My Dear Friends, (捐款箱后, 写给美国同事的信)

My Dear Friends,

 

Thanks to all of you – I’m proud of you all!

 

As of today’s morning news, the Chinese government already confirmed 22,069 people dead from earthquake, and this number may cross 50,000 in the near future.

 

Monday, after a few of you came to me and gave me lots of warm words and hugs for the deadly Chinese earthquake, I decided to set up our donation box.  The good news is we (Alaron) collected $1024.25 donation from 66 people.  As I promised, I will match more than $100 to $500 from my side.  So, the total donation from our office will become $1200.00. 

 

I ended our donation at 3:00 PM 5-16-2008 (Friday) Chicago time.  I counted the money and have John Hackner and Mark Melin on the side for auditing.  I can not post all your name and amount in this e-mail, but you are more than welcome to come to me and review the donations in detail.  Since we have one people wrote a check in total $60, so I will write a check $1140 to make the total donation amount to $1200.  My personal check wills payable to “Chinese Consulate General in Chicago”, and check number is 513.  Wait a few days then I should have a copy of the cleared check from my bank for you to see.  Also, I believe the Chinese Consulate General in Chicago may send a letter to confirm the donation.  If I receive one, I’ll keep it with the check copy for you to see. 

 

A few thoughts and feelings I want to share with you. 

 

I always think I am not able to cry anymore, but I can not stop my tears from this deadly earthquake. I always think I am an American now, my car, house, dogs and family are here, but I found out my roots are still tied to China.  I cried when I saw the pain. 

 

You guys also made me cry. I am a Chinese -- my cry is reasonable. But one of our co-workers, when she made her donation, her eyes filled with tears.  What’s that?  That’s the human’s care and love.  We each have a heart inside of us, and we have love from there also, that makes us cry, because we care and love each other.  It does not matter Chinese or American, does not matter black, white or yellow.  That’s the love, which makes our human life peaceful and beautiful.  Thanks my friends, I love all of you. 

 

I am the guy who always wants to have a perfect world, and hate too much over control from government.  United States and China always have different ideas about the world. Lots of people think and hope these two nations will become enemies. I do not like the idea.  In my family, my grandpa got his PHD in Germany; my dad got his masters from Northwestern. Both my brother and I studied in the US and work here.  I hope we may work and have success together as close friends. 

 

From your generosity I got not only the donation, but also I learned a lot from you. About care and love.  In fact, these two things make our human life beautiful.  Thanks my friends. 

 

Love, 

 

Dan Xia

 

*** Few things to share:

 

Ø    California will match 1:1 for whoever donates from their state to China deadly earthquake.

 

Ø    Canada government will match 1:1.

 

Ø    Microsoft, Ebay, Yahoo and much more American companies will match 1:1.

 

Ø    Jacky Chen donated $10 Millions HK dollars.

 

Ø    Jet Li start his donation fund for 25 millions RMB.

 

Ø    Yao Ming (NBA Star) donated more than $200K. 

 

Ø    A link from CNN report, which you may want to see: 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WN-YJCG3WIo&eurl=http://blog.wenxuecity.com/blogview.php?date=200805&postID=20341