Ms. SONG Yan, Chair of the Jingyan Foundation, Awarded the Philanthropist of the Year 2023 the 8th China Annual Conference on Philanthropy

Ms. SONG Yan, Chair of the Jingyan Foundation, Awarded the Philanthropist of the Year 2023 the 8th China Annual Conference on Philanthropy

On March 28, 2024, the 8th China Annual Conference on Philanthropy, themed "Maintain Passion, Keep Moving Forward," was held in Beijing. The conference reviewed the development of the philanthropy sector in 2023 and recognized outstanding public welfare figures, enterprises, and projects of the year. Ms. SONG Yan, Chair of the Beijing Jingyan Foundation, was awarded the Philanthropist of the Year 2023 and was officially selected for the 2023 Search for Philanthropic Innovation Pioneers: Case Database.

Since its establishment in 2016, the China Annual Conference on Philanthropy has been held for seven consecutive years, becoming the most authoritative and influential event in the public welfare sector. This year's conference, guided by the China Association of Social Workers, the China Charity Alliance, and the China Charity Federation, and organized by the China Philanthropy Times, Tsinghua University Education Foundation, and the Center for Chinese Entrepreneur Studies of Tsinghua University, focused on industry development and philanthropy innovation. The conference, themed "Keep Passion Alive, Keep Moving Forward”, aimed to reflect on past experiences, exchange best practices, and actively promote the high-quality development of the sector.

Staying True, Inspiring Young Hearts

Children are the heart of families and the future and hope of our nation. For Ms. SONG Yan, caring for children's lives and health has always been a central focus of her commitment to social responsibility.

In 2015, Ms. SONG Yan founded the Beijing Jingyan Foundation, a non-public fundraising organization, and took on the role of Chairperson. From the very beginning, the Foundation has been driven by its vision: "May every child and family be filled with smiles, health, and hope." This commitment has remained pure, steadfast, and unwavering.

Through extensive research, Chairperson SONG identified the lack of attention given to thalassemia rescue efforts. She recognized that focusing on targeted assistance in this area would not only save the lives of many children suffering from severe thalassemia but also address the gaps in the current rescue system.

Since its founding in 2015, the Beijing Jingyan Foundation has launched numerous initiatives, including the Building Love for Thalassemia Action project, Heart Guardian project, Love Guardian project. The Foundation has partnered with leading hospitals and charitable organizations to provide ongoing support for children affected by severe illnesses such as thalassemia, congenital heart disease, and premature birth. These efforts address critical challenges, such as insufficient medical funding and limited access to healthcare resources. The foundation also focuses on raising awareness about the prevention of major childhood diseases, aiming to tackle severe illnesses at their root.

Under the leadership of Chairperson SONG Yan, the Foundation has firmly believed that scientific, transparent, efficient, and innovative operations are key to making philanthropy more impactful. Known for its pragmatic approach and the inherent strengths of a family foundation, such as efficient operations and transparency, the Beijing Jingyan Foundation has earned widespread recognition from both the families it supports and the broader industry. The Foundation is celebrated for its accessible healthcare network, simplified application process, efficient approval systems, and precise financial management.

As of today, the Beijing Jingyan Foundation has assisted over 1,564 children in need, providing more than 65.39 million yuan in support. It has grown to become a leading organization in China’s public welfare sector, particularly in the areas of thalassemia and other major childhood diseases, and was rated as a 4A Social Organization in 2023.

Dedicated to Philanthropy, Empowering Love

With the active promotion and in-depth expansion of various projects, Ms. SONG Yan broadened her focus from "children's life and health" to "the future development and well-being of children and their family." She placed greater emphasis on humanitarian care and family support, while gradually exploring and improving the child major disease prevention and treatment system.

The Beijing Jingyan Foundation has continuously innovated and expanded its aid efforts, introducing pre-surgery humanitarian care and post-surgery support to create a seamless, comprehensive care process. The Foundation remains committed to training and empowering grassroots medical staff through ongoing workshops, providing multi-level support to healthcare institutions, and strengthening the primary healthcare system. Additionally, it actively works to improve early diagnosis and treatment rates for children's major diseases. The Foundation has also made significant contributions to research and initiatives focused on thalassemia and other critical childhood illnesses, playing a pivotal role in advancing preventive measures and reducing birth defects.

In 2023, under the leadership of Ms. SONG Yan, the Beijing Jingyan Foundation implemented a series of reforms and breakthroughs. The Foundation overhauled its internal management systems, external collaboration models, and child aid strategies, leading to a substantial increase in the number of children supported, with more precise, efficient, and widespread assistance. In areas with high thalassemia prevalence, the Foundation launched the Healthy China Tour, organized expert-led free medical consultations, and established thalassemia diagnosis and treatment training programs for local doctors, contributing to regional efforts in thalassemia prevention. Additionally, the Foundation organized 26 free heart disease screenings in regions such as Yunnan and Hunan, reaching over 430,000 individuals in the early screening phase. The Foundation also introduced the Morning Star Plan educational support project, broadening its focus to include the siblings of affected children, helping them achieve their academic aspirations and realize their dreams. Furthermore, the Foundation intensified its public awareness efforts, producing 51 educational videos and hosting 12 live-streamed science outreach sessions, delivering authoritative, science-based knowledge on childcare and diagnosis to a wide online audience.

Thanks to her outstanding contributions in the fields of medical aid for disadvantaged children, regional healthcare support, children's welfare, and philanthropic innovation, Ms. SONG Yan was successfully selected for the 2023 Search for Philanthropic Innovation Pioneers: Case Database and was awarded the Philanthropist of the Year 2023 at the 8th China Annual Conference on Philanthropy.

Steadfast in Goodness: Rooted Deeply, Growing Strongly

Planting the seeds of kindness requires constant nurturing and care. Only through persistence and dedication can these seeds grow, branch out, and ultimately bear fruit.

Ms. SONG Yan has repeatedly stated, "The goal of the Jingyan Foundation has never been to help a specific number of people. Our deepest hope, and the greatest meaning behind our work, is that one day, there will be no more people in need of rescue."

This vision underpins the Foundation’s long-term commitment to preventing and ultimately eliminating thalassemia. In 2022, the Beijing Jingyan Foundation launched the Zero Thalassemia Plan. This initiative not only strengthens the treatment efforts for children with severe thalassemia, reducing the existing patient pool, but also fosters collaboration with governments, hospitals, and enterprises to build a sustainable, community-driven prevention system. The Foundation works toward ensuring the national three-tier prevention strategy is implemented in thalassemia high-incidence areas, preventing the birth of children with severe forms of the disease.

In 2023, the Foundation began its second five-year strategy, marking a pivotal step toward systemic change—shifting from specialized, case-by-case assistance to broader, systemic reform with the ultimate goal of achieving Zero Thalassemia.

Ms. SONG Yan emphasized, "We shape the future through action by deeply rooting ourselves in the present to foster upward growth." She called for greater collaboration from more departments, organizations, and enterprises with the Jingyan Foundation to expand the scope of thalassemia screening, genetic testing, prenatal diagnosis, and medical intervention. She also advocated for enhanced support for high-risk populations and increased policy attention to ease the financial burden on thalassemia patients, contributing to China's goal of achieving a "Zero Thalassemia" future.