We Care Act

Earthquake Act

"Sichuan earthquake, death toll: 90,000. Wait a second...that wasn’t right! It couldn’t have been 90,000. That simply wasn’t possible.

The numbers were right; it was 90,000. 90,000 people who would never again walk this earth, never again see their families, and never again talk to their friends.

Those who survived in the earthquake areas are the parents, children, relatives, and/or friends of the 90,000 people.

That is why we are doing whatever we can to help the students who survived the earthquake." --Grace Li

Earthquake Act Timeline:

May 13, 2008

The news of China’s 8.0 magnitude earthquake in May 12, 2008 has horrified Grace, Sharon, and Eric.

May 14, 2008

While scared and saddened by what was happening, the Li siblings started to think about what they could do to help.

May 15, 2008

They decided to help the children and families in Sichuan, China by collecting donations.

May 16, 2008

The three of them named their effort Earthquake Act. Everybody loved the name immediately when Sharon came up with the idea.

May 17, 2008

	The first issue of Earthquake Act is created.
	Grace, the oldest of the three, headed the effort as “editor-in-chief” and each of them contributed their own stories.
	Created donation boxes from shoe boxes.
	Printed copies of the newsletter and distributed to their neighbors
	Collected donations from neighbors.

May 18-28, 2008

	Visited the Chinese Civic Center, Yaowu Zhang Art Studio, Shaolin Kung Fu Academy, J & L Dance School, and other places
	Distribute the newsletter and presented their idea to adults and children in those centers
	Signed a third party organization agreement with American Red Cross Greater Houston chapter to help China’s Earthquake victims
	Contacted each of their school's counselor/teacher/principal and conducted/planned on fund raising activities in the schools

	Eric was invited by Mrs. Block, the Massey Ranch Elementary principal, to give a presentation to all the school faculty and staff about his effort
	Eric was invited by Mr. Jonathan at The Learning Skool-House afterschool to present his idea to all the students
	Eric and sisters created extra donation boxes for each grade level at Massey Ranch Elementary.

May 29, 2008

	Submitted total of $717.85 collected donation to American Red Cross Houston Chapter
	Metro Back matched the amount and makes the donation equal to $1435.70

May 29-June 6, 2008

	Helped Dr. Bin Liu organize a music concert at the Texas Medical Center. Organized poster session, prepared and presented a poster, prepared a slide show, distributed flyers, and helped collecting donations etc.
	This music concert raised total $3092.62 to American Red Cross Houston Chapter for the earthquake victims.

June 7-August 8, 2008

	Collected and sent $95 donation to Red Cross (checks designated to Red Cross)
	Collected another $1520.99 for students of Dujiangyan, Sichuan

	Made bookmarks for students in Sichuan, China
	Selected and purchased books for students in Sichuan, China

August 11-12, 2008

	Visited Dujiangyan, Sichuan, China
	Met with students, principals, and other people in Dujiangyan, Sichuan

	Donated money, books, and bookmarks to 5 students that suffer severe losses from the earthquake
	Donated books and bookmarks to Wuanchuan Middle School

October 2008 to 2009 Service Grant Award

	Wrote a Grant application and submitted it to Disney Minnie Grant at Youth Service America
	Received grant funding notification from Disney Minnie Grant in March, 2009. (www.ysa.org/AwardsGrants/DisneyMinnieGrants/) Please see 2009 list under Grace L.

2009--Global Effort

	Muyun Huang of Jishou University, Jishou, Hunan, China, joined the earthquake act team and raised funds
	Yanwen Li of Yanchen Middle School, Yanchen, Jiangsu, China, joined the earthquake act team and raised funds

	Many fundraising activities were conducted in China (listed above) and in the US, including more than 8 bookmark sales and grocery certificate sales.

January-June, 2009

A series of bookmark sale and grocery store certificate sale events were organized and funds raised.

	A bookmark fair was held in The Learning Skool House on April 21 at the Global Youth Service Day and total $477.4 was raised in the fair and the subsequent bookmark sales (Newsletter 2009.3).
	Alexander Miao and family from We Care Act visited children and school in Dujiangyan, Sichuan on May 19, 2009 (Newsletter 2009.3)
	Total $1,120 or 7,500 Yuan was sent/brought to students in Dujiangyan, Sichuan around the Chinese New Year and May 12, 2009, one year after the earthquake hit (Newsletter 2009.3).

June, 2009-present

	Newsletters Eclipse 1 & Eclipse 2 were created to communicate with Dujiangyan Qingcheng High School students.
	A Do Something Grant was awarded. Book fair and fundraising activities are planned to collect books to help this high school.
	We are working with this high school to develop programs to sponsor their English learning related activities and to assist individual students with financial aid or scholarships.
	We continue to work with the Foreign Affairs Office at Dujiangyan, Sichuan to help students in need of our aid the most.

Links to Earthquake Act newsletters

Newsletter 1

Newsletter 2

Newsletter 3

Newsletter Special Edition

Newsletter 4-visiting Dujiangyan, Sichuan, China

Newsletter 2009.2

Newsletter 2009. 3