The philanthropic landscape of the textile industry is being redefined. On September 1, the Ministry of Civil Affairs announced the 13th 'China Charity Award' list, where the textile sector secured four seats: Xu Lianjie received the Charity Model Award, Bosideng won the Donation Enterprise Award, and Li Guilian and Yang Xun were honored with Individual Donation Awards. Behind these names lie cumulative charitable investments exceeding RMB 7 billion, epitomizing the industry's transformation from manufacturing to responsibility.
Industry Reflection of the Charity Award
As the highest government award in China's philanthropy, the 'China Charity Award' has strict selection criteria, and all honorees have made outstanding contributions. Among the 92 winners, the textile sector accounts for four, a small but significant number. Xu Lianjie's posthumous honor is particularly special—he passed away in April 2025, having personally donated over RMB 1.1 billion, while Hengan Group's cumulative donations exceeded RMB 2.1 billion. Bosideng's RMB 1.55 billion in donations covers 600 counties nationwide, benefiting 1.923 million people, with its 'Warm China' initiative running for over 20 years. Li Guilian's Dayang Group has invested over RMB 150 million, and Yang Xun's Glorious Sun Group has donated over HKD 3.5 billion. These figures underscore textile entrepreneurs' simple understanding of 'serving the country through industry.'
From an industrial perspective, the winners' philanthropic paths show clear stratification: Xu and Hengan focus on maternal and child hygiene, Bosideng specializes in down jacket donations, Dayang leans toward local cultural preservation, and Glorious Sun systematically covers education, healthcare, and disaster relief. This differentiation reflects textile companies' strategic thinking on social responsibility—moving beyond simple cash donations to integrate charity with core competencies, creating sustainable models of good economy.
The Logic Behind Charitable Investment
The textile industry is labor-intensive with thin margins and fierce competition, yet leading enterprises' charitable contributions have risen year by year. This is no coincidence. For Bosideng, donated down jackets are not just supplies but carriers of brand warmth. Donations enhance corporate image while directly reaching potential consumers, especially in northern cold regions where such 'warm marketing' often converts into actual purchases. Hengan's products like 'Anle' sanitary napkins target the mass market, creating a positive cycle between charity and brand recognition.
A deeper logic lies in the textile industry's close ties with people's livelihoods. From cotton cultivation to garment sales, the chain involves vast rural populations and low-income groups. Through education, poverty alleviation, and disaster relief, companies are essentially repairing and consolidating the industrial ecosystem. Dayang's restoration of Lianshui Academy, seemingly unrelated to culture, actually maintains local identity, creating a soft environment for recruitment and industrial stability. Glorious Sun's youth talent development projects directly reserve future labor for the industry.
The Exemplary Effect
The 'China Charity Award' not only recognizes individuals but also guides industry values. The Ministry of Civil Affairs emphasized 'exemplary leadership' in its decision, placing textile companies' philanthropic actions under broader scrutiny. For SMEs, these winners offer replicable paths: donations need not be huge but should align with core business; charity is not necessarily an extra burden but part of corporate strategy.
Notably, the list includes both deceased and active entrepreneurs, signaling the inheritance of philanthropy. Xu's posthumous award summarizes his lifelong charitable career, while Li and Yang's honors encourage current entrepreneurs to integrate social responsibility into daily operations. This generational transmission is crucial for the traditional textile industry—it reminds successors that a company's value lies not only in profit statements but also in its social ledger.