Dear friends:
As you know, a massive earthquake measuring 8.0 on the Richter scale hit Wenchuan area, Sichuan Province, China on May 12th. According to Xinhua News Agency, the confirmed death toll has risen to 32,476 by 2:00pm Sunday, May 18th. The death toll would possibly rise to more than 50,000 because many people are still buried in rubble. More than 220,109 people have been injured, many critically. Over 5 million people are now homeless. The loss of many children in the collapsed school buildings is perhaps the most devastating and tragic of all.
The Pittsburgh Chinese community has organized a joint force to facilitate your donations for the China earthquake relief. We are promoting
Rebuild-A-School Campaign (RASC) to help rebuild stronger and safer schools, and to provide scholarship and financial aid to school-aged children in the earthquake affected areas. This RASC campaign is organized by
Pittsburgh Chinese School (PCS) (an educational and cultural, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization) and is currently jointly sponsored and supported by the following organizations:
• The Chinese Association for Science & Technology Pittsburgh Chapter (CAST-P)
(a non-political,non-profit 501(c)(3) organization)
• Chinese Faculty Association at University of Pittsburgh (CFAP)
• Greater Pittsburgh Area Sichuan and Chongqing Association (GPSCA)
We are appealing for other organizations and individuals to join this campaign.
Our initial target is to raise $50,000+ with over $10,000 already pledged. To support this campaign, please make your check payable to
PCSEFI (Pittsburgh Chinese School Educational Foundation, Inc.) for “
China Earthquake Relief-RASC” and send it to
PCSEFI
P.O.Box 383
Wexford, PA 15090-0383
All your contributions can be tax deductible and the attached form is for you to fill out for a receipt. The donors and the total amount raised will be posted and updated weekly at PCS web site (http://www.pittsburgh-chinese-school.org). There is no deadline for donation until further notice in the PCS website. The use of fund will be overseen, supervised and mobilized by an independent board elected from local Pittsburgh community.
In addition to RASC fundraising drive, you can also send your support to China Red Cross through
CAST-P for helping immediate China earthquake relief. You may make your check payable to CAST-P for “
China Earthquake Relief-China Red Cross” and send it to
CAST-P
P.O. Box 539,
Wexford, PA 15090
Your contributions can be tax deductible and the attached form is for you to fill out for a receipt. The donors and the total amount raised will be announced and the money will be wire transferred to China Red Cross by the last day of this month.
Contacts:
For donation to RASC, please contact Hong Tao (Legal representative and Chairperson, the Board of Directors of PCS), Email:
htao29@yahoo.com, phone
724-602-4566.
For donation to China Red Cross through CAST-P, Yang Wang (Legal representative and current president of CAST-P), Email:
wangy@nauticom.net, phone:
724-940-1002.
For your convenience, designated donation boxes will be open from 05/19/08-5/31/08 in your area, and please follow announcements regarding the locations.
You can also make your donation through other credible charity agencies including several listed below.
Chinese Consulate General, New York
Chinese Red Cross Foundation
Hong Kong Red Cross
American Red Cross
