Chinese American Family group donates to TPHS
A $6,000 donation from the TPHS Chinese American Parent Group, a gift to the TPHS Foundation marking the school’s 50th anniversary, was applied to the most recent round of approved purchases to support campus needs in February. The donation was added to other funds intended for classroom supplies, transportation and other pursuits, according to Joe Austin, the Executive Director of the TPHS Foundation.
The Chinese American Parent Group, a community collective, organized a week-long fundraising effort in early December under the leadership of parents Jennifer Yang, Estelle Chen and Qin Wang. With an initial goal of $2,000, they received more than $1,500 in the first five hours of the campaign, according to Yang.
In total, Yang received donations from more than 80 “past, present and future TPHS families,” as well as from Chinese-American-owned education companies including IvyMax Education, Haddee Education and InGenius.
Yang and other members of the Chinese American Parent Group presented the final $6,000 check to TPHS Foundation President Traci Acers and Austin on Dec. 14 as a holiday gift. As of now, Yang said that the group plans to make the donation an annual effort.
“All the dollars that the Foundation takes in … is an indication that our communities care about providing the best learning experience for the students at [TPHS],” Austin said.
Austin described Yang’s fundraising campaign as a “grassroots effort” and a “major donation.”
Yang met with the TPHS Foundation on Feb. 5 to discuss distribution of the donated funds, which were of the unrestricted category, according to Austin. The Chinese American Family Group asked that the money be donated to clubs — namely the Science Olympiad Club, DECA and the Math Club — as well as classes and facilities on campus, including the Chinese language program, music program, art program, journalism program, counseling office, Falcon Eatery and the addition of ping pong tables for lunchtime recreation.
“It was interesting that this group of parents said, ‘Listen, it’s up to you, but if you want our opinion, this is where we’d like it to go,’” Austin said.
Students in these programs agree there’s a need for such funding.
“Art requires many different supplies and tools that can be quite expensive,” Vivian Ke (12), an art elective student and the president of the TPHS National Art Honor Society, said.
Kevin Gu (9), a music program student, sees a similar need in his program.
“Some students have to borrow an instrument, and buying and keeping those instruments is really expensive,” Gu said.
Yang expressed her enthusiasm for what this donation could do for TPHS.
“I’m so proud to be the leader of this great parent group because there’s just extraordinary support,” Yang said. “We’re raising money for our kids — for education. We take pride in our school.”