During the past week, Shenzhen citizens donated a total of 4 million yuan (nearly US$500,000) to impoverished students in the city.

The donation comes in 2 parts: 1.87 millions yuan from lottery welfare and 2.13 million yuan from the collection of the Shenzhen Charity Federation.

It was the second time the city financed college students from low-income families in Shenzhen. The donation will be distributed to altogether 317 students from needy families, for their yearly tuition fees before the term starts in September.

Although it was hot, later followed by rainy in the past week, the week’s lottery sales were 17 percent higher than the average because people’s enthusiasm for supporting impoverished college students helped raise the sales volume.

(CRI August 1, 2005)