TOP CHINESE ARTISTS DONATE THEIR WORK TO RAISE FUNDS FOR AUDI'S "DRIVING DREAMS" PROJECT WITH UNICEF CHINA
AUDI's "Driving Dreams" project with UNICEF was launched on 15 December 2005 with the aim of helping out-of-school adolescents in ten of China's poorest provinces. By establishing and equipping village-level Learning Centres, the "Driving Dreams" project, implemented by the China Association of Science and Technology (CAST), is giving young school drop-outs a second chance to realize their potentials. Learning Centres are established in villages in each project county where adolescents can come and learn through peer education about their rights, about protection from HIV/AIDS, drugs and risk-prevention. Adolescents can take literacy classes and play with their peers, thanks to the sports kits being provided under the project. Besides access to books on science, health, hygiene , agriculture and the environment, computers are also being made available at the Centres.
In April 2006, AUDI had the original idea of inviting some of China's top artists to make a ten-day painting tour to Tujia Village in Yichang, the Three Gorges dam, Wushan, Little Three Gorges and Chongqing. The paintings they made on-location were included in this second auction organized by AUDI on behalf of the "Driving Dreams" project. The auction also featured a necklace donated by Tiffany which was designed by Paloma Picasso, an art installation by Lin Jing and a first edition cover of China City Magazine donated by that publication. The auction, highly professionally conducted by Paragon Auction, raised over USD 100,000 for the "Driving Dreams" project and also helped bring the essential caring message of the project to a wider audience. AUDI and UNICEF hope that other companies, including other local Olympics sponsors, will want to lend their support to the project so that more and more deserving young people can be reached in China's poorest provinces.
Lu Zhongchen, Zhang Yibo, Tong Xiangtian, Li Guijun, Ding Cikang, Zhang Li, Cui Kaixi, Liu Kongxi, Yuan Zhengyang, Shi Jiandu, Zhu Chunlin, Guo Renjie, Cheng Ke, Tan Ping, Dong Yongjian, Yang Feiyun, Yue Minjun, Xin Dongwang, Tan Difu and Zhu Wei. UNICEF CHINA WARMLY THANKS ALL THESE ARTISTS FOR MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE BENEFITTING FROM THE "DRIVING DREAMS" PROJECT WITH AUDI.
The superbly-organized dinner event in the Audi Forum was opened by the evening's host, Mr Trevor Hill, Executive Director of AUDI China, who thanked the artists for their donated works and welcomed the guests. Thanks were also given by Mr Charles Rycroft on behalf of UNICEF-China.
The evening was compered by leading actor and TV personality Mr Wan Gang, with many other celebrities lending their support to the event.
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