At the suggestion of university foundation intern Yingxing Huang, Rutgers University-Newark Chancellor Nancy Cantor delivered Rutgers-branded envelopes to alumni and donors during her January 2017 trip to China. The idea came to Yingxing, then a graduate student at the New Jersey institution, during a phone call with her mother, who mentioned buying red envelopes as part of her Lunar New Year festival planning. To celebrate Chinese New Year, older generations and married couples in China pass out red envelopes decorated with gold-colored Chinese characters that represent good fortune.
From the Judges
Thoughtful. Simple. Innovative. Amazing. This entry shows that wonderful ideas can come from anywhere and by anyone in an organization. The cultural competence and relevance is spot on. Rutgers complemented an existing Chinese tradition and became relevant in the lives of their alumni. Well done.
