In Memory of Grandpa Tao Shing Pee

Tao Student 07346 Shu Yan

On September 2nd, the website of “The Jiangsu Tao Shing Pee Education Foundation” was converted into black and white. There was an obituary, announcing the passing of Grandpa Tao. It was a brief message, yet it took me a long time to reflect and to digest the content.

Grandpa Tao stood tall in my life. I was born into a hapless family. Fortunately, Peach and Grandpa Tao changed my destiny. My parents divorced when I was little. Afterwards, my father couldn’t deal with the adversity and started to drink excessively. He died when I was in the sixth grade and I ended up staying with my grandparents. As an orphan, it was Peach that kept me in school.

I graduated from high school in 2013 and was admitted to Yunnan Normal University to study Child Education. The college tuition and expenses were way beyond our means and I could not afford it. Fortunately, Peach recommended me to the “Peeli Scholarship Program.” The Peeli scholarship granted me 5000 RMB each year for four years. It was with this scholarship that I was able to complete my college education. I will always be grateful for Grandpa Tao’s assistance.

I read Grandpa Tao’s autobiography, “The Life Stories of Tao Shing Pee”. He treated Tao students as if they were his own children. He built his business to a phenomenal success with great wisdom. In dealing with others, he held on to the principles of “honesty, integrity and sincerity”. In dealing with work, he emphasized “dedication, openness, and taking full responsibility”. These mottos become my life guidance. I will always be faithful to others and be dedicated to my work.

Now, I am a teacher with a steady income to support my grandparents. I am living the life that I have dreamed about. In the Tao website, I saw group pictures of Grandpa Tao gathering with Tao students. I wished I could have met him in person too. And now, he is gone.

Dear Grandpa Tao, I am very fortunate to be a Tao student. You changed my life. We are enjoying a comfortable living all because of you. I regret that I have never met you. Farewell, Grandpa Tao.

Tao Student 11167 Huang Xiu Qing

I heard about Grandpa Tao’s demise on September 2nd. It was a sad moment. During college, it was Grandpa Tao who paid my tuition so that I could complete my education.

Dear Grandpa Tao, please rest in peace. You shall live in our hearts forever.

Tao Student 12142 Sha Guo Liang

The news of Grandpa Tao’s death saddened me tremendously. I remember him as a gentle, kind elder. His words of wisdom have been my inspiration.

I will follow your advices and live up to your expectations. Dear Grandpa Tao, we will always be grateful to you. Wherever we go, we will pass the baton and spread your spirit of kindness to others.

You live in the heart of every Tao student. Farewell, Dear Grandpa Tao.

Tao Student 12075 Hu Yong Xiang

I am very sorry to hear the loss of Grandpa Tao. May he rest in peace. I am forever in debt for his support of my college education. His entrepreneurship and generosity in promoting social responsibility shall stay with me forever.

Tao Student 11102 He Guo You

Dear Grandpa Tao, it was an honor and blessing to be a Tao student. You lit up my life. Your support kept me in school and your advices shall guide me into the future.

I would never have completed college had not for your help. Thank to you, I am living a meaningful life and enjoying my academic pursuits. I will receive my graduate degree soon. I am on my way of achieving financial independence and becoming the stalwart of my family. I wish I could have told you about my dreams and career plan while you were still around.

Dear Grandpa Tao, you are my guiding light and my compass in steering through this life. Your loving care and financial support, just like sunshine and water, provide the basic ingredients that we could grow. I will do my very best to follow your example and spirit. You shall live in our hearts even though you are not with us. May you find peace in the heaven.

Tao Student 15085 Sha Jun

Dear Grandpa Tao,

I am one of the Tao students that you have supported. I am sorry that you are not with us.

I would like to thank you for helping the rural students to complete their education. Your kind spirit shall live in our hearts.

Tao Student 161130 Chen Zhao Yan

Dear Grandpa Tao,

I am among the thousands of students you have helped. I was devastated by the news that you were not with us anymore.

I am grateful for your support to help me through the four years of college. The five-thousand-dollar scholarship lifted the burden off my parents and allowed me to fulfill my dream. Without your help, I would probably have dropped out of school or married young. I am a college senior now and enjoy my campus life with my classmates. I have high hopes for the future and this is all because of you.

Thank you, Grandpa Tao. I will keep you in my heart, always.

Tao Student 17669 Li Sha Cai

Dear Grandpa Tao, I am sorry to hear that you have left us. All your life, you have devoted yourself to the charity cause. Your kindness has lightened up the hope of many students. Your generosity has kept us staying warm during difficult times.

Good bye, Grandpa Tao. You will always live in our hearts.

Tao Student 161060 Chen Pingping

This article is dedicated to Grandpa Tao.

My heart went out when I heard about the sad news. Even now, I am still in denial. You have supported us all these years and embraced us with warmth and love. I never have the chance to thank you. We shall live our lives to the fullest extent just the way you wanted us to be. Please rest in peace. You are the star in the sky, guiding and guarding us. We will follow your steps and make our lives worthy of your kindness. May you rest in peace with God.

Tao Student 12207 Pu Hui

I am a Tao student. It breaks my heart to hear the sad news about Grandpa Tao.

Thank you for bringing light and warmth to me during the darkest days of my life. You have gone far away from me, before I can say thank you. Rest in peace, Grandpa Tao! You will forever live in my memory.

