Shining World Compassion Award Recipient: Mrs. Gia Trần – Spreading Happiness Through Benevolent Deeds

We are in the presence of an extraordinary person who braved all the weather conditions there are to devote part of her day to doing a task that is pure devotion for others. Immigrating to Vancouver, Canada in 1980 from Âu Lạc (Vietnam) as a single mother of four young children, Mrs. Trần spent a decade supporting her children by cleaning apartments and motels. Wanting also to help the needy and contribute to her community, she started collecting cans and bottles as a way to raise funds. Every day for over 21 years, Mrs. Gia Trần, has dedicated herself to scouring the streets of Canada, collecting bottles and cans for up to ten hours a day. These are then cashed in for as low as five cents a bottle. Rather than keeping her earnings herself, she donates most of it to the needy and various charities. Over the decades it is estimated that Mrs. Trần has contributed more than $15,000 to the B.C. Cancer Foundation alone, where she visits daily. Known as the angel of East Hastings, Mrs. Trần brings a smile to everyone’s face with her pure-hearted cheerfulness. “I want to help people. I love people. I have money; I help cancer [patients]; I help big hospitals; I help the children’s hospital. I want to help [homeless] people.” Deeply touched by her altruistic deeds, Supreme Master Ching Hai presented Mrs. Gia Trần the Shining World Compassion Award, and a loving contribution of USD $20,000. “Dear Ms. Trần, It is with much admiration and gratitude that we present to you the Shining World Compassion Award for your timeless devotion to help cancer victims. This Award is presented in recognition of your outstanding humanitarian efforts to simultaneously help clean our environment and provide assistance to patients in need."