At 16:25 on April 22, Zhao Weizhong, a retired cadre with deputy military rank and former deputy political commissar of the Hebei Provincial Military Region, died in Beijing at the age of 92 due to ineffective medical treatment.
Zhao Weizhong was born in July 1932, enlisted in the army in March 1951, grew from a soldier to a deputy military cadre, retired in 1992, and dedicated all his youth to the cause of national defense and military modernization.
After retiring, Zhao Weizhong held the belief of "leaving his job without leaving his job and serving the people for the rest of his life", joined the ranks of volunteers of the "Hope Project", and dedicated his sincerity and selfless love to poor out-of-school children. "Be a lifelong volunteer and be a 'Little Red Riding Cycle' forever. He has been working hard to help students for decades, collecting hundreds of thousands of words of information about out-of-school children, donating all his retirement income, mobilizing family and social forces, personal donations and social donations raised more than 10 million yuan, funding more than 5,000 poor students, and helping to build 35 hope primary schools.
Zhao Weizhong knows that the power of the individual is limited, and in order to realize his dreams, he must mobilize the strength of all parties. He went to military and local units many times to carry out propaganda, and under his influence, many officers and men of the army, entrepreneurs, and migrant workers became his "friends of hope." Over the years, Zhao Weizhong's touching deeds of conveying love, spreading hope, and helping others have been widely praised in the land of Yanzhao, and have been widely praised by all walks of life, and he is affectionately known as "General Hope".
In 1998 and 2004, Zhao Weizhong was twice commended by the former General Political Department of the People's Liberation Army as an "advanced retired cadre of the whole army"; in 1999 and 2005, he was twice appraised as an "advanced individual who cares about the next generation in the country" by the National Committee for Customs Affairs; in 2004, he was named one of the top ten people of the year who moved Hebei; in 2005, he was awarded the China Charity Award by the Ministry of Civil Affairs, and in December of the same year, he was named one of the top ten news figures of the year in Hebei; in 2007 and 2009, he was awarded the first and second places respectively. The second National Moral Model Nomination Award, in 2007, was named "Top Ten Moral Models in Hebei Province".
Zhao Weizhong once carried a business card with him. On the front of the business card reads: Zhao Weizhong, a volunteer of the Hope Project of the Hebei Provincial Military Region, and on the back it reads: Tell the story of the Hope Project, make friends with the Hope Project, do practical things about the Hope Project, and write articles on the Hope Project.
In 2012, when "General Hope" Zhao Weizhong celebrated his 80th birthday, he said that he would do charity for another 20 years.
The legend of "General Hope" never ends
In 2009, "General Hope" Zhao Weizhong (right) presented a plaque to people with disabilities in the community.
In 1992, Zhao Weizhong took off his uniform and joined the Hope Project, raising more than 10 million yuan in donations through personal donations and mobilizing social forces, helping to build 35 Hope Primary Schools and sending hope to more than 5,000 poor children. Many people called him "General Hope".
It is an indissoluble bond with the birthplace of the Hope Project
On October 17, 1989, the China Hope Project was implemented in Laiyuan Taomu Pimple Primary School in Baoding, Hebei Province, and Zhang Shengli became the first person to receive assistance from the Hope Project.
In 1997, Zhang Shengli graduated from Shanghai No. 1 Normal School, and Zhao Weizhong, the "hope general" who had been following him for a long time, and Che Zhizhong, the "hope old man", rushed to Shanghai together to take Zhang Shengli back to Laiyuan, Hebei.
Subsequently, Zhang Shengli returned to Taomu Pimple Primary School on the top of the big mountain and became a substitute teacher. After school closures and mergers, poverty and frustration, Zhang Shengli was a substitute teacher for many years, earning only 150 yuan a month until 2004, when he finally became a full-fledged teacher under the attention of General Zhao Weizhong and relevant leaders.
Like Zhang Shengli, there are many students who have benefited from the "General Hope" Zhao Weizhong, and the origin of all this is to return to the four dilapidated school buildings in the old area of Taihang Mountain.
In 2012, the "General of Hope" went into the mountains to send hope.
Raise $20,000 to build nine new school buildings for primary schools in the old Taihang Mountain area
In 1990, when Zhao Weizhong, then deputy political commissar of the Hebei Provincial Military Region, visited demobilized soldiers and the families of martyrs in the old area of Taihang Mountain, he saw the following scene at the Zhaojiajing Village Primary School in Laiyuan County, Baoding City, the hometown of the anti-Japanese hero Wang Erxiao: There were four school buildings, two of which collapsed and two of which were in danger; children studied in the open air in the summer and in the sheepfold in the winter.
