The 13th China Charity Award list has been unveiled, honoring three individuals and one enterprise from the textile sector, whose cumulative donations exceed 7 billion yuan. Behind these figures lies a transformation of the industry from manufacturing to responsibility. As charity evolves from occasional acts to institutionalized investment, the sector's social role is being redefined.
Event Background
According to the Ministry of Civil Affairs, Xu Lianjie, former vice chairman of Hengan International, was posthumously awarded the "Charity Model," Bosideng received the "Donation Enterprise Award," and Li Guilian, chairwoman of Dayang Group, and Yang Xun, vice chairman and general manager of Glorious Sun Group, each received the "Individual Donor Award." The awards cover individuals, enterprises, and projects, with textile honorees accounting for about 4% of the total, roughly matching the industry's weight in the national economy.
Notably, the donation figures show a clear "long-distance" characteristic. Xu Lianjie personally donated over 1.1 billion yuan, while Hengan Group's cumulative donations exceeded 2.1 billion yuan. Bosideng's total reached 1.55 billion yuan, Glorious Sun surpassed 3.5 billion HKD, and Dayang Group accumulated over 150 million yuan. These are not one-off bursts but sustained investments spanning decades, indicating that textile enterprises' philanthropic logic has shifted from crisis response to routine operations.
From a timeline perspective, Hengan was founded in 1985, Bosideng focuses on down apparel, Dayang specializes in garment manufacturing, and Glorious Sun operates casual wear. The philanthropic journeys of these four companies almost mirror China's reform and opening-up. This is not coincidental; there is a clear transmission chain between industrial accumulation and social giving. Rising profitability provides the material basis for charity, which in turn shapes brand image and employee loyalty.
Industry Impact
The philanthropic behavior of textile enterprises is undergoing structural change. Early donations focused on disaster relief and poverty alleviation, but now they extend to long-term projects in education, cultural heritage, and medical assistance. For example, Li Guilian's charity fund supports patients in need and funds the restoration of Lianshui Academy and cataloging of intangible cultural heritage. Glorious Sun has established a special fund covering youth talent development and cultural preservation. This shift from blood transfusion to hematopoiesis means charity is no longer an optional extra but an integral part of business strategy.
For buyers and partners, a company's charitable record is increasingly an indicator of its sustainable development capability. European and American brands are paying more attention to corporate social responsibility in supply chain audits, and the national-level endorsement of the China Charity Award may translate into hidden advantages in order negotiations. This is evident in Bosideng's case, where its "Warm China" initiative has run for over 20 years, donating down jackets worth over 26.5 million yuan in the 2024/25 fiscal year alone. Such long-termism is exactly what international buyers value.
Professionalized philanthropy is also reshaping the industry ecosystem. Hengan and Glorious Sun have established dedicated funds or platforms with professional teams to ensure transparency and measurable outcomes. This model aligns with the ESG transformation underway in the textile industry. More companies are publishing social responsibility reports and including charitable contributions in annual disclosures, suggesting a new wave of responsibility competition.