The Kobe Bryant China Fund announced its first donation of five million yuan to children in quake-hit Sichuan province at Monday's charity banquet in Beijing.

NBA superstar Kobe Bryant, who actually sells more NBA jerseys than Chinese basketball superstar Yao Ming in China, attended the charity event hosted by Shen Bing and Yu Jia from China Central Television (CCTV).

With Chinese traditional programs including acrobatics and Beijing Opera performed during the banquet, the hosts announced that the Kobe Bryant China Fund has raised 42 million yuan (about $6.15 million) from various enterprises and the fund firstly will donate five million yuan (about $732,000) to children in quake-hit Sichuan province in an effort to help them in the areas of culture and sports.

Meanwhile, Hu Qili, chairman of China Soong Ching-Ling Foundation (CSCLF) presented Bryant with the Soong Ching-Ling Charity Award.

"I am very excited to help kids be better, to have a better future." Bryant said during the banquet.

The Kobe Bryant China Fund, established by the CSCLF and the Kobe Bryant Family Foundation on June 30, 2009 in Los Angeles, the U.S., aims to raise money for education, sports and culture programs for children from both China and the U.S..

(CRIENGLISH.com July 27, 2009)