Together We Will Win the War Against COVID 19
“With your help and support we will work harder to carry on our duty and mission to serve our patients and community for fighting against Covid-19 infection. If we succeed in this task, it is in part due to your compassionate support.” -- from a frontline medical doctor “This donation has been widely distributed through over 50 various CNU affiliated health centers, hospitals, and clinics, as well as the city of Elk Grove. We are very grateful for your generosity with the donation from Zhejiang University Education Foundation (USA) which made a great impact on the well-being of our public health and advancement of pandemic medical education which strongly reflects the mission of your Foundation in supporting the excellence in our education.” – from Joseph Silva, MD., Vice Preside of Medical Affairs, California Northstate University
As you can see that donations from the Zhejiang University Education Foundation (USA) greatly contributed to the fight against COVID 19. The surgical masks, PPEs, and other hygiene products not only warmed the hearts, but more importantly they transferred love and hope to frontline medical workers who deliver life-saving care to those who are suffering and in pain.
The Education Foundation of Zhejiang University, USA (aka Zhu Kezhen Education Foundation of North America), founded in 1995, is a non-profit organization operated independently by the alumni of Zhejiang University in North America. Guided by the mission of promoting cultural understanding and educational exchange between Chinese and American universities, the Education Foundation of Zhejiang University, USA (hereafter the Foundation) has engaged in a number of programs and community outreaches such as the distinguished lectureship series.
As the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has become a global pandemic declared by the World Health Organization, the Foundation acted quickly to initiate the battle to defeat the pandemic in America by connecting people with medical and hygiene supplies, helping deliveries of the needed supplies to the front-line doctors, nurses and medical students in clinical rotations.
The North American Zhejiang University Alumni Association, its local chapters, and other professional clubs soon followed to join the Foundation and distributed the PPE masks to broader communities across the States.
On March 22, Chairman Dr. Guozhen Lu hosted an emergency online meeting for the Foundation board of directors. Over a dozen of directors participated and discussed how the Foundation could join forces with the local communities to support those who fight the war at the frontline. At the meeting, all directors strongly agreed that the Foundation could leverage its resources, connections, and raise funds to support the frontline health care workers. The meeting outlined the Foundation’s plans of action for the near future and the long term.
As soon as the meeting ended, a Foundation Advisory Committee member, Alumnus Daniel Wang, Chairman of the Southern California-based Pac-Dent, Inc. contacted the Foundation President Dr. Caththerine (Fangxin) Yang. Being a successful entrepreneur in the United States for many years, Wang is enthusiastic about public goods. Through his own non-profit organization, Wang has already made great efforts towards furthering education, preventing diseases, helping vulnerable populations, and improving patient care in the community. Wang suggested partnering with the Foundation to contribute to the fight against COVID 19. His ideas fit squarely into President Yang’s plans of providing protective equipment to hospitals in The United States under the name of the Foundation. Wang, without hesitation, generously donated $100,000 as start-up funds toward purchasing medical equipment. In addition, he expressed his interest and enthusiasm in collaborating with college medical schools to improve the training that doctors and interns receive in tackling pandemics like the COVID-19.
On the other front, the Foundation kicked off a special fundraising campaign supporting the frontline health care workers who help save lives. The former Foundation President Qingshan Zhou pledged $ 5,000 and the other directors followed. An amount of about $50, 000 was raised in just 2 weeks thanks to generous contributions from directors, Zhejiang University alumni chapters, and local American Chinese communities. While funds were making their way to the Foundation, the directors wasted no time to secure and purchase surgical masks and personal protective equipment. They identified and contacted over 50 hospitals, clinics, and local organizations and rushed the much-needed masks into the hands of frontline health care workers and community centers.
From hospitals to nursing homes, here is a list of institutions to them the Foundation delivered the surgical masks. As you can see the sincere gratitude to the Foundation poured from with the photos and thank-you letters.
- On behalf of the Foundation, Director Joan Ni contacted Boston Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Brigham and Women ’s Hospital, and Beth Israel Deaconess Needham Medical Center and bought them the much-needed surgical masks on behalf of the Foundation.
“As a corporate partner, you strengthen the hospital and enable compassionate care teams, high skilled physicians, and innovative researchers to advance healthcare every day. Thank you again for helping to change lives and transform medicine.” - From Brigham & women’s Hospital
- Executive Vice President Xiaodan Wang contacted Rhode Island Hospital, Brown Medicine, Kent Hospital and Hasbro Children ’s Hospital on behalf of the Foundation and delivered surgical masks and DuPontTM Tyvek®600Coveralls.
“These supplies will help to support the current personal protective equipment needs due to the Covid 19 pandemic. They will be distributed appropriately.” – From Brown Medicine
“We would like to thank you for the generous donation of 5000 surgical facemasks from Zhejiang University Education Foundation. Your contribution is greatly appreciated and will help us keep our providers safe.” -- From Brown Medicine
“Dear Dr. Guozhen Lu and friends of Zhejiang University Education Foundation-USA: We extend our heartfelt gratitude for your kind gift to the University of Connecticut to support UConn Health. Your generosity enables us to accomplish remarkable things, advancing leading-edge research in new cures and treatments of disease, educating tomorrow’s medical and dental professionals, and providing personalized patient care that enhances the health and well-being of all. With your support, the possibilities are endless!”
- Foundation Office Manager Lan Shen identified several hospitals in the New York area and sent surgical masks to Westchester Medical Center, New York, Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center on behalf of the Foundation.
[size=14.6667px]“During this challenging time, your support of our work and our workforce is inspiring. As many have noted, the tireless and unselfish work of our clinical, operational and administrative teams across our network has been remarkable. They are the embodiment and deserving of the moniker of Healthcare heroes, and your support of them is notable.” – From Westchester Medical Center Health Network
- President Catherine (Fangxin) Yang contacted over 50 hospitals and clinics in California, including Sutter Sacramento ICU, Dignity- Mercy, Kaiser-Bay, UCSF, etc. They all received surgical masks donated from the Foundation.
Former Foundation President Keqing Gu reached out to the Clinton Manor Living Center, New Baden, IL and Belleville Memorial Hospital and delivered surgical masks to the medical staff.
Foundation Director Geng Wang managed to purchase 125 pieces of DuPont TM Tyvek® 600 personal protective equipment, which are later delivered to hospitals in New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.
Hospitals, clinics and other institutions in the Chicago area received protective equipment purchased with the funds raised by the Zhejiang University Chicago Alumni Chapter and coordinated by Foundation Director Saichang Xu. Foundation Director Dong Yu at Tencent Lab worked to raise funds and collect materials to support the fight against Covid 19. - Working with Alumni chapters, the Foundation also sent masks to hospitals in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Arizona.
Moving forward, the Foundation will continue to raise funds and designate funds for piloting a training program for medical workers to improve their competence and skills in tackling and managing pandemics and other emerging public health crises in California Northstate University. Once achieving the expected training outcomes, the training model could be shared with other the medical schools so future health care providers could be better trained and prepared for managing any unexpected public health crisis. Although the pandemic is not quite over yet, together, we all make a difference in fighting and slowing the spread of virus and win the war against COVID-19.
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