Mr. Bai Fangli: Selfless donation to poor students

“Do what you can, with what you have where you are today.” – Dr. Russell Conwell – Acres of Diamonds

Mr. Bai Fangli: a trishaw rider donating to poor students and moving the hearts

 

The last instalment of Unsung Heroes series is one hero provided financial help to poor students. But this is no millionaire -- he made a living by pedaling a pedicab. Bai Fangli donated a total of 350,000 RMB to help more than 300 poor students continue with their studies. In 2005, he passed away at the age of 93.

Bai Fangli was born in a poor family in May 1913. He, native of Cangxian County, Hebei Province, fled to Tianjin at the age of 13 and once worked as a hauler. In 1974, he was pensioned off.

For almost twenty years, to save up for his donations, Bai Fangli peddled his pedicab every day.

His devotion started in 1987 when he was 74 years old. Bai had prepared to retire and say goodbye to his job.

Bai Fangli: Selfless donation to poor students

But after coming back to his hometown, a group of children working in the field aroused his attention. 

Bai's daughter, Bai Jinfeng said:" He asked why the children didn't go to school. And our relatives told him that it was because they were too poor to afford tuition. My father was worried so he decided to donate 5,000 RMB to the schools in our hometown. But for him, it was all he owned."

  

Bai Fangli: Selfless donation to poor students

 

As soon as he returned to Tianjin, Bai went back to work. All of his earnings went to support the needy students.

His sons and daughters tried to persuade him to change his mind, as they wanted him to enjoy a relaxing life. But the father turned a deaf ear to them.

Bai Jinfeng also said:" At that time, he went out at dawn and wouldn't return until darkness fell. He earned 20 to 30 RMB each day. After returning home, he put his earnings in a place carefully."

Bai had always felt regretful that he was illiterate. So he hoped the next generation could change their destiny with education.

Later on, to increase his effort to assist students in need, Bai moved to a simple room near the Tianjin Railway Station. He waited for clients 24 hours a day, ate simple food and wore discarded second-hand clothes he found.

At the age of 82 years old, to his children's surprise, Bai made another decision.

He founded an education support fund with the help of loans.

But his life driving a pedicab continued.

Xu Xiuxiang, one of the workers of Education Support Fund, said:" He never forgot when to give money to the schools and often urged us to give his earnings to the school. Each time he gave the money he felt very happy and said he had completed his mission again."

In 2001, he drove his pedicab to Tianjin Yaohua Middle School, to delivering his last installment of money. Nearly 90 years old, he told the students that he couldn't work anymore. All of the students and teachers were moved to tears.

Bai Fangli said:" I hope the students could study hard and get a good job, and then make contributions to our country."

A long journey of supporting and aiding students lasted two decades.

In 2005, he was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer.

Although he had kept none of his earnings for himself, he was left with his selfless spirit and love.