BELLINGHAM - Western Washington University Associate Professor of Computer Science Jianna Zhang has spent the past three months organizing a comprehensive local relief effort for the victims of the May 12 Sichuan Earthquake in China, and last week after three months of fundraising, Zhang presented a check for more than $17,000 to the International Red Cross' Sichuan Branch.
The core members of the relief group - Zhang, Ellen Yang of the Mei Hua Chinese School and Chin Wei from the Bellingham Chinese Christian Church - began organizing the effort on the day after the disastrous earthquake that claimed almost 70,000 dead and left hundreds of thousands homeless.
"As the current president of the Northwest Chinese Cultural Association, I felt it was my responsibility to organize the relief effort," Zhang said. "Even though I don't have any family members in the earthquake area, I feel like I have lost family in this tragedy. I knew I had to do something to help."
The group organized garage sales, bake sales, and sought donations from local churches and at donation tables set up at local parks and grocery stores. Contributors included the Northwest Chinese Cultural Association, Mei Huan Chinese School, Bellingham Chinese Christian Church, Bellingham Community College, B/W Commerce, Bellingham Food Co-Op, Bellingham Farmer's Market, Horizon Bank, Haggen, and the Western Washington University Ethic Student Center.
Zhang, a native of Beijing, has taught at WWU since 2002.