As the star of such martial arts films as Hero, Unleashed, Lethal Weapon 4 and Romeo Must Die, Jet Li has had many cinematic close brushes with death. But it was an off-screen experience of almost losing his children during an island vacation that triggered his founding of an organization dedicated to humanitarian work.

Li recently shared his views on philanthropy and his organization and talked about his family and friends at the office of the Jet Li One Foundation, while organizing a charity drive with the Red Cross Society of China.

As part of his efforts to develop the growth of NGOs in China and beyond, the Red Cross Society Jet Li One Foundation, in partnership with the Boao Forum Asia, will hold a Global Philanthropy Forum on Nov1-2 in Beijing to address some of the key challenges facing global philanthropy.

Jet Li says a narrow escape from death triggered his founding of a charity organization. [Xu Jingxing/China Daily]

Dressed in jeans, sneakers and a brown leather jacket over a T-shirt with a logo of his One Foundation, the youthful Li looked much like the martial arts All-Around National Champion he was from 1974-1979, but when he spoke his expression grew increasingly somber.

On Dec 26, 2004 while Li and his family were vacationing in the Maldives, they had a narrow escape from death at the hands of the Indian Ocean tsunami that killed more than 225,000 people in 11 countries.

"I thought if God has saved me, it must mean something. That day in the Maldives I wanted to do something right away," Li says.

He immediately gave about $158,000 in tsunami aid but felt he had to do something more significant and long-lasting. That was how the Jet Li One Foundation was born.

"The Jet Li One foundation is my life and movies just one of my hobbies," says Li, downplaying his box office superstar status. He says he has made up his mind to focus on humanitarian work.

Li built the One Foundation after studying carefully how philanthropic foundations in other countries were managed and after taking advice from a host of professionals, including medical workers, lawyers and bankers. He said he was committed to not only building a sustainable, professional and trustworthy foundation but also to bringing Chinese NGOs up to international standards.

The One Foundation's name comes from Li's belief that even one individual, giving as little as one yuan or donating one hour of their time every month, is part of a family of others doing the same elsewhere in the world. Or, as he puts it, "One plus one plus one equals one family. The whole world is actually one big family.

"We should never stop caring for each other, and we should make compassion a part of our everyday lives."

The One Foundation, says Li, "is not just about raising money but also about changing people's beliefs and spreading a culture of love". He adds that the One Foundation is still an infant and is confident it will grow into a giant that could shoulder great burdens.

He has also initiated the "One Foundation Philanthropy Awards" to fund domestic NGOs in five major areas of philanthropic work: environment, education, health, poverty and disaster relief. "My own effort is quite limited; I would like to unite everyone."

He says the combined resources of the world community, both financial and intellectual, would make for a significant difference to charity work.

As of mid-July 2008, the One Foundation had raised more than 93 million yuan, of which 82 million yuan has been earmarked for Wenchuan earthquake relief.

Wearing a beaded Buddhist bracelet, Li says he has studied Buddhism for more than 10 years and it has given him a much better understanding of life. In Buddhist thought, "true love is a gift and the highest level of love is selfless unconditional giving".

Li says his two young daughters and his wife also support his work. "Every generation should be responsible for the next - what we have to pass on is not wealth but the spirit and value of giving."

(China Daily October 31, 2008)