Whether during 2009's Typhoon Morakot, the 2014 Kaohsiung gas explosions, the 2018 Hualien earthquake, or other tragic disasters that have struck Taiwan, the TSMC Charity Foundation chairperson Sophie Chang, can be seen at the site along with volunteers to help the affected after the disaster and off-camera. Heading into the countryside, and aiding the elderly and low-income students, she has actively experienced over 10 years of charity work.
As chairperson and more so as chairwoman, Sophie Chang prefers to stay out of the limelight, showing herself publicly only when representing the foundation and undertaking public welfare projects, both working and studying, simultaneously. She said, "I think it's just learning, to take after others or to help get things done as a go-between. I'm like super saleslady, except what I'm selling is charity."
How can kindness be passed on? How can we help others? Sophie Chang has her own standards, never touching money or wantonly donating it. In fact, all she does is search for the kindness and warmth within others' hearts, hoping that the broader world and companies will join ranks and send their loving support in unison.
Chairperson Sophie Chang hopes that society at large and companies will respond and “send out love" together.
Dr. Wu, director of Sense & Beauty Dental Center, met Sophie at a state banquet in the Dominican Republic and was moved by her kindness, and followed her to Xiushui Township's Maxing community in Changhua. There they organized dental health checkups and health education activities with locals from all walks of life, providing oral treatments along with the checkups.
"Ma'am, are your teeth okay?", "Ma'am, this tooth here hasn't been cleaned well, causing the accumulation of dental tartar!" Such words of concern are not from the clinic, but the activity center. This is Dr. Wu's annual free clinic event, which starts in the Changhua area, calling on locals to help those in need, but the biggest opportunity of this event actually comes from Sophie Chang.
A dentist follows the sprouting seeds of charity
Dr. Wu recalled, "Chairperson Chang told me I should share my blessings with those around me, and then they themselves will bring about more blessings. I was truly moved. If Taiwan had more charities and cared more, there'd be a little less political rhetoric, and the Taiwan would be more harmonious overall."
Charity activities launched by TSMC Charity Foundation have brought a visibly positive influence on society, and Dr. Wu points out how Sophie Chang does not possess the demeanor or appearance of a stereotypical "chairwoman", instead always bringing a feeling of warmth to others.
Dr. Wu Ming-Che believes that Sophie Chang can always awaken people's good conscience and benevolence.
He continued saying, "I often tell the younger doctors at my hospital to buy one less brand handbag, one less sports car, and one less luxury watch. That money could help others and even change the lives of many families."
Dr. Wu believes that Sophie Chang can always awaken people's good conscience and benevolence, and personally leads everyone to do charity. Even as the chairwoman of a foundation, she lacks an air of superiority and is not covered in jewelry or other finery. Instead, she is prefers to be grounded and frequently visit the frontlines under the banner of public welfare. Her hope is that she can personally help our society's hardworking people, and wishes to share what she can as a blessing for more people.
Dr. Wu also urges dentists from his own clinic to do charity together, and organizes free dentist clinics in Changhua every so often, so that local senior citizens in precarious circumstances and poor dental health can be taken care of. By helping them to make dentures for free, the dentists felt enlightened, and set out to do charity work and free clinic events, relaying "kindness" one by one, from place to place.
Dr. Wu Ming-Che was inspired by Sophie Chang and began holding free clinics in Changhua from time to time.
Putting our best foot forward! TSMC stands firm in aiding others
TSMC is not only persistent with donating funds, but its large pool of volunteers is dedicated to caring for the elderly and mentoring children, and promoting “food wise” projects and the “Ten Thousand Dollars Per Household” program providing emergency assistance and rural medical care. When disaster strikes, they get to work entering the affected areas. All of these actions embodies a core concept which Chairwoman Chang calls, "Standing firm in aiding others."
“We have a platform for sending out love and support,” she stated, “Users can notify us of anyone who's in need, we confirm the case, and then we will either head out to assist them, or log onto the platform to donate."
On the "Sending Love" project's website, stories of each disadvantaged family are detailed clearly, calling on those available from all walks of life to participate. As more of society's good-hearted people are able to invest material, human, and financial resources, their warm kindness and empathy will continue to spread into every corner of Taiwan.
Volunteers from the TSMC Charity Foundation travel throughout Taiwan and provide company senior citizens.
