Chinese Charity Activist Urges Annual Donations by Rich

Taking a cue from Warren Buffett and Bill and Melinda Gates, the head of China’s first philanthropic research institute is urging that country’s billionaires to give at least 1 million yuan (about $150,000) a year to charity, The Wall Street Journal writes.

Wang Zhenyao, formerly China’s top official for disaster relief and charity promotion, became famous in the country for his work on behalf of orphans and victims of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake. He left his government post this week to lead the new One Foundation Philanthropy Research Institute at Beijing Normal University.

The institute is a joint venture between the university and the actor Jet Li’s One Foundation, according to state-run Chinese Radio International.

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