Passing the Torch of Hope: Winners of the 2026 Dharma Drum Mountain Caring for Life Awards Announced

The 2026 Dharma Drum Mountain Caring for Life Awards, organized by the Dharma Drum Mountain Humanities and Social Improvement Foundation, announced its winners on June 17. The Liver Disease Prevention & Treatment Research Foundation (財團法人肝病防治學術基金會) received the organization-level “Great Vow Award”; the individual “Compassion Award” went to Chao Wen-Cheng (趙文正), known as the “philanthropic recycler”; and the “Wisdom Award” was presented to firefighter hero Yu Tai-Yun (余泰運). The awards ceremony and forum will be held on September 13 at the CPC Kuo-Kuang Hall in Taipei.

The judging panel for the 2026 Caring for Life Awards was convened by Chien Fu (錢復), Chairman of the Chiang Ching-kuo Foundation for International Scholarly Exchange (蔣經國國際學術交流基金會). Other judges included Wu Nien-jen (吳念真), Tseng Tsan-chin (曾燦金), Chang Chang-pang (張昌邦), Chen Wu-hsiung (陳武雄), Chen Wei-chao (陳維昭), Chen Ai-ling (陳藹玲), Huang Hui-chen (黃輝珍), and Venerable Guo Huei (果暉法師), Abbot President of Dharma Drum Mountain. During the final review meeting in the morning of June 17, the panel selected the winners from among nine organizational and individual finalists. The awards recognize their perseverance, selfless dedication, compassion, and wisdom. Winners will receive a trophy, certificate, and prize at the September 13 awards ceremony.

The Great Vow Award recipient, the Liver Disease Prevention & Treatment Research Foundation, impressed the judges by redefining healthcare as something that actively reaches people rather than waiting for patients to come to hospitals. For more than two decades, the foundation has brought medical care and hope to communities most in need. Compassion Award winner Chao Wen-Cheng has transformed the modest proceeds from collecting recyclables into a powerful force for good, using his accumulated donations to support underprivileged students and extend his compassion to those in need. Wisdom Award recipient Yu Tai-Yun survived the devastating Kaohsiung gas explosions, endured a long and painful rehabilitation process, and ultimately returned to frontline firefighting and disaster rescue work. The scars he bears are no longer symbols of confusion or hardship, but, instead, serve as “medals” representing the many lives he has helped protect, making him a highly deserving recipient of the award.

Chairman Chien Fu, who led the final selection meeting, remarked that every finalist’s acts of kindness and service were deeply touching and worthy of being role models for society. Choosing the winners was therefore a difficult and emotional process. Venerable Guo Huei noted that all the finalists—both individuals and organizations—demonstrated remarkable vitality and dedication, offering profound inspiration and embodying the spirit of the “Four Steps for Handling a Problem” as taught by Master Sheng Yen, founder of Dharma Drum Mountain: Face it, Accept it, Deal with it, and Let it go.

During the meeting, Chung Ming-chiu (鍾明秋), Secretary-General of the Dharma Drum Mountain Humanities and Social Improvement Foundation, noted that this year marks the 11th edition of the biennial Caring for Life Awards. Through the sharing of the winners’ life stories, the foundation hopes to highlight the positive energy of goodness and pass on a flame of hope to society.


The 2026 Caring for Life Awards Ceremony and Forum will take place on Sunday, September 13, at 1:30 p.m. at CPC Kuo-Kuang Hall (No. 3, Songren Road, Taipei City). Members of the public are warmly invited to attend and celebrate the contributions of these dedicated individuals and organizations whose quiet efforts have made a meaningful difference in society. 









Original text in Chinese and photos: Dharma Drum Mountain Humanities and Social Improvement Foundation
Translation: Patricia Yang 
Editing: Keith Brown