USA

Since October Golden Year 5 (2008), students from 45 Broward County schools in Florida, USA, have been conducting an activity called “Free the Children,” which includes bake sales, spaghetti dinners and walkathons to raise money for the construction of schools in Kenya. The Florida students learned that many Kenyan youngsters lack a basic education due to a shortage of school facilities, and although many of the students are from low-income families themselves, they have been able to raise US$93,450 to fund the building of 11 schools. Thirteen year-old Santiago Vazquez III of Rickards Middle School said, “I pocketed every penny and nickel and dime I saw. We have a lot, and I guess you could say they have nothing.” Santiago was given a laptop computer for his money-raising efforts. Also, after collecting nearly $11,000 and winning the top fundraiser spot Northeast High School was entitled to send its four students on a 21-day trip to Kenya in July 2009.

	A thank you letter from the School Board of Broward County, Florida

When Supreme Master Ching Hai learned of the Broward County schools’ incredible feat, She pledged an additional $15,000 as a humble contribution to “Free the Children.” Florida initiates presented Supreme Master Ching Hai’s check in a friendly, informal gathering with school officials including Principal Jonathon Williams and Assistant Director of Administration Arthur Rose, who is also the “Free the Children” representative. In addition, gift bags containing Master’s Amazon.com best sellers The Dogs in My Life, The Birds in My Life and The Noble Wilds and a selection of Her DVDs and CDs were given to four students from Northeast High and one from Rickards Middle School in recognition of their leading role in the fundraising.

Mr. Williams commended the highly informative SOS flyer and promised to post it on the school’s website. Also, a representative from Rickards Middle School was very interested in learning more about Master Ching Hai and the Quan Yin Meditation Method and took a large pile of SOS flyers with him to his school.

Reference: http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/Broward-Kids-Raise-The-Roof-For-Kenya-Schools.html

In November 2008, when a wildfire swept through Corona and surrounding cities in Southern California, four firefighters were injured in the line of duty. Realizing that their injury might cause a great deal of strain on their colleagues, our compassionate Master contributed US$18,000, which included US$10,000 to the Corona Firefighters’ Benevolent Fund and US$2,000 to the family of each injured firefighter.

Jim Steiner, President of Corona Firefighters’ Association, thanks Master’s merciful contribution.

The Corona Firefighters’ Association President Mr. Jim Steiner was deeply appreciative of the Supreme Master’s financial assistance, and said that with such support he hopes to help not only injured firefighters in his own area, but also the many others who are killed and injured every day around the USA.

A thank you letter from Jim Steiner, president of the Corona Firefighters’ Association		Receipts from the Corona Firefighters’ Association and its injured members

	Manager at the Gardens of Daytona thanks Master for Her generosity and love.
	A mother and her children are delighted to receive the relief supplies

Due to an intense tropical storm at the end of May 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida, USA, the neighborhood experienced three to four feet of flooding, leaving many people stranded in their homes. Through the Supreme Master’s love and generous monetary contribution, approximately 1,000 packages containing basic necessities and food items were lovingly prepared through the night and distributed to victims the next day by local Association members and volunteers.

The relief team was blessed because the flood waters had receded, allowing them to set up a work station at the first stop, where the care packages were distributed along with clothing and freshly prepared vegan meals. Many people, after reading the SOS flyers, understood why the vegetarian diet is the solution to global warming and offered to help spread the message. One community organizer said she was a vegetarian and expressed sincere gratitude to Supreme Master Ching Hai for Her generosity and love. A lot of senior residents were deeply touched by Master’s gifts and repeatedly exclaimed, “God bless you!”

A thank you letter from the Gardens of Daytona

The relief team also went door to door delivering packages in an area where many people had been stranded for days, and the team was impressed to see friends, family and neighbors join together to help one another. They hope more people realize the importance of turning to a compassionate lifestyle in time to avoid future disasters.

Expenditures by Supreme Master Ching Hai
for Flood Relief Work in Florida, USA

Description	Amount (US$)	Receipt
Food and supplies (rice, beans, noodles, cereal, sugar, salt, potatoes, macaroni, corn, tomato sauce, juice, cookies, fruit cups, soap, shampoo, toothpaste, tooth brushes, toilet paper, personal hygiene items and first aid kits)	11,647.74	A
Transportation (truck rental and gasoline)	338.50	B
Total	US$11,986.24

With Supreme Master Ching Hai’s US$15,000 in monetary aid, fellow initiates from Carolina and Georgia, USA traveled to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina on April 28, 2009 to provide relief to families affected by a raging, week-long fire that burned 20,000 acres (30 square miles), destroyed 76 homes and damaged 96 others. The damage was estimated at US$16 million. Through God’s Grace, however, no injuries or deaths occurred.

Old and young alike enjoy reading Master’s book The Noble Wilds.

At the hard-hit Barefoot Resort area, the CEO of the Coastal South Carolina Chapter of the American Red Cross, Angela Nicholas, kindly told the initiates the whereabouts of the victims, who were scattered amongst different hotels and neighbors’ houses. In return, they presented her with Master’s book The Noble Wilds and also gave a copy to the local WMBF News channel. They then visited many families and gave them supplies of daily necessities, food, some cash and copies of Master’s books. They heard many stories that revealed the beauty of human kindness in the face of tragedy. Plagas, a family of six, who had no homeowner’s insurance and were staying in a tent, told them what had happened during the fire, and how they had managed to escape with their cat and dog.

One woman said her husband, Mr.Fergeolle, had helped to rescue several of their neighbors, including Ms. Hedesh, a lady in her mid-70s, whom he carried from her bed, thus saving her life. After learning of his heroic act, Master offered Mr. Fergeolle $1,500 and Ms. Hedesh $1,000.

The local policemen were also very helpful and told them where to find other victims. One officer who noticed their “Be Veg, Go Green, Save the Planet” bumper sticker, was delighted to receive an SOS flier and said he was “totally into green” and would help spread the message.

Expenditures by Supreme Master Ching Hai
for Fire Relief Work in South Carolina

*Throughout the relief operation, the team members paid for their own transportation, accommodation and food expenses.

	Thank-you letter from SPCA International for the US$3,000 from Master

In September 2007, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) International launched “Operation Baghdad Pups,” a program that reunites US servicemen and women with the once-stray canines that came under their care in Iraq. Upon hearing of this noble cause, Supreme Master Ching Hai contributed US$3,000 to the project. On February 1, Golden Year 6 (2009), the SPCA replied in a letter expressing their gratitude, describing the deep bond between the service men and women and their adopted animals, and thanking Supreme Master Ching Hai for Her gift of love, which will allow the lives of many dogs to be saved by returning them to caring and safe homes.

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