Thirty Shenzhen companies donated more than 580 million yuan (US$84 million) Sunday, Guangdong Poverty Alleviation Day, in an annual campaign established by the provincial government to address the imbalance between urban and rural development and support poverty-stricken areas in Guangdong Province, the Shenzhen Special Zone Daily reported.

During the donation event, a special prize was awarded to Evergrande Group and 29 other Shenzhen companies for their exceptional contributions to poverty-alleviation work. The event also marked the release of the city’s charity song.

Chen Biao, vice head of the city’s Guangdong Poverty Alleviation Day coordination group, said poverty-alleviation work requires concerted efforts by both the government and society, and that more platforms need to be created for the cause.

According to the Daily, companies and organizations from all walks of life in Shenzhen have donated about 1.5 billion yuan in donations since the provincial poverty alleviation day was established in 2010, benefiting over 1 million people.

As of June 30, this year’s campaign had received over 1.23 billion yuan in donations from all walks of life in Shenzhen, the report said.

In addition to the 600 million yuan donated to provincial charity organizations, over 633 million yuan was given to municipal and district-level charity organizations. (Liu Wenjin)