Chapter 587: Establishing a Public Welfare Foundation

The news that Old Hundreds Agricultural Products Trading Company donated ten million to sixty-five terminally ill patients at the Dongjiangsheng Medical University Affiliated Hospital quickly spread and was eagerly reported by major television stations and media across Dongjiangsheng.

For a time, Old Hundreds Agricultural Products Trading Company once again became the focus of major domestic portal websites.

Buoyed by the popularity, the weekly sales of Old Hundreds E-commerce Platform and its offline chain stores rose another twenty percent.

However, during this period, an increasing number of users left messages online, hoping that Old Hundreds Agricultural Products Trading Company would expand the scope of its assistance to terminally ill patients.

According to the statistics of the marketing department, within one week the company received a total of ten thousand help letters from terminally ill patients both online and offline.

Following the aid standard of two hundred thousand per person, this would require paying two billion yuan to resolve the issue.

Although Chen Yang could afford this sum, the number of patients nationwide needing assistance far exceeds ten thousand. This time he donated two billion; next time it might be four billion. In the end, even giving away all his assets might not be enough.

Chen Yang's purpose in aiding terminally ill patients is to enhance the social image of Old Hundreds Agricultural Products Trading Company, not to ruin the company.

After careful consideration, he summoned Shen Anna to his side.

"Anna, how about we establish a public welfare foundation? Donate one percent of the company's annual profits to assist economically disadvantaged terminally ill patients."

"Boss, I personally have no objection. But……" Shen Anna reminded Chen Yang: "You need to think clearly about who will be responsible for the foundation's daily management? I really don't have time."

Chen Yang immediately began to have a headache. Although it is a public welfare foundation, he still needs to find someone he trusts to manage it; otherwise, if any financial problems arise, not only him personally but the reputation of all companies under Old Hundreds will suffer.

Shen Anna suddenly thought of someone and suggested to Chen Yang: "Boss, why not let that person of yours in Hong Kong take over this foundation?"

Chen Yang gave her a glance and said irritably: "Big sis, are you complaining that I don't have enough trouble? If Liu Qingqing were exposed to the public eye, I wouldn't need to go out anymore."

Shen Anna replied dismissively: "Since you don't plan to remarry Lin Wei, just marry Liu Qingqing. Once you become a lawful couple, who will gossip? Or are you trying to have your foot in two boats?"

Chen Yang embarrassedly rubbed his nose. He is currently single; being with Lin Wei, or with Liu Qingqing and Su Mingyue, entails no psychological burden. If he were to marry again, he would have to sever ties with the other two women.

It is obvious that he cannot do that now.

"I despise you!" Shen Anna gave Chen Yang a white-eye. "Since you don't intend to push your lover into the public eye, let Su Mingyue do it. That girl has always been your capable assistant and is wholly devoted to you. Let her manage the foundation, and we'll both be at ease."

"No, she isn't suitable either." Chen Yang immediately and without hesitation rejected Shen Anna's suggestion.

"You brat, you won't be juggling three boats, will you?" Shen Anna glanced at Chen Yang in surprise, but quickly realized. Once a man has his first affair, he will have a second and countless more. Moreover, Chen Yang is not only single but also a super-rich, handsome guy with hundreds of billions in assets.

"I despise you again!"

"Big sis, can we stop talking about personal feelings?" Chen Yang reminded Shen Anna: "Let's first discuss the foundation's management personnel."

Shen Anna suppressed the urge to hit Chen Yang and said: "Why not let your aunt serve as the nominal chairperson of the foundation? As long as our foundation doesn't raise funds externally, she wouldn't need to do anything."

Chen Yang temporarily had no better idea, so he could only accept Shen Anna's suggestion.

However, upon hearing that she would have to manage a foundation, Chen Chunmei, accustomed to being a housewife, showed strong resistance. Chen Yang tried persuading her in every way, talking until he was hoarse, to no avail. In the end, he had Zhao Qian called back to do ideological work with her before she reluctantly agreed.

With Chen Chunmei's nod, the application for the Old Hundreds Public Welfare Foundation formally entered the process.

Meanwhile, Chen Yang promptly posted the news of 'Establishing the Old Hundreds Public Welfare Foundation' on the official websites of several of his companies.

After the news spread, Chen Yang received many calls from people wanting to join the Old Hundreds Public Welfare Foundation. Besides members of the East Jiang Business Alliance, there were also Chu Ning and Luosen from Goat City.

To Chen Yang's surprise, Chu Ning actually proposed to serve as the chairperson of the foundation.

This woman has a deep background and great courage; letting her serve as the foundation's chairperson is indeed very suitable.

However, Chen Yang hasn't known her for long, and the impression he's left is mostly negative. After careful consideration, he gave her only the position of secretary-general.

After the foundation is established, if her performance satisfies everyone, we can then consider letting Chen Chunmei step back to a secondary role.

Of course, where there is enthusiastic support, there is naturally also opposition.

What Chen Yang didn't expect was that the opposition actually came from Governor Liu Jianghua.

"Chen Yang, I support your desire to do charity, but couldn't you wait until Old Hundreds Agricultural Products Trading Company goes public before considering this plan?"

Chen Yang quickly understood Liu Jianghua's concern and explained over the phone: "Governor, please don't worry. The company's performance is now stable; even donating ten million a year won't affect the financial assessment for the IPO application."

"Chen Yang, you're thinking too simply!" Liu Jianghua said sternly to Chen Yang: "You only consider financial issues. You didn't think that if the foundation runs into trouble, it could also affect the company's IPO?"

Chen Yang stared for a moment. It was obvious that he had not considered the possibility of problems arising from the foundation's side.

The key is, he also lacks experience in running a foundation, making it impossible to convince Liu Jianghua.

"Governor, what if I rename the foundation? That way, even if an accident occurs, it won't affect the company's IPO plans."

Liu Jianghua sighed and said: "No need to change the name. My suggestion is to postpone the foundation's establishment for a while, and proceed with the process only after the company officially goes public."

Chen Yang said with some difficulty: "Governor, I currently have many social friends who want to support the foundation. If we halt the process now, and they later change their minds, many terminally ill patients would lose assistance. We can't, for the sake of preserving the company's IPO plan, ignore those ordinary people who need help, can we?"

Liu Jianghua's side fell silent for a moment, then he said: "Then continue the process. However, regarding the foundation, I will send someone over to supervise."

Chen Yang had no objection. As long as the people Liu Jianghua sends are not out to make money, he would welcome extra free labor.