For the children

Do we have 1500 RMB? The current bid is at 1200! 1200 going once…1200 going twice…1200 for a set of Qing Dynasty Clay Bowls valued at 400 RMB, sold to the lady in the back with a red Christmas sweater!

Blue Marlin, a western-style chain restaurant company in the greater Shanghai area is teaching Suzhou about the importance of philanthropy through cash donations and auctions.

By the end of the third day, Blue Marlin’s 2nd Annual Charity Music Festival raised over 60,000 RMB to help many of the numerous under-privileged children in the Suzhou vicinity through the Suzhou Children’s Foundation.

The three-day auction is Blue Marlin’s biggest and most rewarding event of the year. Last year, approximately 1500 people attended, supporting their favorite bands while enjoying food and beverages. Due in part to last year’s success this year’s event brought in over 2000 people.

The Charity Music Festival ran from December 8 to 10 and included 12 bands from Shanghai and Suzhou. The bands’ musical diversity included jazz, blues and rock to classical, oldies, and alternative. Event attendees enjoyed food and music while singing and sharing in the festive and charitable environment.

One of the performers at the event was 15-year old violinist Fuxia Stankus, a Chinese American girl adopted by her forever mom when she was five years old. Her mother Jennifer Stankus and her sister Peng (also from China) now live in Suzhou where Jennifer is a counselor for the Suzhou Singapore International School. Jennifer brought her daughters back to China to re-introduce them to the culture and language of China.

It was an extremely rewarding experience to see everyone come with such loving hearts during this holiday season and help those that are not as fortunate. Even though China does not celebrate Christmas as a holiday, Blue Marlin hopes to see more and more Chinese involved in these types of events, spreading the spirit of Christmas will be celebrated all over China.

About the Author

Fuxia’s violin teacher Jianni Song is a Chinese American living in Suzhou with her family. She teaches music and also provides assistance to MoonRattles in sourcing folk items and music materials for heritage kits. Her husband Dave Lo is the marketing manager at Blue Marlin and focuses on creating opportunities for local Chinese and foreigners working in China to come together and learn about each other’s cultures. Blue Marlin hopes to launch its own charitable children’s foundation in the near future.