This made Zhao Weizhong worried, "Looking at the place where the little hero Wang Erxiao dedicated himself to resisting Japan, but now the children have no place to go to school, I feel uncomfortable!"
After returning to Shijiazhuang, Zhao Weizhong asked his wife to come up with 10,000 yuan, and raised 20,000 yuan from various contacts to build 9 new school buildings for Zhaojiajing Village Primary School.
He discussed with his wife that he would join Project Hope in retirement in the future. During his tenure in the Hebei Provincial Military Region, Zhao Weizhong has always paid attention to out-of-school children in the old revolutionary base areas. Langya Mountain, Longhua, and Loess Ridge have left his footprints everywhere.
The first thing you do after retirement is to report to the Provincial Hope Project Office
In October 1992, Zhao Weizhong retired from his job. The first thing this half-life old man did after completing the retirement procedures was to come to the Hebei Youth Development Foundation with 3,000 yuan, saying that he just wanted to be a Hope Project volunteer and do something for those poor out-of-school children. He said that the 3,000 yuan was his registration fee. He printed the words "Project Hope Volunteer" on his business card.
Since that day, the general has formed an indissoluble bond with countless poor children, and the Hope Project has become his entire career after retirement.
The general who "cherishes money as his life" lives a simple and simple life, which makes people feel distressed
In 2011, Zhao Weizhong happily told reporters that my salary has grown again.
As a general, his salary was an enviable figure for salarymen. He said he was a man who "loved money as much as his life."
He came from a poor family and still retains the habits of the poor.
He bought several pottery urns from the thrift market, and in the fall, he would pickle pickles with his wife.
He lived in the General's Building, which was not even as simple as an ordinary farmhouse on the outskirts of the city.
In spring and autumn, he always wears a black and blue jacket, which he has worn for many years. The neckline and cuffs have been worn out, and the material is extremely rich today, and the people who are still wearing tattered clothes are almost invisible in the city, but Zhao Weizhong is one, and he is a general of the republic.
Many people knew about him and wanted to go to him, but they were a little uneasy at first, thinking that he was a high-ranking official.
Zhang Guixin, a poor student he sponsored and later worked at Hebei TV Station, said that I went to him for help, but I didn't expect that he had no frame at all, just like the uncle next door.
So his simple home was full of people.
After the three sisters of Laiyuan were elected to move Hebei figures, they visited his home, and the old man left them as guests, and the three sisters cried after coming back, "The old general eats a little rice, a little cabbage, and the next meal is a little rice, a little cabbage." ”
They were distressed, but Zhao Weizhong smiled: Coarse tea and light rice live a long time!
Aimed at old comrades-in-arms and old subordinates to bring out a "Hope Army"
Wherever Zhao Weizhong goes, he will do the work of helping students and helping students. Under his influence and inspiration, his daughters, sons-in-law, nieces, sisters and even grandchildren have joined Project Hope.
Zhao Weizhong's sister is an ordinary farmer, and before his death, the old man handed over all the more than 7,000 yuan he had saved in his life to his younger brother, so that he could sponsor those children who dropped out of school because of poverty.
In order to make more people fund the Hope Project, Zhao Weizhong first targeted his old comrades-in-arms and old subordinates.
Once, an old comrade-in-arms donated more than 50,000 yuan at once, which made Zhao Weizhong happy for several days.
What made General Zhao Weizhong most memorable was the donation of Hong Kong businessman Huang Rulin.
After Huang Rulin saw the story of General Hope in the media, he found Zhao Weizhong through multi-layer relationships and said that he would donate 500,000 yuan to the Hope Project. Originally, the payment date had been agreed, and even the account number was told to the other party, but he didn't expect Huang Rulin to call early the next morning, Zhao Weizhong was shocked, thinking that Huang was going to regret it, but he didn't expect that Huang Rulin would donate more, a total of 2 million yuan. This money was also the largest single sum raised by General Hope at that time.
He is a flag and a mountain to rely on
In May 2009, more than 20 people, including Shijiazhuang Gaojie Business and Trade employees and "General Hope" Zhao Weizhong, donated more than 20,000 yuan to help Songjiakou Primary School in Pingshan County establish the "Hope Book House".
Student assistance, disaster relief, poverty alleviation, moral education...... Almost all large-scale public welfare activities in the province can see Zhao Weizhong's famous Little Red Riding Hood.
