Earthquake in Wenchuan, P

More Energy than this Earthquake: Chinese in Metro Atlanta raised over $120,000 Earthquake Relief Fund Drive in less than five days.

On May 12, 2008 in Wenchuan County, Sichuan Province a 7.8 earthquake released its crushing energy, took tens of thousands life and caused incalculable property damages. 1976 Tangshan Earthquake that killed over a quarter of million people can match this quake, which was felt by people from Shanghai to Bangkok.

As the visual images become available, people weep when they see the demolished buildings, wrecked road, and exhausted rescuer pulling victims out of the rubbles of a collapsed school building.

Urgent calls for assistance! Buried victims and the injured need help from outside, food, drinking water, medicines, clothing, tent and etc. The responses from the fellow countrymen both in the Country and overseas are overwhelming. As the rescuing troops and medical teams fast moving into the affected area, donated materials and fund are being collected and sent in also.

In Atlanta, Georgia, the Chinese Business Association of Atlanta (CBAA) called for an earthquake relief fund drive and nearly every one of the fellow associations responded with heart-warming enthusiasm. Leadership of these associations held an emergency meeting in the evening of May 13, 2008, expressed their shared love for the victims at home country and discussed the pressing need to raise fund for their relief. As the result, the participants formed Atlanta Chinese Earthquake Relief Fund Drive Committee. The leadership of several organizations did not attend the meeting but learned about the agenda and express their resolve to participate in the fund drive. 25 organizations joined Atlanta China Earthquake Fund Drive Committee. They are:

1. Chinese Business Association of Atlanta (CBAA)

2. Hubei Fellows Association

3. Atlanta Sichuan-Chongqing Association (ASCA)

4. Atlanta Hunan Association

5. Atlanta Sun Yat-Sen University Alumni Association

6. Association of Chinese Professional (ACP),

7. National Association of Chinese American (NACA)

8. Atlanta Contemporary Chinese Academy

9. DongBeiRen Association

10. Shandong Chinese Association

11. Sichuan House Restaurant

12. Atlanta Chinese Writers Association

13. Shandong University Alumni Association

14. Zhejiang Association of Georgia

15. Atlanta China Town

16. Cathay Atlantic Art Ensemble (CAAE)

17. Cao Ying Dance School

18. Atlanta Jiangsu Fellowship Association

19. Atlanta Asian Culture & Art Center

20. Jiangxi Association

21. Morningstar Chinese School

22. Tsinghua Alumni Association of Georgia

23. Chinese Freemasons of Atlanta

24. Hip Sing Association of Atlanta

25. Chao Chow Natives Association

26. Alltop School

27. Tongji Alumni Association

28. Atlanta Chinese IT Association

CBS Channel 46 interviewed some of the participants of the meeting and aired the interviews as part of their Evening News program at 11 o’clock in the same evening.

The said committee decided to invite the public to donate to China Earthquake Relief Fund through the channels listed below. The committee also request that local media channel to broadcast the information through all available media channels.

All donations will be sent to the said account, and detailed entry will be kept as to the amount, the donor’s name and etc. The list of donors and amount, together with the fund will be delivered to the Red Cross China Branch. Two fund raising events are planned for the weekend of May 17-18 and May 24-25, locations are China Town, local super markets, Zoo Atlanta, Chinese Sunday Language schools. The first batch of donation will be sent out on May 19, 2008.

This fund raising drive will demonstrate that love, care and unity are greater than any natural disaster. The Chinese in Atlanta area will open their wallet and help the victims to rebuild their home and bring them love and support in the mean time.

Possible donation channels:

CBAA Cultural Foundation (Tax ID #26-1564609), 2160-F Hills Ave. NW, Atlanta, GA 30318. Make check payable to CBAA (Non-profit organization), make note on check memo "For China Earthquake Relief Fund", pay by credit card: visit www.cbaaweb.org, click "Donate" on top left, follow instructions.
Atlanta Sichuan-Chongqing Association, 741 Catamount Way，Lilburn, GA 30047. Make a payment to SCearthquake Fund (Routing number: 261172308; account number: 0000000066678)
ACP, P.O.BOX 992436, Norcross, GA 30010. Make check payable to National Day Foundation, write For China Earthquake Relief Fund on memo.
NACA, 5483 Redbark, Dunwoody, GA 30338, make a check to NACA China Earthquake Relief Fund, For China Earthquake Relief Fund on memo.

5. Zhejiang Association of Georgia, 10820 Abbots Bridge Road, Suite 150, Duluth, GA 30097，check title: Zhejiang Association of Georgia. For China Earthquake Relief

Everyone who is touched by the devastation suffered by the victim and their unyielding spirit to survive are invited to donate through any of these channels. Please be reminded to ask for a receipt. Please also mark your check For China Earthquake Relief.

