Fund set up for Chinese families
Money will be evenly distributed to families of deceased students.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
URBANA — Urbana University officials are collecting donations for a fund to benefit the families of three Chinese students who were killed in a nine-car crash last year.
The university has received a number of calls from members of the community who want to help, said Robert Keller, vice president of institutional advancement.
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"(The fund) is for anyone who wants to send money in support of the families," he said.
The money will be evenly distributed to the three families, to be used any way they wish, he said.
Yan "Zoe" Sun and Bing "Jo" Xue, both 24, and Jin "Jack" Bian, 27, were killed in the crash at Moorefield and Urbana roads on March 8, 2007.
Their parents were left with tens of thousands of dollars in debt, incurred from sending their children to college in the United States.
Last year, the university set up a fund for donations to bring the parents to the U.S. so they could attend their children's funeral, said Keller.
While that fund is still active, Keller said officials didn't want to use that account for current efforts because the new drive is for a different purpose. "This one set up just to raise money to give to the families," he said.
Donations may be sent to Urbana University, care of Robert Keller, 579 College Way, Urbana, OH 43078.
Keller said checks should be made payable to Urbana University with "Chinese families" written in the memo section.
Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0360 or vlough@coxohio.com.
