Not sure if this has been posted or not, but I wanted to pick a few news items that show Americans *do* care, and that people are people no matter where they live on earth. We are brothers and sisters despite our governments and what the media reports sometimes.
Phoenix starts earthquake relief fund for sister city Chengdu
Phoenix Business Journal - by Mike Sunnucks
Chengdu, China — a sister city of Phoenix — is near the epicenter of the devastating 7.9-magnitude earthquake that left tens of thousands dead or missing. A school in Chengdu collapsed, killing hundreds of children.
The city of Phoenix has set up a relief fund to help the Chinese city. Donations are being accepted at Wells Fargo Bank branches.
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. also said Wednesday it was donating $430,000 to earthquake relief and reconstruction efforts in China.
Getting relief and help to Myanmar cyclone victims is proving tougher, with the military regime there hesitant to allow foreign relief workers in the Asian country.
Several major U.S. businesses and foundations have donated to that cause, including FedEx Corp., United Parcel Service Co. and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
For more information on Phoenix’s assistance for Chinese earthquake victims, call 602-534-3751. Charities such as the Red Cross also are accepting donations for both relief efforts.
http://phoenix.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2008/05/12/daily37.html
Armada shows its philanthropist side
BASEBALL: Silent auction added to the fund-raising effort.
Press-Telegram wire reports
Article Launched: 05/16/2008 11:48:15 PM PDT
LONG BEACH - The Long Beach Armada and China’s Olympic baseball team will meet tonight (7 p.m.) and Sunday (6p.m.) at Blair Field, and then go their own separate ways.
The Armada are preparing for the Golden Baseball League season, which begins next week, and China is preparing for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, which begin in August.
But both teams have common goals this weekend, which is to raise money for victims of the devastating 7.9 magnitude earthquake in central China last Monday.
Twenty-five percent of ticket sales will go to the Long Beach Chapter of the American Red Cross for quake victims. And 100 percent of the money raised from a silent auction will go to quake victims.
Many local professional teams contributed for the auction, with the items expected to be on display today and the bidding on Sunday.
Following are some of the items up for bid:
Angels - Torii Hunter signed bat; Vladimir Guerrero, John Lackey, Ervin Santana signed baseballs; Tim Salmon autographed No. 15 jersey.
Dodgers - Matt Kemp autographed baseball; four Field Level tickets for an upcoming game.
Kings - Autographed stick from the entire 2007-08 team.
Ducks - 2007-08 team signed jersey.
Chivas USA - A Chivas package including a signed jersey, signed soccer ball, four club seat tickets (and parking) to the June 28 game against New York Red Bulls with early access to watch Chivas warm up; five VIP tickets to a suite at Home Depot Center ($750 worth of tickets) with food, drinks, snacks for the May 31 game against the Columbus Crew.
Galaxy - A team signed Adidas soccer ball from this season’s team; Galaxy t-shirts; team signed Galaxy player cards.
Clippers - A signed Cuttino Mobley official basketball; a team signed cap.
Also to be auctioned will be an official No. 7 Steve Yeager Dodgers signed jersey (Yeager is the Armada manager); Yeager signed baseballs from the 1981 World Series; game-worn jerseys from both the Armada and Chinese teams, as well as the bases used in the series, batting gloves and hats.
http://www.presstelegram.com/moresports/ci_9290647