The Pillar Project, a charity program helping promising college students from poor families in Sichuan province, has raised funds surpassing 250 million yuan since it was set up 10 years ago.

According to project official Zou Tao, the project has been implemented in 20 cities and autonomous prefectures in Sichuan and forged ties of cooperation with nearly 300 institutions of higher learning nationwide.

He said that the project has offered aid to over 60,000 students in need since it was set up in 2001.