Okanagan College Media Release

Less than one month after a group of international and domestic students from Okanagan College joined forces to raise funds for victims of the May 12 earthquake that rocked China’s Sichuan Province the students met with the Canadian Red Cross to deliver a cheque for $10,000.

A pledge by the federal government to match funds raised by individuals up until June 23 will result in nearly $20,000 being delivered to the relief effort due to the College students’ campaign. 

The group of students approached the Red Cross after their initial two weeks of fundraising yielded better than expected results. Setting up donation boxes with information about the earthquake relief at busy areas around Kelowna including the Kelowna Farmer’s Market and Costco, the students were surprised by the reception they received from the public.

Zhen Zhou is one of the College students that led the campaign. The fourth-year business student was shocked by the kindness demonstrated by individuals and some local businesses. She was a part of the group that tallied the funds raised for the Canadian Red Cross.

“We had no idea how much money we had raised until we saw how much cash came out of our donation boxes,” explained Zhou. “It was powerful to see the cash and cheques people donated. It really shows how a little bit of love from everyone can result in a huge amount.”

The largest donation received by the group was from the Mad Mango Café. The popular downtown Kelowna eatery gave the students $500. The Dragon King restaurant nearly matched that amount.

Okanagan College students aren’t the only group raising money for the earthquake relief campaign, explained the Canadian Red Cross’ Michelle Wesley, but they are the group that has raised the most so far.

“The Okanagan College students have done an exceptional job and we were so pleased to be able to partner with them to ensure their funds go directly to the relief effort,” said Wesley. “We are proud of these students and commend them on their initiative.”