Following the magnitude-7 earthquake that rocked Ya'an in Sichuan province on the morning of April 20, Beijing Mercedes-Benz Sales and Service Co Ltd and Beijing Benz Automotive Co Ltd, together with Mercedes-Benz' dealers, committed 20 million yuan ($3.23 million) to Ya'an to support relief efforts there within 24 hours proceeding the disaster through the Mercedes-Benz Star Fund.

Mercedes-Benz is the first automaker in China to make a substantial donation to the Ya'an earthquake's relief and rescue efforts.

"Upon receiving news on the earthquake, we immediately contacted our local partners at the Ya'an World Heritage Protection organization and promptly launched our disaster relief emergency process," said Frank Deiss, president and CEO of BBAC. "Our donation is a joint, proactive effort in social commitment to help local relief efforts."

This rapid action taken by the Mercedes-Benz Star Fund is a result from the automaker's experiences with relief support for the 2008 Sichuan earthquake. In 2010, the Star Fund was established as vehicle to allow the brand to disperse disaster relief funds with minimal processes to ensure an immediate response to disasters like the Ya'an earthquake.

"We express our heartfelt sympathies to the earthquake victims who have lost their homes and loved ones. Our well-established Mercedes-Benz Star Fund enabled us together with our nationwide dealers to instantly and effectively respond to the crisis and offer timely support to the rescue and restoration efforts in Ya'an," said Nicholas Speeks, president & CEO of BMBS.

The Mercedes-Benz Star fund focuses on five core corporate social responsibility pillars: environmental protection, culture of driving, education support, music, arts and sports development, as well as charity and disaster relief programs.

On top of 30 million yuan in original seed money, one of the largest in start-up charity funds ever in the Chinese auto industry, an additional 25 million yuan was added to the Star Fund in 2012, bringing the total value of the Star Fund to 55 million yuan.

Over the past few years, the automaker has rendered help to underprivileged and needy communities. Following the Sichuan earthquake in 2008, Mercedes-Benz donated over 10 million yuan to earthquake sites to enable immediate disaster relief and post-crisis rebuilding support.

In 2010, Mercedes-Benz built the Mercedes-Benz Primary School in Shifang to provide children in need with proper educational facilities.

"We will continue to devote unwavering commitment to social causes in China and contribute to the well-being of Chinese society," said Henry Li, senior executive vice president of Network Development, BMBS, and newly elected chairman of the Mercedes-Benz Star Fund Committee.

"We are compelled to keep our focus on the situation in Ya'an, and extend our greatest level of support to assist with the recovery journey."

zhuanti@chinadaily.com.cn