Grateful parents of Chinese students organize to support UCLA health care workers

It began with sandwiches.Since March, when UCLA transitioned to remote learning and closed the campus to all but essential services in response to the coronavirus pandemic, about 200 international students have chosen to stay in campus residence halls. Naturally, their situations have caused concern among their parents all over the world.When one mother of a student from China learned of her child ’s dining options during the break between winter and spring quarters — menus were temporarily limited to sandwiches — she contactedCindy Fan, UCLA ’s vice provost for international studies and global engagement. Fan informed her of the campus’s plans to reopen certain dining facilities the following week and reassured her, and other Chinese parents with whom she was in contact, that UCLA would continue to provide diverse dining options and safe conditions for the students.Touched by UCLA ’s commitment to taking good care of their children, the mother — who had already been interested in donating to UCLA — and two other Chinese parents began encouraging others to contribute. Fan recommended that the group consider directing their philanthropy toUCLA Health ’s fund for health care workers on the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis.With the support of staff at UCLA Health and the UCLA Alumni Association, the parents created a personalizedcrowdsourced fundraising page. Word of the initiative was shared with the UCLA Beijing Alumni group, whose members began to contribu...
Source: UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences - Category: Universities & Medical Training Source Type: news