A SHENZHEN entrepreneur drove more than 500 kilometers to visit 120 impoverished children he has financially supported over the past two years, and spent the Spring Festival with them in Gaozhou, southwest Guangdong Province.

Liu Jiefu, the owner of the Shenzhen Kondarl transport company, which has 1,800 employees in Shenzhen, gave each of the 120 children 1,000 yuan in red envelopes, also known as lai see, a traditional Spring Festival gift to children from elders, the Daily Sunshine reported. The 120 children were thrilled to see Liu in person during the festival, and promised him they would spend the money only on their studies.

Huang Mei, the daughter of a farmer in Gaozhou, was forced to drop out of school two years ago after her father was unable to pay the fees. Liu helped her return to school, and has been paying the fees since. Upon seeing her benefactor, who has paid several thousand yuan on her behalf, Huang was moved to tears.

Huang's elder sister, Huang Yan, is also able to attend university because of Liu's help.

According to the Daily Sunshine report, Liu started a fund two years ago to finance children from poverty-stricken families in Gaozhou when he was told that many children, especially girls in the area, were forced to drop out of school because of poverty. He also donated 1.4 million yuan to build Gaozhou Middle School and an elementary school.

So far Liu has financially supported 50 middle school students and 70 primary school students, 101 of whom are girls. Each student receives a yearly 1,800-yuan stipend, and those who are admitted into university receive a 5,000-yuan fellowship annually.

Liu said he will help all the young beneficiaries he supports to finish college. "I won't let it happen that any of the children cannot attend university because of financial reason," Liu said, adding that he will also increase the size his fund to help more children.

Editor: Wing