On March 8, the Fudan Fuzhong Overseas Foundation held its second annual fundraising luncheon at Tse Yang, New York. Despite the inclement weather, more than 30 alumni and friends of Fudan Fuzhong joined the event and showed their support. It was a great opportunity for the participants to stay connected with old friends, or make new ones.
At the outset, Ms. Fanghua Jiang ('84), President of the Foundation, Executive Committee Members Mr. Minhua Zhang ('00) and Ms. Ling Liu ('87) reported key achievements and financial results of the previous calendar year, and outlined new initiatives for the upcoming year. In 2007, the foundation launched "Social Contribution Award", to encourage students with significant contributions in their civic life, and "Give-A-Hand Scholarship", to provide disadvantaged students with financial aid for their study. A total of eight scholarships were awarded through these programs in the past year. At the luncheon, a new special purpose fund, "Life Fund" was announced to help save the life of a '07 alumni. The medical condition of Ye Sheng, a 18-year-old with hemophilia, requires expensive drugs to help stopping uncontrolled bleeding.
Following the foundation presentation, Ms. Jenny Bowen, the founder and executive director of the Half The Sky foundation, shared her perspective on China's current charity landscape with firsthand experience. Striving to provide a family-like loving care for children who lost their parents, the Half The Sky foundation designed four programs that have grown to 300 sites across all 31 provinces and municipalities of China.
As with last year, the event was a great success. Over US$12,000 were received and pledged during the marketing of this event, more than half way on the Foundation's 2008 fund raising goal of $20,000. The Foundation would like to thank the generous donation from each and every friend and alumni of the school. If you wish to get more information about the Foundation, or wish to make a donation, please visit www.fdfzalumni.org.
