Last year I blogged about a Shanghainese friend named Grace who organized and hosted a charity event for her own birthday. Recently, while sipping tea at a traditional Suzhou tea house, we gabbed about the continuing trend for young Chinese professionals to give charitably where they can. Grace gave the example of couples who have received red envelopes of money from well-wishers for the birth of their child who, in return, would like to show their thanks in a special, sustainable way. For instance, she offered, “they may want to give a gift of Fair Trade Coffee, or give to the person’s favorite charity.”

“The older generation,” she explained, “just wants to save money when giving gifts.” Now, with money more plentiful, “younger people want to do something special for others.”

Of course, it’s tough to tell whether this is a major trend or if Grace is a particularly unique individual in China’s rush to wealth.

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