In 2008, the day after the Wenchuan earthquake, Zhao Weizhong made his own donation box, first put his own 50,000 yuan, and mobilized Zhejiang compatriots who did business in Shijiazhuang to donate more than 120,000 yuan. He has participated in 23 earthquake relief donation activities, donating a total of more than 220,000 yuan.
Tu Meng, secretary general of the China Youth Foundation, said that the value of the veteran general is priceless! He interpreted the connotation of public welfare with his own actions: do it with your heart and influence more people!
In the hearts of the civilian volunteers in Hebei, the old general is another mountain that can be relied on. The old man has a high status, great influence, and wide social connections, and leaders at all levels respect him very much. Everyone has a "hurdle" that they can't get over, and they all come to the general.
In 2006, Gao Yanmin, a figure in Hebei, was moved, and the eldest daughter was very talented, but when she came out to school, her family couldn't afford to support her, so the old general took her to Shijiazhuang Elite Middle School, and finally the tuition was free.
Nothing that belongs to you is left
On July 10, 2012, General Zhao Weizhong celebrated his 80th birthday.
The general is a native of Zhejiang, and the fellows of the Zhejiang Chamber of Commerce in Shi insist on celebrating his birthday, and the old general is also the glory of Zhejiang's fathers. Zhao Yongqiang, president of Zhejiang Chamber of Commerce and entrepreneur, said that in 1992, I came to Shi to work hard, and I was fortunate to meet the general, who made me understand dedication, understand that good people have good results, and good people have good deals!
On the day of the celebration, the old general received a gift of more than 700,000 yuan on the spot, and a company said that it would donate 30 million yuan to build the "General Zhao Weizhong Hope Primary School".
"I will not leave anything that belongs to me", the old general still promised the society, "I will live to be 100 years old and do public welfare for another 20 years".
"Yanzhao Metropolis Daily" recorded the "General Hope"
The good deeds and great love of General Zhao Weizhong, the "General of Hope", have held up the hope of many out-of-school children, and his spirit has touched countless people. In 2004, Zhao Weizhong was named the person of the year who "moved Hebei". For more than 20 years, "Yanzhao Metropolis Daily" has been reporting on its deeds of donating to education and devoting itself to public welfare. A cursory search yielded more than 200 reports, through which the shining qualities of the veteran general became clearer.
5th edition, 28 September 2001
"General Hope" donated to "Hope" students
On September 26, 2001, "General Hope" Zhao Weizhong came to Shijiazhuang No. 9 Middle School. The "General Hope", who has donated hundreds of poor students, will donate 10 students of the "Magnolia Hope Class".
Since his retirement in 1992, General Zhao Weizhong has set up the "Family Hope Love Club" at home, leading the whole family to actively donate to poor students, and in the past nine years, three generations of the family have sponsored 315 students. Mr. Zhao also mobilized enthusiastic people at home and abroad to donate to build 10 hope primary schools.
January 24, 2002 A6
Children's "Grandpa Hope"
In January 2002, Zhao Weizhong went to a Hope Primary School in Zhangbei County, Zhangjiakou City, to distribute school supplies to children.
Zhao Weizhong, a retired general and former deputy political commissar of the Hebei Provincial Military Region, who is nearly seventy years old for half of his life, has the greatest wish to return children who have dropped out of school due to poverty to return to class. In October 1992, Zhao Weizhong began to pay attention to the "Hope Project". In the past nine years, he has visited rural schools in 17 impoverished counties in our province, collected hundreds of thousands of words of information about out-of-school children, and donated more than 240,000 yuan with his family. The villagers warmly called him "General Hope", and the children affectionately called him "Grandpa Hope".
December 26, 2004 1st edition
Zhao Weizhong was awarded the 2004 Touching Hebei Person of the Year
On December 24, 2004, after the joint selection of readers and the selection committee, the "2004 Top Ten People of the Year in Hebei" sponsored by Yanzhao Metropolis Daily was finally announced, and Guo Hai, Zhao Weizhong, Li Jiageng, Rong Pengxiu and other candidates lived up to expectations and became the top ten people of the year in Hebei in 2004.
November 17, 2005 7th edition
"General Hope" Zhao Weizhong received love in return
On November 16, 2005, "General Hope" Zhao Weizhong received a special gift——— "Love Donation Fund" of 32,489 yuan. This special gift was sent by the responsible persons of the Zhangjiakou Municipal Committee of the Communist Youth League and the Zhangjiakou City Hope Project Office, with the purpose of helping General Zhao Lao tide over his family's difficulties.
