[Vancouver, Canada] Cultural Regeneration Research Society (Worldwide) Foundation, a Chinese Christian ministry, initiated a joint effort with various Canadian Chinese community groups to fund-raise $100,000 CAD by the end of Feb., as announced in a press conference on Feb. 5, 2008.

While snow storm in China has battered across 18 provinces in the last 20 days, hundreds of millions of people were victimized, all major transporation passages are frozen, crops were destroyed, 100,000 houses were destroyed or damaged. Half of the affected areas are experiencing electricity shortages and even power outages. The gross estimated damage exceeds 5 billion RMB.

CRRS urged the overseas Chinese to participate wholeheartedly in this disaster relief effort. These funds raised will be used in buying rice, winter clothing, blankets, living necessities and even reconstruction of the victim's homes. During this time of difficulty, we must carry the burdens of the mother land together.

Dr. Thomas In-sing Leung, CRRS president, expressed that large number of migrant workers have been waiting in the train stations of the affected areas to return home and celebrate Chinese New Year with their family. These people are the work force behind China economic prosperity. They have waited for this time of the year to return home and reunite with their family members.

Leung pleaded for overseas Chinese to extend their helping hands. Through this disaster relief fund, the overseas Chinese can express their love and compassion to the migrant workers and help them reconstruct their hope and build a better future.

Johnny Fong, chairman of Canada Community Care & Advancement Association, said that as Chinese, we must unite with our kins. Not only should we offer financial support, but we must also rally for the support from our family and friends.

Kenneth Tung, chairman of S.U.C.E.S.S., stated that as a good friend of China, we hope to do all that we can to give a piece of our heart to those victimized in China.

The organizations involved in this fund-raising campaign for the disaster relief include Canada Community Care & Advancement Association, CRRS (Worldwide) Foundation, S.U.C.E.S.S., Chinese Benevolent Association, Canada Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Canada Multicultural Exchange Association, and C.C.S.A.

Donations can be made through any HSBC account nation wide. The account is CRRS (Worldwide) Foundation 730-193322-081 [China Snow Storm Fund]. You may also call the national donation hotline at 866-435-2777, Vancouver hotline: 604-435-5486 or 604-782-8829. Besides this, CRRS donation booths will be setup at each of the four S.U.C.E.S.S. offices in downtown Chinatown, Richmond, Burnaby, Port Coquitlam, and Aberdeen Center in Richmond. For any donation of $20 or more, tax exemption receipts will be issued.