Tao Student 12300 Li Ou Xiu

I can never forget. I graduated from high school in 2016. I planned to give up college and start working because I couldn't afford it. PEACH's uncles and aunts recommended me and Jiangsu Tao Shing Pee Education Foundation awarded me the “Peeli Scholarship”. Since then, I have received financial aid of 5000 yuan every year until my graduation.

Thank you very much, Grandpa Tao, for your support on my journey to obtaining education. I know that you will not ask for anything in return. But I understand that I should have a productive and good life, make my family happy and live up to your expectation.

Thank you, Grandpa Tao. Although I haven't had a chance to meet you, you will always live in my heart. I’ve always regarded you as my real Grandpa. I will always follow your example and work hard.

Grandpa Tao, please be assured that all you "Tao students" will do fine. We will forever love you and miss you.

Tao Student 16044 Deng Guoxian

Dear Grandpa Tao: How are you!

I am Deng Guoxian, a sophomore funded by Jiangsu Tao Shing Pee Education Foundation. Your generous support has reduced the financial burden of my family and enabled me to finish my education. Thank you very much, Grandpa Tao!

I know you have entered the gate of Paradise. No matter where you are, you will always be my kind and loving Grandpa. No matter where I go and what I do in the future, I will always remember your help and love you forever!

Grandpa Tao, may you rest in the beauty of Paradise!

Tao Student 19512 Long Wen

I am deeply saddened by the news of Grandpa Tao's death. I am grateful for Grandpa Tao's help for four years. Thanks to Grandpa Tao’s help, I can continue my college education and have the opportunity to pursue my life dream.

May Grandpa Tao rest in peace. I will always remember Grandpa Tao, and will do my best to help others and live up to Grandpa Tao's expectations.

Tao Student 16595 Li Tong

Although I have never met Grandpa Tao, I know in my heart that he is a kind and loving man. I love and respect him from the bottom of my heart. Three years ago, I had the honor of being supported and cared for by Grandpa Tao. I received a Peeli scholarship of 5000 yuan every year. This gave me profound encouragement and enabled me to finish college smoothly. My heart is filled with deep gratitude.

It's difficult to accept the fact that Grandpa Tao has left us so suddenly, before I have a chance to say “thank you” to Grandpa Tao. I can't imagine how such a kind and loving man could just suddenly leave us!

There are no goodbyes. In paradise you’ll be, and you’ll be forever in my heart.

Tao Student 13477 Long Yang Nu

It's my honor to have met Grandpa Tao in my lifetime. You helped me when I needed the most. Without you, I could not have finished my college studies so smoothly. It was you who solved my tuition problem every year. You gave me a helping hand when I was helpless, and made me see the beauty of the world.

Grandpa Tao silently helped countless Tao students go to school and gave many poor children like me the opportunity to study in college. In my heart, you are the greatest human being.

After graduation, I have tried to give back to society as much as I can. I participated in the western volunteer program, returned to my hometown to serve, and performed lots of volunteer work. I’ve always remembered grandpa Tao's kindness. During my volunteer service, I often think of Grandpa Tao's generous deeds. If it weren't for Grandpa Tao's financial aid, I wouldn't be who I am today. Grandpa Tao, you gave me hope. I will remember it in my heart and pass on the torch of love.

Tao Student 12190 Zhi Mei Fang

Dear Grandpa Tao:

Although we are not related by blood, I can always feel your love and encouragement. Although we have never met, I can understand your expectations for us. Although we are thousands of miles apart, I can feel the warmth you bring us.

Your support gives hope to tens of thousands of "Tao students" who are poor and may be out of school. You are a benefactor in our life. You encourage us to overcome difficulties and study hard.

Your "The Life Stories of Tao Shing Pee" teaches us to be honest and trustworthy, be conscientious and responsible. Your life is legendary, a life of daring to work hard and achieve greatness. It is lesson that benefits me greatly.

We will follow your example. Just like you, we will strive to make a good life for ourselves and our family, and contribute as much as we can to society with our actions, so that the society can have more love and compassion. Grandpa Tao, may you rest in peace! I will always remember you.

Tao Student 15378 An Qing

Dear grandpa Tao:

I didn't expect to say goodbye to you in this way and express my deep gratitude to you with tears. Some people have made their lives mightier than Mountain Taishan. You are one of them. In my darkest and most difficult time, I received your support.

I'm a child from the mountains. I haven't seen the world. Although I was admitted to college, my family sighed and frowned, and worried to death, in the face of large college expenses. I felt that my future was grim and even wanted to give up. When my family and I learned that I could get an annual subsidy of 5000 yuan from Jiangsu Tao Shing Pee Education Foundation, we were surprised and delighted. Grandpa Tao, you helped our family when we needed it the most.

You opened a window for me, a child from the mountains, to see the hope and beauty of life. Although I have no opportunity to meet you, you have always been my kind and loving grandfather in my heart. It is your love that lights up my life. But today, I am sad to hear that you have passed away.

Grandpa Tao, I will study hard, try to change my destiny by relying on knowledge and get out of the mountain. I hope to live up to the expectations of you and my family. Grandpa Tao, may you rest in peace.

I'm An Qing, a girl from the mountains. I will never forget you. You will always live in my heart.