Haier Group, the electric appliance giant from Qingdao, Shandong province, won a China Charity Award for its donating to the country's primary schools, according to the city charity federation Jan 5.

It was the second time the group has won the award. Along with the Haier Group, the Ministry of Civil Affairs of China also granted the award to a total of 49 enterprises and personalities in the country.

Haier Group started to sponsor the Hope Primary Schools in under-developed regions of the country in 1995. By the end of 2014, the group had donated more than 80 million yuan ($12.3 million) to 207 schools in 26 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions, including 17 cities in Shandong. So far, the group has given over 500 million yuan to charitable causes.

The China Charity Award, set up in 2005, is one of the most prestigious governmental awards for individual and organization's philanthropic endeavors. Apart from Haier Group, local enterprises such as Hisense Group, Qingdao Port Group and Tsingtao Brewery Co have won the award.