Hate her or love her, Li Yuchun is one of the most recognizable symbols of Chinese entertainment. Top ten influential Chinese of the past decade, number one baidu tieba, most popular artist, and record album sales are only some of the things that characterize her. While it is always hard for us non-fans to determine what makes her such an icon, it is not hard to discern what makes her fans so attractive. This often overlooked group is undeniably a major key to her success. Other than the pure fanaticism and amount of money spent on her, it is also what the fans chose to use their love for her on that makes them distinguished. While volunteering and charity is not unique to the Yumi’s, as her fans are called, it has never reached the organization and scale that Li Yuchun’s fans made it have.
The Yumi Love Fund is the only Red Cross Fund started and owned by a fanclub. To this date, the Yumi Love Fund has raised over 6 million yuan. Other than direct donations to help children with leukemia, the Yumi Love Fund has been done to set up five Yumi Love Health Centers in rural regions in Sichuan (3), Anhui and Gansu, with one more in construction in Henan The health centers are mostly staffed by Yumi volunteers, and helps to provide basic health care to the locals. After a flood ruined the Sichuan town of Nanchong, Yumi Love fund and volunteers helped to rebuild the town – causing the town to be renamed Yumi Town. Yumi’s also set up the active tieba named “if there’s hope, then don’t give up,” which allows Yumi’s to auction off their goods for charity.
A video about the Yumi Love Fund and Volunteers, followed by Li Yuchun’s performance of their theme song – “We’re all the same” at her 2009 Why Me Concert.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQWSDQ5TIPA
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