Dear Friends

A massive earthquake measuring 8.0 on the Richter scale hit South-western China mid-afternoon Monday on May 12. The epicenter was Wenchuan County, Sichuan Province. The death toll could reach as high as 50,000. It was the worst natural disaster hitting the region in the last three decades. The damage to the property in the vast region is beyond estimation.

CAFA is calling on the local community here in North Carolina for monetary donations to help the rescue and relief efforts in the earthquake region. The call is joined by local Chinese schools in Raleigh, Cary, and Chapel Hill, and the Chinese student and scholar associations at Duke, UNC and NCSU, as well as the China Star, CAST-NC, North Carolina China Center, Triangle Area Chinese American Society and the RTP Sichuan Club.

You may also donate by mail by writing your check payable to CAFA and mail your check to CAFA at:

Only monetary donations are accepted; material donations are not accepted at this moment. Every penny of your donations will be sent to the Chinese Red Cross for exclusive use in the earthquake rescue and relief efforts. CAFA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and your contribution through CAFA for this special disaster relief fund is tax-deductible.

Chinese American Friendship Association in the Triangle Area (CAFA)

China Star

CAST-NC

Duke Chinese Student and Scholar Association

Friendship Association of Chinese Students and Scholars at UNC Chapel Hill

Chinese Student and Scholar Friendship Association at NC State University

Cary Chinese School (CCS)

Chinese School at Chapel Hill (CSCH)

Raleigh Academy of Chinese Language (RACL)

Triangle Area Chinese American Society (TACAS)

NC China Center (NCCC)

RTP Sichuan Club

North Carolina Chinese Business Association (NCCBA)

Raleigh Chinese Language School (RCLS)

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北京时间5月12日14时28分，四川汶川县发生7.8级地震，受灾地区延及邻省陕西,甘肃, 和云南, 遥远的北京、贵州、河南、山东、上海、西藏等十几个省区市均有震感, 强度之大灾区之广, 为数十年罕见。截止北京时间5月13日凌晨零时，四川地震灾区已发现死亡人数近万名，甘肃、陕西、云南等其他地区死亡人数180多名，具体伤亡数字仍在统计并上升。中国国务院总理温家宝已赶往地震灾区，指挥抗震救灾工作。

北卡华联和本地三所中文学校, 三所大学中国学生学者联谊会，中文报纸华星报，旅美科技协会北卡分会，北卡中国中心，北卡华美协会及四川同乡会对这次地震深表震惊, 并联合呼吁本地各界华人华裔和各位朋友为抗震救灾捐款。请在为此专设的赈灾热线上捐献您的一片心意。我们将把大家捐献的每一分钱寄达中国红十字会, 并嘱其百分之百地用于抗震救灾。