Nanjing Initiative

FEBRUARY 2008

As we enter the year of the rat, China is hit with the worst snowstorm in 50 years. A series of winter storm affected southern and central China where even some areas known as China's desert were hit with temperatures near −25 °C. These extreme conditions killed livestock, crops, burst water pipes, destroyed homes, damaged infrastructure, caused power outages, and put transportation to a haul.

Chinese New Year is China's busiest travel season where millions of workers make their journey home to be with their friends and families. It is estimated that 6 million people were stranded at train stations with delays and heavy snow damaging the railway. People were unprepared for such extreme weather conditions; power outages and the lack of food and warm clothing made living conditions unbearable for millions and led to deaths. Some were even left without shelter as their home collapses under heavy snow.

World Business Excellence Association (WBEA), and the leading down apparel company in China Bosideng International Holdings Ltd., teamed up for the "Nanjing Initiative", raising over $100m RMB worth of material goods, including jackets, blankets, rice, water, coal, and cooking oil. Volunteers drove to remote villages and visited senior homes distributing goods to affected regions. The compassionate nature of the Chinese people and their overwhelming need for unity to help their country made this initiative, which was put together within a matter of days possible.

This event was supported by many major television networks in Nanjing giving non stop coverage in order to assist in gathering goodwill donations from the public. WBEA is truly grateful and appreciative for all the help provided to the Nanjing Initiative during this difficult time in China, and would like to give thanks to all those who made it possible.