Beijing, 19 May 2008 - Key players at Cheung Kong GSB have given generously to support those affected by the 8.0 earthquake in Wenchuan County, Sichuan last Monday. As China enters an unprecedented three days of national mourning for the dead, Cheung Kong professors, staff, alumni and current students are doing what they can to generate funds for the survivors. 

Cheung Kong Dean, Dr. Xiang Bing donated 50,000 RMB to the Chinese Red Cross and over one hundred professors and staff brought the school contribution up to 180,000 RMB. Cheung Kong alumni and students, entrepreneurs from across the country including Sichuan, donated a total of 191 million RMB. Meanwhile, as torch carriers for the Olympics, Cheung Kong Dean Xiang and Oriental TV host and EMBA student Yuan Ming have put their torches up for auction in Suzhou for 350,000 RMB and 250,000 RMB respectively; all funds going to disaster relief in Wenchuan County.

Although not personally affected by this earthquake, some at Cheung Kong GSB have particular reasons to take action in the aftermath of the Sichuan earthquake. Zhang Xiangqing, an alumnus of the Cheung Kong China CEO class, contributed 30 million yuan to the government disaster fund during the CCTV earthquake relief show on 18 May. A native of Tangshan city, Zhang Xiangqing lost both parents in the Tangshan earthquake in July 1976. Mr. Zhang and his wife have pledged to help rebuild homes in the Sichuan earthquake area to the sum of 70 million RMB. He said, “We at Rockcheck Steel Group are mostly from Tangshan, a city that will never forget the 1976 earthquake. With this history, we are duty-bound to contribute to the earthquake-stricken area in Sichuan.”

Another link between Cheung Kong GSB and the devastated area is Heather Mowbray. Now working in the global communications department, Heather co-authored the first ever English-language guidebook to Dujiangyan, published April 15, 2008 in Beijing. Several schools in Dujiangyan collapsed during the earthquake, resulting in hundreds of school children losing their lives. The publishers, Matric, aim to distribute 6000 copies of Dujiangyan: In Harmony with Nature for charity, putting all proceeds towards sports, books and toys for Dujiangyan young survivors. For more information, contact HeatherMowbray@ckgsb.edu.cn