FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Friday, January 20, 2012
Media Contact: Susan Hsieh, 415-274-6760 x303
SAN FRANCISCO, CA (January 20, 2012) — Friends of Educational Opportunities in Chinatown (華埠教育機會之友會) announced today the final number of donations for the fundraising campaign to help City College of San Francisco complete the construction and prepare for the college’s opening at the Chinatown branch this year.
The total amount to-date raised is $457,679 and exceeds the original $400,000 goal and was raised through eight weeks of hard work from community members, including City College students and faculty, who volunteered their time and efforts. Volunteers spent two weekends on the streets in Chinatown and the Richmond District. There was also a fundraising dinner held last year on December 16.
Another $400,000 was donated by generous patron and former City College student Lillie Wong (黃鳳瓊) (also the aunt of CCSF Trustee Lawrence Wong).
City College of San Francisco has received $145 million in state and local bond funds to construct the new campus facility, but was short $800,000 to purchase equipment and furniture necessary for the library, culinary program, and science labs. The fundraising campaign has appealed to community members to donate whatever they can to benefit the new campus facility. Donations collected by the fundraising campaign have ranged from $1 to $50,000.
The fundraising campaign was an unprecedented grassroots effort that cut across different segments of the community – community-service groups, churches, family/district associations, businesses, labor unions, students, faculty, and administrators. Speakers at the press conference acknowledged the different constituent groups within the community who helped make this fundraiser a success.
The campus is a result of over 30 years of advocacy by the community to bring a permanent educational facility for the Chinatown North Beach community. The latest CCSF campus facility to offer residents affordable, quality education will soon open its doors starting in 2012. Hailed as one of the nicest facilities in the City College family, this campus will serve an estimated 7,500 students each semester with credit and non-credit classes focusing on continuing education, ESL, citizenship, and vocational classes in hospitality, health care, and the culinary arts — essential skills training for immigrant students.
THE SPEAKERS AT TODAY’S PRESS CONFERENCE:
Henry Der（謝國器), Co-Chair of Friends of Educational Opportunities in Chinatown
Ling-chi Wang（王靈智), Co-Chair of Friends of Educational Opportunities in Chinatown
Calvin Wong（王家榮), Co-Chair of Friends of Educational Opportunities in Chinatown & Advisor at Chinese American Chamber of Commerce
Harrison Lim（林炳昌), Co-Chair of Friends of Educational Opportunities in Chinatown & Advisor at Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association
Cary Fong, Volunteer Coordinator for Grassroots Fundraising Efforts
Sarah Wan, Co-Chair of Friends of Educational Opportunities in Chinatown
& Executive Director of CYC
Eva Cheng, Counselor at CCSF Chinatown/North Beach Campus
Cody Yu, Member of the CCSF Student Council
Joanne Low（劉瀞貞), Associate Vice Chancellor of CCSF
# # #
Stay Connected