More than 680 needy Chinese students from 41 universities and collages have benefited from a foundation set by KFC China of Parkson World Food & Beverage Company and the China Youth Development Foundation (CYDF) over the past three years.

With the accumulated fund of 38 million yuan (about US$4.6 million), the 10-year project, named The KFC China First Light Foundation, has provided financial aid to college students in more then 10 Chinese cities, including Tianjin, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu and Wuhan, according to Tu Meng, secretary general of CYDF.

Tu said starting from 2002, the project has so far helped more than 680 college students in need each with a scholarship of 5,000 yuan (about US$616.5) every year.

In addition, KFC China has provided part-time jobs for those students who wish to support themselves and learn more about the world.

"I will make my own contributions to the society in return for the aid." said Feng Qingwang, a student of Tianjin University, one of the beneficiaries of the project.

According to an official with the fund, the scholarship is directly transmitted to the student's bank account and many students volunteer to donate money in return after graduation to pass on the care and love.

"We set up an office to supervise the allocation of the fund and make assessment on the students." said the official, adding that they spare no efforts to find and help needy college students in hope that more people will show concerns over them.

With its entry into the Chinese market in 1987, KFC has so far 1,500 restaurants in the country.

(Xinhua News Agency November 30, 2005)