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Chinese New Year Help The Kids Fundraising Party

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One last time before Chinese New Year, AmCham South China and community leaders gather for orphans’ cause

SHENZHEN, People’s Republic of China – January 16, 2009 – The American Chamber of Commerce in South China (AmCham South China) today welcomed more than 200 guests to its “Chinese New Year ‘Help the Kids’ Fundraising Party at the Interlaken Hotel.

“The reason we are here,” said AmCham South China President Harley Seyedin, “is to come together as a community one last time before the Chinese New Year. The holiday season is about appreciating our good fortune, families and friends, but also realizing that there are those who do not have these things.”

“This event will not only raise funds for goods and services—particularly of a musical and artistic nature—but will also make more people aware of the plight of orphans. It is the first in a series of events throughout 2009 to make the world a better place by providing an enriching artistic environment for children across the globe, and specifically South China. Please join us in this worthy effort,” said Mark Ndesandjo, a longtime community volunteer who lives and works in Shenzhen.

The party continued a year-long collaboration between the AmCham South China and the China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation (CFPA), which has raised millions of yuan in cash and goods for the victims of the May 12 Earthquake in Sichuan and orphaned children in Guangdong and other parts of China. This most recent effort was led by four Volunteer Fundraising Leaders, including Honorary Volunteer Chairman William Chi Hung Tsang, Vice Chairman of the All China Youth Federation and President of the China World Trade Corporation, Honorary Volunteer Chairman Chen Kaizhi, Vice Chairman of the CFPA, Volunteer Chairman Mark Ndesandjo, who enlivened the party with a surprise piano performance, and Volunteer Chairman Harley Seyedin.

“We have asked every guest here tonight to make a contribution to orphans in Guangdong and in Sichuan, be it money, clothing, musical instruments, art supplies or their time,” elaborated Mr. Seyedin. “To these children who face the world alone, even a hug will make a difference.”

According a leading adoption agency in South China, “Children whose minds are not stimulated pay for these early deficits throughout their lives… such children are far more likely than their more fortunate peers to do poorly in school, to drop out early, to be functionally illiterate, and to be only marginally employable.”

About the four Volunteer Fundraising Leaders

Mr. Tsang Chi Hung (William), is Vice Chairman of the All China Youth Federation, part-time Member of the Central Policy Unit, HKSAR, Chairman of the China World Trade Corporation and a Member of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the CPPCC, among other appointments. Mr. Tsang has formerly served as Executive Director of Goldlion Holdings Limited and remains extremely committed as a community service leader.

Mr. Chen Kaizhi, is Vice Chairman of the China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation, a United Nations- and Chinese Central Government sanctioned national charity organization. In the past 14 months, Mr. Chen and Mr. Seyedin have led a joint effort to raise millions of yuan in cash for victims of the May 12 Earthquake in Wenchuan and orphans throughout China. Mr. Chen has formerly served as Chairman of the CPPCC Guangzhou City Committee, in addition to Vice Mayor of Guangzhou city and Deputy Secretary General of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee.

Mr. Mark Ndesandjo is a strategic marketing consultant who has been living and working in Shenzhen since 2002. Recently married, he and his wife are now searching for a piano for his home. Mr Ndesandjo has worked as a philanthropist and community volunteer in support of orphanages in Shenzhen for more than six years, and is currently completing a book.

Mr. Harley Seyedin is the elected President of the American Chamber of Commerce in South China, which represents more than 1,600 American and international companies doing business in Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian and Hainan. Mr. Seyedin currently represents Sithe Global, the energy and infrastructure arm of the Blackstone Group, in the Pacific region and in his career has been recognized by two U.S. Presidents for service to the United States as a result of his involvement in the passing of NAFTA.

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