Stretch out your arms to help, open your heart to love! Brothers and sisters, let’s roll!

By 6:00 P.M., May 20, 2008, Monday, the total of the fund raised is reported over $120,000!

Greater energy is released from the hearts of donors that will shame that of the earthquake!

百川终入海众志可成城

亚特兰大华人社区为中国地震捐款令人鼓舞

5月13日晚亚特兰大侨界近20个社团组织聚集一起，以及后来加入的十多个社团，共30个社团成立的亚特兰大中国地震募捐委员会，一周来展开了全面的持续的募捐活动。至截稿时为止募捐委员会已经收到超过$120,000的支票和现金，委员会将陆续把支票转账结清的款项交接给中国红十字会。由于华人社区各公司，各企业，个人直接向中国方面的捐款无法统计，估计也有很大的数目。

自捐款运动开展以来，各个社团利用会员网络遍发捐款消息，中文报纸也相继进行了报导和宣传，亚特兰大宪政报（AJC）连续两天刊登有关华人社区募款的消息和报道,CBS地方新闻46频道也做了专访报道。可见中国汶川县发生的8级特大地震不仅波及中国十几个省市自治区，也波及到远在美国亚特兰大的华人华侨社区，华人华侨捐款十分踊跃。委员会向侨界表示衷心的感谢！

上周末（5月17、18日）在中国城、各个超市和食品店、现代中文学校等公共场所和学校现场举行了捐款活动。当日亚特兰大现代中文学校大厅里到处都是学生和家长，而最拥挤的地方不是下学期的入学报名处而是赈灾捐款处。中国城几乎每一个经过捐款处的人都主动地慷慨解囊表达心愿。在食品超市门外的募捐小组不停地向来往购物的行人募款，华人一看到捐款箱，无需解释爽快地拿出捐款，韩国人，越南侨，墨西哥裔，非裔美国人，白人也都向灾区伸出了援助之手。一幕幕募捐场面描绘出大同世界的蓝图，一笔笔四面八方的汇款牵动了人间亲情的命脉。一齣齣侨胞捐款的故事演绎着中华民族的博大情怀。

几天来捐款的成绩让大家感到释怀，增加了信心，准备在今后的一周内加大募捐的力度和范围。将把募捐运动推广到不同的角落。中国商会已制作了大量的捐款宣传牌和捐款箱，免费提供给委员会内各个组织和团体使用；金佛餐饮集团的一条龙餐厅（Sydney’s Buffet）将在星期天（5月25日）举行全天赈灾义卖；亚特兰大动物园已通告他们的会员为熊猫故乡捐款，还在入口处和熊猫馆内安置固定捐款箱；全美华协年会将于本周末举行的年会上发动献爱心的筹款活动；现代中文学校利用结业典礼扩大募捐成果；各个社团也都分头到Wal-Mart，Publix, Kroger, Home Depot，Sam’s Club，电影院，韩国超市，中国城，中国餐馆等地捐款。还有不胜枚举的各个团体的捐款活动。让亚特兰大来关注四川地震，让美国社会看到全球华人对祖国和同胞的关爱，让世界认识了解中国人的万众一心，众志成城的华夏精神。

5月19日下午2点28分举国上下为地震遇难者默哀3分钟之后，聚集在天安门广场的万千民众同时振臂高呼：“中国加油，四川加油！”。让我们海外的炎黄子孙在这里也高喊亚城华人加油！

以下不同的捐款管道，最终汇集到亚特兰大中国地震募捐委员会的账户，全数捐赠给中国红十字会：

1) 中国地震救灾基金：China Earthquake Relief Fund，2160-F Hills Ave. NW, Atlanta, GA 30318.支票请写China Earthquake Relief Fund （Tax ID # 26-1564609）

2) 川渝同乡会：Atlanta Sichuan-Chongqing Association, 741 Catamount Way，Lilburn, GA 30047. 支票请写 SCearthquake Fund (Routing number: 261172308; account number: 0000000066678)

3）中华专业人士协会：ACP, P.O.BOX 992436, Norcross, GA 30010. 支票请写 National Day Foundation, 注明For China Earthquake Relief

4) 全美华协：NACA, 5483 Redbark, Dunwoody, GA 30338, 支票请写 NACA China Earthquake Relief Fund

5）浙江同乡会：Zhejiang Association of Georgia, 10820 Abbots Bridge Road, Suite 150, Duluth, GA 30097，支票请写Zhejiang Association of Georgia. 注明 For China Earthquake Relief

6) 将捐款交给亚特兰大中国地震募捐委员会中任何一个你所熟悉方便的社团组织或直接到捐款现场捐赠，请注明 For China Earthquake Relief Fund并可向接收捐款的社团索要统一收据。

朋友们，同胞们，大家行动起来。为家乡为同胞做出更多的贡献吧！