want to urge more people to help.”

The singer plans to expand the fund to include secondary and college students as more donations roll in.

Jet Li Takes Action For Earthquake Survivors

Wed, 28 May 2008 11:32:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Following the devastating earthquake in China earlier this month, the 5.12 Sichuan Earthquake Disaster Relief Command has been formally set up by action star Jet Li in Chengdu.

Li has established the relief effort with his One Foundation, a charity he set up to help those affected by natural disasters. The initiative aims to conduct long-term reconstruction work, and the Foundation has sent in three teams to organize and train volunteers in association with the Red Cross Society of China.

“We have deployed proper arrangements and the third batch of supplies will arrive tomorrow,” said Li. “A One Foundation Family will be built up in Jiangyou county and other places to help students in more than 130 schools resume classes."

Jet Li also expressed that One Foundation’s post disaster work will focus on sponsoring and supporting the elderly, orphans, and the disabled.

Jackie Chan Urges For A Peaceful Olympics

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 08:19:50 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Jackie Chan has come out fighting for the Olympics – despite the current protests occuring around the world as the Olympic Torch makes its way to Beijing.

The 54-year-old star of over 100 action films believes the Games should be used as a platform for peace – not politics – and should represent “unity and love” to heal the problems of the world. The UNICEF and UNAIDS Ambassador is a strong believer in philanthropy and goodwill, and although he can understand the protestors’ desire to be heard, he is disappointed with the way they are doing it.

“They wish to find an outlet to voice their opinions, but I don’t think they should use the Olympics to do so,” said Chan after arriving in Beijing with Jet Li for the world premiere of The Forgotten Kingdom yesterday. “I hope people do not mix sports with politics. This is wrong. I don’t understand why people would want to destroy the Olympics.”

The martial arts star is looking forward to the Games, and has already starred in a series of Olympic TV commercials for Visa, attended a ceremony last August for the official start to the Games’ countdown, and recorded the official Olympic song, We Are Ready. But protests over the Games has been strong, and the running of the Olympic Flame has been marred with hold-ups and opposition. Most of the disapproval centers around China’s continued support of the Sudan despite the on-going humanitarian crises in Darfur, and the issue of Tibet following violent riots in March.

Jet Li, a follower of Tibetan Buddhism who has met the Dalai Lama, refused to comment on the situation.

Jet Li's New Movie To Provide Kick For Charity

Fri, 07 Mar 2008 11:25:16 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Action stars Jackie Chan and Jet Li’s new film The Forbidden Kingdom is set for release on April 18, and the film company behind it has just announced an exciting new initiative with Li’s One Foundation.

China’s Huayi Brothers Film Corporation officially announced their cooperation with the One Foundation at a press conference in Beijing on Wednesday. Wang Zhongjun, Huayi Brothers CEO, has committed a portion of their box office profits for the next decade to the foundation.

“Since the fund’s launch last year, many film companies, directors and actors have offered help to the One Foundation,” said Li, who set up the foundation last April to provide assistance to victims of natural disasters and youth affected by mental illness. “Today, we have set up cooperation with Huayi Brothers. That means more and more celebrity friends will join in to promote the charity campaign.”

As well as Li and Jackie Chan, other supporters of the One Foundation include Ang Lee and Chow Yun Fat.

Jet Li and Jackie Chan Join Forces to Aid Earthquake Victims

Mon, 18 Jun 2007 08:31:16 -0000

Written by Saskia Akyil

Action star Jet Li has allocated 100,000 Yuan (over $13,000) through his charity, the One Foundation, to boost relief efforts following the earthquake that struck the Yunnan province of China on June 3rd. Jackie Chan matched the allocation a day later.

The 6.4-magnitude earthquake damaged nearly 250,000 houses, affecting half a million residents, and also resulted in injuries and deaths.

Jet Li has now invited Jackie Chan to become the honorary director-general of his One Foundation for two years, and Chan has accepted. Charity is not new to Jackie Chan; in 1988, he created the Jackie Chan Charitable Foundation to provide scholarships to young people in Hong Kong. The scope of his Foundation has since widened, to include providing medical services and aid to victims of disasters.

It is hoped that Li and Chan’s combined effort will bring more attention to the One Foundation, which Li founded in 2007 in cooperation with the Red Cross Society of China to provide relief to victims of natural disasters and to help youth cope with mental illness.

According to the charity’s website, over 200 million Chinese are affected by natural disasters every year, and mental health issues are becoming a leading cause of death among Chinese youth.

Li believes that donations by many people in small amounts can make a big difference, and a publicity campaign for the charity encourages each person to give one Yuan (approximately 13 US cents) per month to the charity to help with the most vulnerable members of society.

Look To The Stars News: Jet Li

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