FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CHINA INSTITUTE-CHINA RELIEF FUND DONATES $750,000 FOR BUILDING SUSTAINABLE SCHOOLS IN EARTHQUAKE-DAMAGED SICHUAN PROVINCE
NEW YORK, January 27, 2009 — China Institute, the New York City based cultural and educational nonprofit institution focused exclusively on China, announced a $750,000 CHINA RELIEF FUND donation to the China-U.S. Center for Sustainable Development in support of its efforts to build sustainable schools in Sichuan, China.
“We are extremely pleased to be able to support this innovative China-U.S. initiative to rebuild schools in Sichuan” said Sara Judge McCalpin, China Institute President and Co-chair of the CHINA RELIEF FUND. “By addressing the educational and safety needs of children in the context of environmentally sound design concepts, the China-U.S. Center for Sustainable Development’s international volunteer team will profoundly improve the learning environment for children in Sichuan province.”
The Rebuilding Sichuan Schools Sustainably project was launched by the China-U.S. Center for Sustainable Development, following the devastating May 12, 2008 earthquake that destroyed or severely damaged over 7,400 schools and displaced millions of school children in Sichuan and neighboring provinces in China. The project is strongly supported by the Chinese Ministries of Science and Technology and Housing and Urban-Rural Development; Tongji University in Shanghai is also collaborating with the design team.
“We are deeply grateful to receive this generous contribution from the CHINA INSTITUTE-CHINA RELIEF FUND enabling the launch of the first prototype school,” said Rick Schulberg, Executive Director of the China-U.S. Center for Sustainable Development. “We are especially honored since China Institute is the oldest and most highly respected educational and cultural bridge between the United States and China. This donation will enable our partnership to influence the safe and sustainable reconstruction of many schools in China.”
ABOUT THE CHINA RELIEF FUND: Launched on May 28, 2008, the China Relief Fund is a global fund raising effort addressing the Sichuan earthquake victims’ immediate humanitarian requirements, and is co-chaired by Sara Judge McCalpin, Wilbur L. Ross, Chairman and CEO of WL Ross & Co., and Lakshmi Mittal, CEO of ArcelorMittal.
ABOUT CHINA INSTITUTE: China Institute (http://www.chinainstitute.org), founded in 1926, is the oldest bicultural organization in the United States focused on advancing a deeper understanding of China through programs in education, culture, business and art in the belief that cross-cultural understanding strengthens our global community.
For further information, please contact:
Lynn Klugman, China Institute
Phone: 212-744-8181 x 140
E-mail: lklugman@chinainstitute.org
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Ginny Kamsky (l), Chair, Board of Trustees, China Institute, Sara Judge McCalpin (r), President, China Institute, and The Honorable Zhou Wenzhong, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the United States, meet to discuss the China Institute-China Relief Fund’s contribution of $750,000 to the China-U.S. Center for Sustainable Development for building sustainable schools in earthquake-damaged Sichuan Province.
Related Links
http://www.chinainstitute.org/chinarelieffund