Joseph W. Polisi, president emeritus and chief China officer of the Juilliard School in the United States, gestures at a donation ceremony in north China's Tianjin, May 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo)

Joseph W. Polisi, president emeritus and chief China officer of the Juilliard School in the United States, donated his entire 300,000 yuan (about 42,212 U.S. dollars) Orchid Awards prize money to the Tianjin Juilliard School Education Development Foundation on Monday.

This donation aims to support the arts and teaching programs of the Tianjin Juilliard School.

"We try to use the funds in support of student and faculty activities, special programs, perhaps a tour or certain activities, that ordinarily would not be able to take place because of a lack of financial support," said Polisi, also chairman of the board of directors of the Tianjin Juilliard School.

In September 2023, Polisi was awarded the Lifetime Honorary Prize at China's inaugural Orchid Awards in recognition of his contributions and achievements in Sino-U.S. music exchange and education over the years.

The Orchid Awards, initiated by the China International Communications Group, aims to honor non-Chinese nationals and organizations around the world that have made significant contributions to cultural exchanges between China and the rest of the world, and to promote mutual learning between Chinese and other civilizations.

Founded in October 2021, the Tianjin Juilliard School, located in north China's Tianjin Municipality, is the first and so far the only branch campus of the Juilliard School in the world, with music students enrolled from all over the world. 

Joseph W. Polisi (C), president emeritus and chief China officer of the Juilliard School in the United States, gestures at a donation ceremony in north China's Tianjin, May 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo)