On October 14, 2023, in Hangzhou, a remarkable story unfolds—a tale of generosity, dedication, and the deep ties between an elderly benefactor and a university. The benefactor, 93-year-old Chen Meiwen, originally from Zhejiang and now residing in Taiwan, has made a lasting impact on Zhejiang Agricultural and Forestry University (ZAFU).
Born in 1931 as Chen Min in the Dongmentou area of Lin’an District, which is now part of ZAFU’s Yi Jin campus, Chen left for Taiwan in 1948. He held esteemed positions, including Vice President and General Manager at Far Eastern Air Transport. After retiring in June 2006, Chen continued to engage in initiatives that fostered closer ties across the Taiwan Strait and maintained his connection with his hometown through various forms of support for ZAFU.
One of his notable contributions was the establishment of the “Chunfeng Chunyun Scholarship,” which has supported dozens of students with over 500,000 RMB in total funding. However, many of these students expressed disappointment at never having met Chen in person to thank him.
During the Qingming Festival in 2015, Chen returned to Lin’an for ancestral rites and visited ZAFU, where he learned about funding challenges for the renovation of the East Teaching Building. Understanding the importance of this for improving students’ learning environments, Chen generously donated 4 million RMB to support the renovation.
Following the completion of the renovations, the university honored Chen’s wish to name the building “Nian Ci Lou” (Nurturing Kindness Building) in memory of his late mother. The naming ceremony was held on October 16 of that year, with Chen personally inscribing a memorial on the building’s wall.
The name “Nian Ci Lou” holds deep significance; Chen lost his mother at the age of two and was raised by his aunt, Wang Sanmei. This name symbolizes his gratitude toward both maternal figures in his life.
Despite living in Taiwan, Chen has remained actively involved in ZAFU’s growth and development and makes it a point to visit every time he returns to Lin’an. He expressed his hopes for the students: “Seeing everyone graduate and succeed brings me great joy. I hope you all become valuable members of society and extend help to those in need, spreading love and hope further.”
In 2023, Chen donated his life savings of 200,000 USD to establish the “Lin’an Wang Sanmei & Chen Meiwen Mother-Son Scholarship” through the ZAFU Education Foundation. In his donation letter, he humbly stated, “Having been born in 1931, my days are numbered. I aim to provide this amount for scholarships, living a simple life while ensuring I can cover my needs.”
Recently, eight students selected for the 2024 “Lin’an Wang Sanmei & Chen Meiwen Mother-Son Scholarship” wrote heartfelt letters of gratitude to Chen, sharing their personal journeys and expressing their commitment to follow his example by giving back to society.
Chen took the time to read each letter carefully, appreciating the students’ resilience and determination. He encouraged them, saying, “If any of you face challenges, please don’t hesitate to let me know.” His thoughtful response was recently sent to Cai Minying, an official at the ZAFU Education Foundation.
Zhu Bin, the Secretary of the ZAFU Party Committee, highlighted the impact of Chen Meiwen’s philanthropic spirit, stating, “His dedication to supporting education and caring for students is truly inspiring and sets a high standard. We will continue to carry forward his legacy of kindness and gratitude, embodying the traditional virtues of the Chinese culture.”
