The Beijing Women and Children's Development Foundation has partnered with Web portal Sohu.com to start eight charity projects in 2011.

During a Jan 25 gala to celebrate the cooperation, celebrities, Olympic champions, artists and entrepreneurs participated in a charity auction that raised 10 million yuan ($1.47 million) for the projects.

The costume vocalist Wei Wei (pictured with her sons while attending the event) wore for the Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremony in 2008 went for 300,000 yuan.

The eight projects will assist underprivileged groups, such as orphans and people with physical disabilities.

Sohu set up a charity channel five years ago and has been working on charity projects with many celebrities, such as Yang Lan and Zhou Xun.