Yao says she and her colleagues only came to understand Du's motivation after the award spotlighted his past.

"He pays attention to employees' feelings, identifies the reasons behind their emotions and is willing to help solve their difficulties," Yao says.

"Perhaps, it's because he has been through the rain himself, that he's willing to hold an umbrella for others."

As the cultural center gets good reviews, more companies, including Chinese tech giant ByteDance, have sought Du's services in organizing public welfare events.

"Public welfare work can be addictive. You feel needed because parents are very touched and feel that their children have received help, so they trust us. It's a sense of shared accomplishment," Du says.

"I feel that Beijing is for all entrepreneurs. According to my own experience, the city welcomes anyone with open arms."

Contact the writer at yangfeiyue@chinadaily.com.cn