Funds Raised for Quake Relief in China

Story originally published by USC News on 2/02/09.

By Allison Engel

On Jan. 19, the USC international office in Hong Kong, along with the USC Alumni Association and the USC Hong Kong Parents’ Association, presented a check for $60,567 to the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in Hong Kong for disaster relief efforts for last year’s Sichuan earthquake.

The funds were raised from a premiere of the film The One Man Olympics. The film tells the story of Liu Changchun, China’s first Olympic athlete, and his journey to the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

USC trustee Ronnie Chan MBA ’76, Fred C. Y. Wang of Salon Films, Doris Chan of the USC Alumni Association, Eric Kalhurst of the USC Hong Kong Parents’ Association and Catherine Leung, director of USC’s Hong Kong office, presented the check to officials from the Chinese government, along with photos from the movie premiere.

“The senior officials had just reported for duty in Hong Kong, and we were the first group of guests they received,” Leung said. “They appreciated USC’s support for the earthquake victims.”

Chan explained USC’s global presence and international history to the officials, who were “excited to learn about them,” Leung said.

Last July, the same groups joined forces to host the “Bling Event,” which raised nearly $130,000 in one night for the Ronald Tutor Campus Center. An additional $109,104 for the campus center was raised at the film premiere.

Grace Shiba, USC’s senior director of alumni relations who oversees international alumni programs, noted that those donating funds had no tax incentive for giving money. “They did it purely out of love for USC.”