Collective effort leads to long-lasting charity work
If one individual and one company are not strong enough, only through forming groups can we progress further, and along this path, the TSMC Charity Foundation has continued to integrate resources and developed the "Sending Love" platform with the hope that it will serve as a channel for the public's welfare. Such a channel can call on more companies and private citizens to help out specific cases. Combined with the concept of matchmaking, we hope that all sectors of Taiwan can respond together.
Chairperson Chang hopes that each and every kind heart can help a family, and that those in need of help can stand up again. Presently, the foundation has focused its resources on four major issues: the elderly living alone, rural education, environmental conservation, and the promotion of filial piety.
In 2018, the "One Thousand Dollars Per Household" program was launched, inviting companies, groups, individuals, and others to donate NT$10,000 per month to sponsor and take care of senior citizens living alone and disadvantaged families. This initiative harnesses the power of love and spreads it to those who need it, so that empathy and kindness can continue to spread.
Many years have passed since Chairperson Chang began implementing a program to care for the elderly.
Interestingly, the initiative is not open to TSMC employees, as Sophie Chang explained, "I didn't want this program to become another one led solely by our employees. I wanted the outside world to notice that we have this platform and invite everyone to join us in extending charity."
As the world's leading wafer manufacturer, TSMC is seen by others as always "choosing to undertake the hardest of projects." For Sophie Chang, doing good is not just about donating money, but doing one's best with the task at hand, further integrating the company's resources and spontaneous volunteer manpower to exert a more particular social influence. Not one to seek fame or fortune, she only hopes that those outside of TSMC will continue to respond.
The projects undertaken by the TSMC Charity Foundation often inspire admiration. When asked about her thoughts concerning the path she's traveled, Sophie Chang smiles and replies, "I never thought of it as something difficult because I think it's actually quite natural, and many projects have already been done by others, so I thought we should do something that hasn't been done and or seen before. Most importantly, of course, is that TSMC is a good company, so it's a good brand to be representing when I go out."
When doing good deeds, Sophie Chang keeps TSMC's light to a minimum
With a kindness that desires to touch others' hearts and help them, Chairwoman Chang stated, “I've told fellow colleagues that while doing charity work, we need to lower the light produced by TSMC's popularity, while also uplifting the light of others, such as other enterprises, companies, manufacturers, etc. that join our call. Only this way can we show that many others are actually doing good deeds, too.”
Many have already responded to the TSMC Charity Foundation's calls. Food manufacturers such as Chi Mei Foods, Hsin Tung Yang, Laurel have joined TSMC's "Food Wise Partners" to deliver delicious food to children.
When doing charity, I've chosen to entirely suppress the “fame” of both TSMC and myself.
In doing charity, Sophie Chang believes that, in fact, there are many things need to be handled well. So how can it be done? She compares it to grasping an egg in the hand. Grasp it too tightly and it'll break, but handling these projects too loosely might increase the risk of attracting greed, displeasure, and foolishness, so they must be handled appropriately.
How not waste away donated money? How can we preserve the TSMC brand? For Sophie Chang, every little detail must be clearly thought out, so sometimes she has to meditate and calm down, but more often than not, she chooses to actively suppress the limelight that usually follows her.
"My mind does a lot of pondering and quickly, too, but my foundation must be stable,” she explained, “I don't do things on the fly, and have always told volunteers that my next step must be steadfast. Only then can I take the next one."
Over the past few years, letting everyone live a better life is what we at TSMC Charity Foundation have been doing and will continue to do.
- Sophie Chang, Chairperson of TSMC Charity Foundation
In the name of the public's welfare, Sophie Chang hopes that society as a whole can feel motivated and emulate the TSMC Charity Foundation model. The seeds sown by charity continue to sprout, but how can they be gown into tall, healthy trees with lush leaves?
"I am helping so many to open up their own door of kindness,” she pointed out, “Apart from volunteering, I basically don't really like exposure. I just want to be a volunteer, and hope society at large can help us find those who need aid, which can get them more actively involved, faster."
Changing the lives of so many people and allowing everyone to live a better life is what our foundation has been doing for years and will continue to do.
Charity work can last so much longer whenever individuals work as a team. If you are willing to answer this call together with others and care for those in need in our society, please refer to the following contact information for TSMC Charity Foundation's “Sending Love” platform