University Times

A plea for donations

Dear Friends at Pitt:

I am sure you have heard the news about the gigantic earthquake that struck a wide area of northeast Japan on March 11. This earthquake triggered tremendous tsunami, vanishing many cities and towns along the northeast coast over more than 150 miles. The death toll will be at least over 10,000, maybe way higher.

Many, many people lost their loved ones, homes and livelihoods over there. As a faculty member from Japan, I would like to make people aware of the donation opportunities and encourage them to help victims in Japan.

• American Red Cross

http://american.redcross.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ntld_main

• Brother’s Brother Foundation in cooperation with the Japan-American Society of PA: BBF is a Pittsburgh-based international charity that received a 100 percent rating in charitable commitment, donor dependency and fundraising efficiency.

http://www.brothersbrother.org/11_japanearthquake.htm

• The Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City – Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Fund: The fund will direct 100 percent of donations to disaster relief efforts.

https://www.nyc.gov/html/fund/html/donate/donate.shtml

• UNICEF: The U.S. Fund for UNICEF is raising funds to help children impacted by the earthquake and tsunami.

https://secure.unicefusa.org/site/Donation2?df_id=9640&9640.donation=form1

I highly appreciate the ongoing international relief efforts offered by many countries. Especially I appreciate the generous help by the U.S. government for the largest and strongest relief operations (sending USN aircraft carriers, etc.) for those victims in Japan.

Kenichi (Ken) Tamama

Assistant Professor of Pathology