In December 2025, members of the Yu Family Foundation traveled to China for a Giving Exploration Trip organized in partnership with Give2Asia. Over ten days, the family visited local organizations in Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Xi’an—meeting nonprofit leaders, volunteering alongside staff, and gaining firsthand insight into how community-level action can create meaningful, lasting change.
For donors seeking to give internationally, identifying effective, trustworthy organizations can be challenging. Give2Asia works closely with families and foundations to understand their philanthropic priorities, connect them with vetted local partners, and support informed, thoughtful decision-making. This trip exemplified that approach—moving beyond due diligence on paper to real, human connection.
“Give2Asia helped us move from curiosity to confidence—connecting us with organizations that are deeply rooted in their communities and doing impactful work every day.”
Grace and Joshua Yu as Volunteers
In Shanghai, the family spent Christmas Eve volunteering with Putuo Pet Welfare Service Center, an animal rescue organization founded in 2016 and run by its two founders. During a holiday fundraising market, family members joined local volunteers in outreach and donation efforts, engaging directly with visitors and supporting a campaign that helps sustain care for hundreds of rescued animals each year. What stood out was not only the scale of impact, but how small actions—conversation by conversation, donation by donation—kept the organization running.
The journey continued to Hangzhou, where the family visited the newly reopened Yu Dafu Museum, housed in the writer’s former 1936 residence. Meeting with the museum’s director, the family learned how cultural preservation depends on careful stewardship, scholarly collaboration, and educational programming for younger generations. Conversations on site laid the groundwork for a future joint project—an example of how relationship-building can evolve into long-term partnership.
Yu Family Foundation members outside of museum
In Xi’an, the family visited Lalashou Special Education Center, a nonprofit founded by two parents of children with autism. Serving families for more than two decades, the center provides specialized education and support in a region where resources remain limited. During their visit, the family toured classrooms, met with staff, and joined a student holiday celebration—seeing firsthand how, even with modest funding, consistent care and community trust can transform lives.
“What struck us most was how much can be accomplished at the community level when people are committed, resourceful, and supported.”
By the trip’s conclusion, the impact was clear. Small, locally rooted efforts—when supported thoughtfully—can ripple outward to strengthen families, preserve culture, and protect vulnerable communities. Through Give2Asia’s guidance, the Yu Family Foundation returned home not only with new grantee partners, but with a deeper understanding of how intentional giving can bridge distances and turn curiosity into lasting impact.
Joining Holiday Celebration