Giving Tree Appreciation Party

Austen Morris Associates has participated in The Giving Tree program for over three years.  On February 3rd we joined forty other donors, partners, volunteers, Shanghai Charity Foundation officials, and Community Center staff to celebrate a job well done! For the first time ever, all of the contributors got to meet each other in a social setting.
 
In 2014, Giving Tree gave 12,414 bags with school supplies, warm clothing, and gifts to children in need in Shanghai and nearby provinces. Over forty-eight generous donors participated and held ceremonies at over seventeen schools, two Hongzhi classes, and a special selection of children in Guizhou.
Principal Mr. Tang, from Benefit People Primary School, was the first recipient of the school ceremony of 2014. He took time out of his Chinese New Year holidays to come express his gratitude and explain how the Giving Tree program positively affected his students.

Nikki Lindgren, CCS’s Community Relations and Marketing Specialist, spoke about CCS, giving attendees an overall picture of their services. Other CCS staff ran the event registration desk and offered guests copies of the latest Guide magazine, giving them an opportunity to understand the whole organization.
The Giving Tree program is organized by Xinxin Zhang and Angela Cruz. They presented on the 2014 program, as well as everything that is coming up in 2015, and thanked everyone who made Giving Tree 2014 possible.  Renee Hauff, the former Giving Tree Director and current volunteer, read five thank you letters from 2014 Giving Tree recipients and all donors were presented with framed acknowledgement letters by CCS Executive Director, Stella Si.

For more information about the program, please visit www.communitycenter.cn/givingtree
To get involved with the 2015 Giving Tree program, please contact us at givingtree@communitycenter.cn.
Thank you to all of our bag-filling donors:
Abundant Grace International Fellowship (AGIF) – American Club Shanghai (ACS) – Applied Materials – Austen Morris Associates – Aviage Systems – BMF MANUFACTURING -Britannica International School Shanghai – British International School of Shanghai, Puxi – Cargill Investments (China) Ltd. – Concordia International School Shanghai – Dell Inc. – Dow Alumni – Dow Chemical Company – eBay Inc. –Gap – German School Shanghai – Grand Pujian Residence – H. B. Fuller – Infosys Technologies – Julia Gabriel Centre – Jun He Law Offices – Montessori School of Shanghai – Parker Hannifin – Rainbow Bridge International School – Shanghai American School Pudong – Shanghai American School Puxi – Shanghai Community International School Hongqiao Campus – Shanghai Community International School Pudong Campus – Shanghai Guoxin Investment Development Co. – Shanghai High School International Division – Shanghai Korean School – Shanghai Nanyang Model High School – Shanghai Singapore International School – Shanghai United International School – Sinopec Shanghai – SMIC Private School – Suzhou Singapore International School – Thanksgiving English Fellowship – Wailian -Wall Street English – Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP – Wellington International College Shanghai – Western International School of Shanghai – YCIS Hongqiao & Gubei – YK Pao School – 高圆燕窝
In addition to appreciating all volunteers and bag sponsors, special acknowledgements were made to:
– New donors of 2014: Applied Materials, Dow Alumni Group, Grand Pujian Residence, H.B. Fuller, JinCai School, Sinopec, Suzhou Singapore International School, Wailian, and Wellington College
– Gold-Level financial sponsors: Muse Group and Dow Chemical
– Government supporter: Shanghai Charity Foundation
– Event sponsor: Zhangjiang Fun Run by Parkyard Hotel
– Partners: Tao-howand Home Sweet Home
– 3 Volunteer MVP’s: Lynn Tonglao, Renee Hauff, and Gwen Pak
– Stapling Party Superstar Donor: Infosys Technologies
– Donor of Excellence: Concordia International School Shanghai
– Donor of Most Bags: YCIS Hongqiao & Gubei