More than 554,000 yuan (US$71,400) was collected for the city's needy over the weekend, thanks in large part to a top local photojournalist.

The combined charity auction and donation function was organized by the Shanghai Charity Foundation.

Yu Xinbao, a photographer for the Jiefang Daily who won the title of "Shanghai Charity Star" in 2005, donated one of his photo albums which was signed by the city and foundation leaders especially for auction.

He donated another 2,000 albums to the foundation for charity sales.

The auction included a Chinese painting "Every Generation Has Surplus Wealth" by Yang Jie, an armless artist, who painted the large work with a mouth-held brush.

"I am a disabled person, and I've received much help from society," said Yang. "Now it's high time to repay society."

The auction collected 58,000 yuan, which will be donated to the fund founded by Yu last year, plus guest donations.

(Shanghai Daily June 11, 2007)