The Story of Founder Dee Dee To: From Childhood Hardship to Sustainable Charity

 

A Challenging Childhood That Planted Seeds of Compassion  
In the remote fishing village of Ko Lau Wan in Hong Kong's Sai Kung during the 1970s, my childhood unfolded. My father shirked his responsibilities, while my mother, driven by circumstance, remarried and moved away. The task of raising my sister and me fell to my elderly grandparents, who barely made ends meet by fishing from their small sampan. Basic survival was a daily struggle—owning toys was an impossible dream. I would watch other children play with their toys, silently vowing that one day, I would bring such joy to those in need.  

First Steps in Society: Igniting Smiles  
As I entered adulthood with limited means, I never forgot that childhood promise. I reached out to toy factories to collect samples and donated them to special needs schools and charities that received little attention. The radiant smiles of children receiving these gifts warmed my heart—revealing a profound truth: the joy of giving far outweighs material possessions. As my career progressed, my donations grew steadily, allowing me to contribute more to society.  

A Humbling Realization During Hard Times: Charity Shouldn't Have Limits  
Life, however, is never without challenges. Between 2009 and 2013, the IT company I founded suffered heavy losses, and my financial situation deteriorated rapidly. While charities I had supported continued to extend invitations, harsh reality left me unable to help—filling me with frustration and self-reproach. Those difficult years taught me a vital lesson: relying solely on personal wealth makes philanthropy fragile.  

A Turning Point: Where Environmentalism Meets Charity  
Amidst these struggles, I sought a more sustainable model for giving. Noticing that practical clothing was what beneficiaries truly needed—while quality branded items often sat unused—I had an epiphany: by reselling these high-value pieces, we could reduce waste, promote sustainability, and generate continuous funding. This would liberate charitable work from the constraints of any one donor's financial situation.  

Establishing Celebrity Charity Fund Association: Perpetuating Love  
With the support of friends, I gratefully founded the Celebrity Charity Fund Association (Hong Kong) and Shan Lin  Fund(China), raising funds through celebrity secondhand clothing sales. This innovative approach not only realized our vision of "eco-charity" but also created a self-renewing cycle of goodwill. Today, I remain steadfast in my belief: even the smallest act of kindness, when rooted in compassion, can illuminate lives.