EVERRICH Empowers Hongye Junior Baseball Team to Dream Big at the Taiwan International Balloon Festival

As the Taiwan International Balloon Festival draws to a close, EVERRICH Duty Free Shop and its affiliated Yungray Charity Foundation have partnered to encourage young baseball players from Hongye Elementary School to bravely pursue their dreams. The team visited Luye Highland in Taitung, where, despite unfavorable weather preventing a hot air balloon ride, the children participated in a special “Red Oolong Tea-Sealing (紅烏龍封茶)” activity to preserve their dreams. They also enjoyed a spectacular night glow concert and drone show, creating unforgettable memories under the dazzling lights and starlit sky—moments that reignited their hope and inspiration.

Accompanied by EVERRICH volunteers, the young players wrote down their dreams during the tea-sealing experience. Some aspired to become professional baseball players, while others wished to represent Taiwan on the international stage. Their handwritten wishes were sealed in tea canisters alongside Red Oolong tea leaves, left to “ferment” with time. “I wrote that I want to play in the Major Leagues so the whole world will know my name,” one boy said earnestly. Although they couldn’t experience the thrill of a balloon flight, the chance to see a night glow concert and drone performance for the first time was equally exciting. “The drones performing in the sky were amazing!” another child exclaimed.

Ying-feng Fang, Principal of Hongye Elementary School, noted that the tea-sealing activity not only introduced the players to Taitung’s specialty Red Oolong tea but also guided them to bravely put their dreams into words, the first step on the path toward reaching them. While poor weather prevented balloon flights, the tethered balloon displays gave the children a close-up look at ballooning principles. In the evening, the blend of technology and art in the glow concert and drone show broadened their horizons. “Having a company willing to accompany our children in pursuing their dreams is deeply meaningful. It’s not just about material support, but the powerful sense of being seen and supported,” Fang said.

Guided by its business philosophy of “integrity, professionalism, innovation, and public interest” and its altruistic mission of serving the public good, EVERRICH continues to fulfill its corporate social responsibility. Through the Yungray Charity Foundation—funded by EVERRICH’s own profits without external fundraising—the company has long supported grassroots baseball development in Taitung. Since 2014, it has donated over NT$10 million, provided training equipment, and built dormitories, significantly improving conditions for teams and helping children pursue their dreams despite limited resources.

In addition, EVERRICH has been a steadfast promoter of Taiwan’s tourism development, sponsoring the Taiwan International Balloon Festival organized by the Taitung County Government for many years. By inviting the Hongye Junior Baseball Team to participate in this cultural and international event blending local traditions, technology, and education, EVERRICH ensured that, even without balloon flights, the children remained at the heart of the festival. EVERRICH hopes the players understand that dreams are never out of reach: “We don’t just provide resources, we strive to be partners on their journey, so they know there are people who believe in their limitless future.”