The All-China Federation of Trade Unions sent a message of condolence on Monday to mourn over the passing of Zong Qinghou, founder of the beverage giant Hangzhou Wahaha Group who died of an illness on Sunday at age 79.

In the message, the federation expressed its deepest sympathies to Zong's family.

Born in October 1945 in Xuzhou, East China's Jiangsu province, Zong started the beverage company from scratch in Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang province, in 1987.

Though he was ranked as China's richest person three times, he lived a simple and thrifty life and made efforts to help laid-off workers and students in poor financial conditions, the federation said in its message.

Zong donated about 124.6 million yuan ($17.3 million) in 2000 when Hangzhou first launched its city-level campaign to help residents living in poor conditions. He also set up a study fund and sponsored over 30,000 children from financially challenged families to attend universities and colleges.

Zong was a deputy to the 10th, 11th and 12th National People's Congress, China's top legislature. He was awarded National Model Worker, the nation's highest honor for workers, and the May 1st Labor Medal by the federation.