Originally published May 20, 2008 at 12:00 AM | Page modified May 20, 2008 at 9:46 PM
Vigil tonight for China earthquake victims
University of Washington student Ni Jiang is contacting media, trying to get word out about efforts to help victims of China's earthquake...
Seattle Times staff reporter
China earthquake relief
UW vigil and fundraiser:
Vigil and fundraiser, 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. tonight, the quad at the UW. Donation boxes available. Proceeds to help China-based relief organizations, including through China Earthquake Aid. Donations also accepted through www.chinaearthquakeaid.org or www.fiuts.org or www.washington.edu/uwcfd. Or mail check, marked "Earthquake Relief," to FIUTS, UW Box 352233, Seattle, WA 98195-2233.
UW student dispatches from China:
UW students Geoffrey Morgan and Steven Margitan write dispatches from China:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com
/html/nationworld/2004424565_webchinadispatches.html
How to help:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/
nationworld/2004409185_webchinahelp.html
University of Washington student Ni Jiang is contacting media, trying to get word out about efforts to help victims of China's earthquake, including a vigil tonight at the UW.
Across the ocean, her fellow students Geoffrey Morgan and Steven Margitan have established an organization to raise funds — particularly from the UW community — to help China-based relief organizations in their work.
About a week after the 7.9-magnitude quake struck China's Sichuan province, the UW community — which has deep ties to the area — has established various ways to provide help.
About 500 people are expected at tonight's UW vigil, said Dawei Liu, president of the UW's Chinese Students and Scholars Association, one of vigil sponsors.
"It's my hometown," said Jiang, a UW sophomore and current Miss Chinatown USA. Jiang was born in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, and lived there until she was 14. "Many of the places I hear on the news — I know those places. I've been there."
In fact, her parents — who own Seven Stars Pepper restaurant in the International District — were in Chengdu when the earthquake struck.
They're fine, Jiang said. But "I couldn't even watch the news recently. Every time I watch it, I start crying."
In Chengdu, UW students Morgan and Margitan, along with others, have set up China Earthquake Aid, which aims to raise money in the U.S. to help China-based aid organizations.
Morgan and Margitan, who are exchange students at Sichuan University, said they felt compelled to stay in Chengdu after the quake.
"I did not feel comfortable saying goodbye to my host family and wishing them the best of luck in a danger area, while I evacuated to safety," Margitan said in an e-mail dispatch to The Seattle Times.
Margitan organized a trip to the blood bank for classmates and helped load buses with water and supplies for the hardest-hit areas.
In addition, they established their organization, they said, because non-profit groups in China are unable to accept foreign money. But an organization like China Earthquake Aid can purchase supplies and provide them to those Chinese groups, he said.
They hope to get materials to local nonprofits by the end of the week, Margitan said.
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
Snow shuts down federal government, life goes on
Doctors may alter psychiatric diagnoses
Haiti parents testify they gave kids to Americans
Haiti raises earthquake's death toll to 230,000
Lots of Buzz over Google latest bid at social networking

general classifieds
Garage & estate salesFurniture & home furnishings
Sporting goods
just listed
3 Wheel Mobility Scooter - $450
6 Sets of New Guitar Strings by Markley, D' Addari - $39
60" Toshiba Television - $400
More listings
POST A FREE LISTING
shopping
events for Tuesday, Feb. 9
- Valentine's Offer at Eat Local
- Sales Bin-Mania at Sandylew
- Sultry Shopping and Chocolate Tasting Event a...
- February Specials at Mimisan
editors' picks
More shopping guides- Steve Kelley | My treatment of Bedard has been unfair
- Is Washington's tax exemption on bullion a gold mine?
- 747-8 soars smoothly on first outing
- Alaska Air dropping Jones Soda beverages, going back to Coca-Cola
- Super Bowl ads: Betty White, Bud Light, big laughs
- Man found shot dead in pickup truck in Seattle
- Sex, drug rumors swirl about N.Y. Gov. Paterson
- Seattle is first U.S. stop for Picasso exhibit
- Lewis-McChord soldier charged with abusing 4-year-old over alphabet lesson
- Husky Football Blog | Pac-10 expansion to get consideration over next year
- Republicans may be no-shows at health-plan summit
277 - Pac-10 expansion to get consideration over next year
249 - State Senate votes to clear way for tax increases
242 - Lee undergoes foot surgery
225 - Obama: GOP and Dems together can spur job growth
209 - Fort Lewis soldier charged with abusing 4-year-old, holding her head in water
193 - Rivals names Martin one of Pac-10's best recruiters
143 - Belltown boulevard could be completed by early next year
127 - White House mocks Sarah Palin from podium
91 - Tobacco ban in Seattle parks affirms citizen right to breathe smoke-free air
83
- Seattle is first U.S. stop for Picasso exhibit
- 747-8 soars smoothly on first outing
- City, Vulcan push higher South Lake Union height limits
- Commentary: Microsoft's creative destruction
- Snap out of your photo funk: How to make sense of all those piles of images
- Wine Adviser | Oregon's quality pinots join the bargain ranks
- Belltown boulevard could be completed by early next year
- Jerry Large | Learning not to copy China
- All You Can Eat | Portage chef Vuong Loc takes Cremant space in Madrona
- Rigorous college-prep classes skyrocketing in Washington state

