服務故事

The Alliance Cultural Foundation (ACF) met Mr. Shih in 2013. After two face-to-face encounters, Shih committed five years to the Junyi School of Innovation, donating funds to establish his nonprofit organization in Taiwan to support its underprivileged youths. Five years later, his donation changed the lives of over 100 youths from some of Taiwan's most remote communities in Hualien-Taitung, who, because of his donation, had the opportunity to receive a well-rounded education in Junyi.

After retiring as a successful entrepreneur in Hong Kong, Shih, a Taiwanese national, had initially planned to find a partner to co-found a charity. A longtime follower of ACF Chair Stanley Yen's books, talks, pursuit, and mission, Shih decided to entrust Chair Yen instead of starting from zero because of shared values and intention to help the disadvantaged and underserved. Shih's gift allowed youths to study at Junyi and supported its graduates in pursuing higher education in Canada and the US. It was extended to support Yilan Ci-Xin Waldorf School's experimental education programs. After five years, he believes the decision is one of his best.

One of Shih's earliest memories growing up in Tainan was his mother asking him to bring already polished shoes to shoeshiners who would pass by their home. Though he did not come from a wealthy family, he was always taught to give. When his father had additional income, he remembered him helping extended family members to go to school. Supporting education lies deep in Shih's family.

Shih, now 85, has lived in Hong Kong for over 50 years. While his company was still running, Shih made sure that all children of the staff in need received support to complete their education. Before closing down the company, he set up trust funds for each employee's child to have the finances needed to complete a college education. The ambition was never Shih's priority, but with the success of his own company, he witnessed how much good it can do to help those in need. Shih has always stood up for what he believes in. As a top student, he was nearly barred from college when standing up to an unfit professor; as a worker – the named successor of the company, he resigned due to its unwillingness to change the unfair treatment of its staff. Even with wealth, he remains simple in his everyday life. He appreciates seeing joy in the faces of Hong Kong's hard-working domestic helpers during their weekend gatherings in the outdoors. He knows that although they are not the wealthiest, they are satisfied and happy.

In supporting ACF, he hopes to allow the Indigenous youths whose families have lost their land due to the Dutch, Japanese, and Chinese settlers. He believes that by providing this marginalized group access to better education opportunities, they can uplift their lives and be positive change-makers in their communities. Each December, Shih receives greeting cards from friends, former employees, suppliers, and customers; he most looks forward to letters from Junyi students. Although he has yet to reply, he hopes that through this story, they will remember a quote he recalls from his Boy Scout years – do a good turn daily.