2008 End of Year Philanthropic Parties around the island begin
On the morning of 13 December 2008, Dharma Drum Mountain Social Welfare and Charity Foundation (DDMSCF) initiated the 2008 End of Year philanthropic party at Nung Chan Monastery.
The party aimed to deliver DDM's greatest care to the disadvantaged people in society through material and spiritual support. The party held at Nung Chan Monastery is the first of the many DDM's philanthropic parties which will be held around the island.
In order to express their support to DDM's long-term care to disadvantaged people, the Mayor of Taipei City Government, Mr. Hau Lungbin, the Deputy Commissioner of Department of Social Welfare of Taipei City Government, Mr. Huang Qinggao, and other local celebrities all attended the party, and met with the Most Venerable Master Sheng Yen and the Abbot President, Venerable Guo Dong.
The Deputy Commissioner Huang Qinggao said that DDM's long-term contributions have brought a positive impact to the society; for example, the eco-friendly burial of the ashes of the deceased which has already modernized the public's view on funeral rites.
This compassionate party has been held for more than 50 years since the Venerable Master Dong Chu initiated the winter relief program of donating cooking oil, rice and winter clothes to disadvantaged people, including the elderly who live alone, the handicapped and children, in Beitou District in 1956.
The second end of year party will be held on the morning of the 21st December 2008 at the DDM World Center for Buddhist Education in Jinshan Township, Taipei County. Parties will then be held respectively at local branches of Dharma Drum Mountain around the island till the end of January 2009. It is estimated that more than 1,859 households will benefit from the 2008 End of Year Philanthropic Party.
(translated by Jin Yang/edited by DDM Australia Editing Team)
