(By Dennis)

On Monday, January 30th, 2012 , the two sophomore students, Catherine Foster and Jessica Collins,  from the prestigious private Seattle Prep High School who introduced CTEF to the school's Christmas Tree Fund Drive last December, presented us with a check of $2,619 to fund the pre-school classroom in Huang Yuan Central School in Gansu. 

This show of generosity began with the two sophomores (left of Dennis) who visited China last summer and witnessed the conditions in some rural schools, and were impressed and moved that they wanted to do something for the rural students.  After their trip, they originally planned to raise money for the earth quake damaged area in Yushu, Qinghai Province and contacted CTEF for assistance.  Dennis forwarded their idea to the Sowers Action's volunteer team that visited Yushu last summer, and the team reported that the region is flooded with relief funds and materials that additional donation would have very little impact.  At a meeting with Sowers Action in Hong Kong in October 2011, the plan has been revised to help a school in Gansu that CTEF funded in 2009, and due to the demographic change, the school is now planning a pre-school program in one of the vacated classrooms. 

The current plan for the Seattle Prep's donation is to furnish this pre-school classroom with kids furniture, toys, and other early childhood education equipment.  Communication with Sowers Action and the school has began, and to make this project more exciting, Catherine and Jessica proposed to visit the school with CTEF and Sowers Action this summer if all conditions are in place.  Furthermore, a Seattle film maker, Lu Leslan, expressed interest to do a documentary on this journey.  This would be very exciting if things all work out.  Please stay tune.