Members raise money to rebuild schools, participate in traditional Chinese dances

By Laura Peng
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On Saturday, members of the GlobalGiving Club will travel downtown and take part in the annual Indy 500 Parade. Participants from the club will partner up with the ICCCI (Indianapolis Chinese Community Center, Inc.) to perform traditional Chinese fan and lion dances in an effort to raise money for the construction of a school library located in rural Sichuan, China.

Members have made donations and worked at bake sales and book drives in hopes of collecting reading materials and raising $4,500 for Hua-Yu, a small elementary school devastated by the earthquake that struck the Sichuan region last year.

Alexander “Alex” Tang, treasurer and junior, said the club has raised just over 50 percent of its goal, but has high hopes for matching the rest of it quite soon. He said the ICCCI may make a donation for its participation in the parade.

According to Yue “Annie” Tang, co-president and junior, most schools in the areas affected by the earthquake don’t have access to books.

“The purpose of our fundraisers is to collect enough money so we can build a library for the kids,” she said.

According to the GlobalGiving Club Web site, all 350 students in Hua-Yu come from underdeveloped agricultural communities, and the Renewal Foundation USA will match every dollar raised by the GlobalGiving Club.

“We’re hoping that our participation will raise money and promote what our club is doing for the school in China,” Alex said. “That’s the main goal.”

Participation in the parade is voluntary. Anyone interested in joining in and willing to participate s eligible to take part.

“There are a lot of people outside of GlobalGiving who are participating,” Annie said. “The ICCCI wanted younger faces for the performances and asked us to recruit any members who wanted to do it.”

Members have been attending rehearsals every weekend in preparation for the upcoming event. Boys will take part in the parade by dressing up in elaborate costumes and performing lion dances, while girls will dress up in ornate costumes and perform traditional Chinese fan dances.

“I’ve never been to the Indy 500 before even though I’ve lived here forever,” Annie said. “I’m looking forward to it. It should be a great experience.”