To Fellow Donors致捐款人 (12/08)
Dear Donors and Supporters,
How time flies! I would like to take a moment to wish you all a belated Happy Holiday and also take this opportunity to provide you a brief report of how the Foundation has performed in the past year.
Due to the world’s economic downturn started last September, our donations have reduced considerably compared to the previous year. However, undeterred and continued financial support from each of you at this difficult times show the true characters of you all and I am deeply grateful.
The Foundation has help built 5 teaching buildings in the poorest counties in Nanyang, Henan Province as well as one memorial elementary school in Taihe, Anhui Province. A special result worth mention here is that we have doubled the amount of urgently needed scholarships to 105 students within 5 high schools. In Addition, we have used a specially designated fund to support the studies of 54 seminarian students in the Catholic seminary in Shanxi Province.
Based on the experiences of our China and school-site travels in the past few years, we’ve seen revolutionary changes in the last thirty years. There have been great improvements in essential and physical structures which can be readily seen everywhere we went. However, when it comes to basic essence and the upbringing of people, social morality and public order in general, there is not much to be desired. We understand these qualities cannot change overnight. It will take years of long and hard work and education to achieve any noticeable result. And this is exactly why the Foundation has repeatedly advised the local officials and emphasized the importance of these elements to local education agencies. Our words have touched their hearts and our unselfish actions have made great impressions on them. Hopefully, what we have done can slowly change their materialistic beliefs and make them to rethink the true meaning and value of life again.
In fact, “Love” is giving, unconditionally giving. “Love” is commitment, a life time of commitment. “Love” is receiving, which results in happiness without expecting any return but only give. While creating enjoyment for others, one’s own life is being enriched abundantly. “Love” is contagious and it makes people felt its warmth for everyone around it. Like ripples, it radiates this beautiful feeling to broader and broader circles.
The Foundation gathers the “Love” received from all of you collectively, shares the enjoyment with actions and spread the gentle warmth to those with needs. To the world, you and I may be just someone, but to that someone, you and I may as well be his world and his hope.
This is the true meaning of Christmas. Not because we deserve it, rather Christ has already loved us and enables humble people to receive the Good News and Grace. 2008 years had passed, our ever merciful Lord continues to invite us to join in His bounty and perfection. Come, let’s hold our hands together and run toward Him and bathe in His immense love.
Happy Holidays again and wish all your dreams come true!
Your humble servant in Christ,
Hope School Foundation
Alan Chen
President
2008/12/12
可敬的捐款人諸公：
送丙戌、迎丁亥，寒冬將盡、大地春回，充滿希望的新年業已來到。這是喜樂的日子，也是感恩的時刻。
美國愛心助學基金會自2005年9月15日呱呱落地以來，迄今已逾周歲，在大家的呵護與哺育下，現在正蹣跚學步，一天一天的成長，一年一年的壯大。
回顧過去、展望未來，心中滿懷著無比的興奮、喜樂和感動。謝謝各位的支持和鼓勵，也謝謝大家的愛心與捐獻。僅藉此函向諸位報告我們的最新動態，以表達基金會對尊駕誠摯的謝意。
從2006年11月8日至11月26日總共19天，我們親自去中國考察訪問。雖然風塵僕僕、行程匆匆，但是收穫豐碩、滿載而歸。
在河南省南陽市行政區域內長途跋涉5個縣、12個鄉鎮、18所學校，行程千餘公里，歷時10天。實地驗收4所捐建的學校，會見資助的學生116名，以及勘察未來將要修復改建的14所破舊學校。其中親眼目睹農人們“面對黃土背朝天”的艱苦生活。了解到“七山二水一分田”是這些地區貧窮的主因。坐在殘破老舊的教室裏，實際體驗了何謂“晴天四面風，雨天八方水”的悲慘境況。
整個過程交織著淚水和歡笑，喜怒哀樂兼而有之，酸甜苦辣五味雜陳:
喜: 看見捐建的學校美侖美奐。錦生、光明兩校師生受此鼓舞，促使今年升學率攀高，締造輝煌記錄。
怒: 沿海內陸天差地別，貧富懸殊、分配不均。
哀: 殘破的窘狀，窮苦的淒涼。
樂: 有緣結識南陽市政府僑務辦公室的工作人員，他們的團隊精神和服務熱忱令人激賞。將來與它攜手合作，定能收到事半功倍之效。
酸: 學校教室的簡陋、師生宿舍的擁擠、公共廁所的污穢，在在使人心酸。
甜: 校長幹勁十足，老師教學認真，學生勤學苦讀，令人印象深刻。並有機會與六位校長座談，達成品德提升遠重於知識傳授的共識。
苦: 爬山涉水、路途顛簸。
辣: 蔬果鮮美、牛羊可口。
經過這次靈魂的洗禮之後，更要惜福感恩。所有的委屈與辛勞，藉著收穫的喜悅，都化成一張張美麗可愛的笑顏。這樣豐厚的回報，遠遠大於我們的給予和付出。一切都是值得的，也更激勵我們勇往直前的決心。
過去兩年多裏，我們一直沐浴在愛與幸福中。往後的歲月，更將秉持著扶助弱小之心、奉獻祖國之情，全力以赴的走下去。同時虔誠地祈望各位繼續給予扶持和鞭策，使我們能傳播更多的愛，散佈更多的希望，做得更好。 敬祝
新春納福 萬事吉昌
美國愛心助學基金會
負責人 陳楚雄敬上
2006年12月20日