February 13, 2007 A4
"General Hope" strives to be an Olympic volunteer
On the afternoon of February 12, 2007, "General Hope" Zhao Weizhong and "Xue Lei Feng Team" captain Jia Deli came to the Hebei Provincial Committee of the Communist Youth League to sign up for Olympic volunteers together, hoping to serve the Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games.
It is reported that Zhao Weizhong is 75 years old this year, although his gray hair is full of hair, but his fighting spirit is undiminished, he said that he has this kind of courage and perseverance. "It's an honor for me, a 75-year-old veteran, to participate in this kind of event. Zhao Weizhong said that in order to be able to become a qualified volunteer, he is ready to learn a foreign language. "If you don't know, you have to learn, live to learn!"
Version 1, September 2, 2007
Moved Hebei Person of the Year Zhao Weizhong to run for the National Moral Model
In 2007, as outstanding representatives of our province, Xu Changxia, Zhao Weizhong and Lin Xiuzhen were selected into the list of candidates for national moral models.
The reporter was informed that the national moral model selection and commendation activities were launched by the relevant central departments at the end of July, and the 10 selected personnel in our province were recommended and reviewed by the relevant departments, and selected by the Provincial Civilization Office, the Provincial Federation of Trade Unions and other departments. A few days ago, the event entered the stage of national publicity and voting.
January 5, 2008, version 3
"General Hope" initiative: build 18 hero-named hope primary schools
"Among our 50 moving figures, there are 18 heroes who have died, and I call for the construction of 18 hope primary schools named after them!" On January 4, 2008, at the five-year celebration party of Yanzhao Metropolis Daily's "Moving Hebei People", Zhao Weizhong, the "General of Hope", suddenly raised this initiative, which aroused a warm applause.
At the celebration, when the deeds of 50 moving Hebei characters were introduced one by one with short films, when these people from different places and with various identities stood on the stage to make their own expressions, General Zhao Weizhong could no longer hold back his excitement, he suddenly stood on the stage and made a 5-minute passionate speech, he summed up these moving characters ——— "dedication" in two words.
May 29, 2009, version 3
"General Hope" drags the sick body to catch up with "Hope"
In 2009, since the Yanzhao Metropolis Daily and the Provincial Civilization Office jointly promoted the activities of Hebei Good People, many readers have been concerned about a famous good person——— "General of Hope" Zhao Weizhong. The old man had a car accident not long ago and had just recovered from a back injury. Children's Day is approaching, and Zhao Weizhong, who has not fully recovered yet, is running for the Hope Project again.
"It's okay, it's no big deal, I have left an old life, I can still run with kinetic energy, and I can continue to be a volunteer, so I am very content. Zhao Weizhong said happily.
December 4, 2011, version 3
"General Hope" helps the disabled
December 3, 2011 is World Disability Day. Braving the cold weather, "General Hope" Zhao Weizhong and caring people from the provincial capital came to Qizhi School to visit the mentally disabled children here. General Zhao Weizhong took out a personal donation of 20,000 yuan at one time, and caring people also gave their love for these children, wishing the children healthy and happy growth, and calling on more people of insight to join the ranks of caring volunteers.
November 27, 2013 6th edition
Let love spread in the land of Yanzhao
On November 26, 2013, Hebei Love Volunteer Service Association was established. At the inaugural meeting, Zhao Weizhong, a moving figure in Hebei and a "general of hope", said that as the honorary president of the association, he would definitely insist on continuing to do the cause of love, and would encourage more people to participate in it, so that love would spread widely in the land of Yanzhao.
"The establishment of the Hebei Love Volunteer Service Association will become an important force to promote the wind of good deeds in Hebei, and will actively promote the extensive development of the cause of great love and encourage more people to participate in the cause of love. Zhao Weizhong, the 81-year-old "General of Hope", was impassioned and said that as a lifelong volunteer, he would definitely dig more "gold mines" of great love.
Related Links:
"General Hope" in their eyes (1) | Go to the countryside and eat only instant noodles, saving every penny for the "Hope Project"
"General Hope" in their eyes (2) | His status is so high, but he doesn't have a frame at all
"General Hope" in their eyes (3) | It's my money that doesn't keep a penny, it's not that my money doesn't move
"General Hope" in their eyes (4) | The old chief was very frugal, he was a pure communist
"General Hope" in their eyes (5) | As an iconic figure of the "Project Hope", he wears Little Red Riding Hood when he goes out
"General Hope" in their eyes (6) | He said that he is addicted to poverty alleviation, and his life is endless, and poverty alleviation is not stopped