WSCRC

Washington State China Relations Council

WSCRC Donates General Gift from SF Consulate to UW Medicine

In April 2020, the Washington State China Relations Council (WSCRC) received a generous gift of masks from the PRC’s San Francisco Consulate. The WSCRC greatly appreciates the Consulate’s support of our fight against COVID-19 in Washington state, and truly appreciates and values this donation as evidence of our mutual collaboration over the years. To pass on the support and best wishes, WSCRC donated the masks to health workers and researchers at UW Medicine, which has played a central role in Washington’s—and the nation’s—clinical, research and public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The U.S.-China relationship is under a great deal of stress now, coronavirus or not. WSCRC will continue to work to support a balanced and rational discussion between the two countries, particularly working at the sub-national level where leaders on both sides of the Pacific wish to cooperate and create peace and prosperity for both countries. That work is more critical now than ever.

 

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WSCRF Facilitates the City of Hangzhou PPE Donation to Seattle

Seattle (April 30, 2020) – The Washington State China Relations Council’s (WSCRC) new sister organization, the Washington State China Relations Fund (WSCRF), this week received a shipment of 10,000 N95-equivalent masks donated by the City of Hangzhou. Acting on behalf of the final recipient, the City of Seattle, the WSCRF, as a charitable organization, was able to import the masks duty free under new rules recently implemented by the Customs and Border Protection Agency. WSCRF’s involvement in this transaction helped to expedite the shipment and ensure that the masks could meet immediate needs.

The masks were delivered this week to the warehouse of the Fire Department of the City of Seattle. The masks will be used by fire and police personnel.

The City of Seattle signed an MOU with the City of Hangzhou in 2016. Hangzhou, home to Alibaba, was one of several cities visited by a recent Washington trade delegation coordinated by the WSCRC. During the visit, the delegation conducted very productive discussions with the Deputy Mayor of Hangzhou, visited Zhejiang University, and met with a number of technology companies with interests in investing in the Seattle area. Hangzhou had planned to send reciprocal delegations to Seattle to explore further collaboration opportunities between the two cities in February and May respectively, but was forced to postpone these trips due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Mayor Durkan expressed the City’s appreciation to the City of Hangzhou, noting that this gesture further strengthens the bonds of friendship between the two cities. The Mayor also commended the Washington State China Relations Council for its efforts to foster this important relationship over the years. Despite the ongoing challenges in U.S.-China relations, this act of benevolence from Hangzhou illustrates the strong, resilient ties between cities on both sides of the Pacific, and offers a way forward for strengthening commercial, scientific, and public health collaboration. The WSCRC will continue to play a pivotal role in these efforts.

The WSCRF plans to assist the City with future donations of imported PPEs from China.

To learn more about WSCRC, please visit www.wscrc.org.

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WSCRC Creates New Entity Allowing Duty Free Imports of PPE to Fight COVID-19

April 13, 2020

The Washington State China Relations Council, a 501(c)(6) organization, announced today that it has created a new sister organization, the Washington State China Relations Fund (WSCRF). The new entity is a 501(c)(3) organization, able to accept tax-deductible charitable donations.

The new entity was founded to provide more solid financial grounding for the Council’s educational programs. The Council runs many programs focused on business, cultural and educational topics that impact the relationship between Washington state and China. The Council hopes that by providing an opportunity to make tax-deductible contributions, both long-term supporters and other interested parties will help contribute the resources needed to expand the Council’s efforts to improve ties between Washington state and China.

The establishment of WSCRF could not come as a more opportune time as U.S. Customs has recently ruled that 501(c)(3) organizations are able to import donated personal protective equipment (PPE) from abroad duty free. The WSCRF has quickly filed the required documents and will act as the importer of record for a shipment of masks donated to the City of Seattle by the City of Hangzhou, which are due to arrive in Seattle next week. The Washington State China Relations Fund is also working with entities in China as well as local organizations to facilitate additional imports of PPE for Washington’s medical community.

We are extremely pleased that this entity is able to quickly transition to a role as an importer of PPE.  Although the long term plan for the WSCRF is to provide educational programs focused on improving our relations with China, we are glad that WSCRF is able to tangibly assist in the fight against COVID-19.

To read about the new ruling from the U.S. Customs Bureau regarding duty free imports of PPE, click here.

For more information about the Washington State China Relations Fund, or to make a donation, please contact:

Nor Coquillard   email: ncoquillard@wscrc.org

Man Wang         email: manw@wscrc.org

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Webinar Recap: Operating under Coronavirus Restrictions: Tales from China

On March 25, James Loudon, the General Manager and Forum Director of IMA Asia shared with our webinar participants many of the best practices that were developed by companies operating in China during the height of the coronavirus lockdown.

IMA Asia’s members include most of the Fortune 500’s Asian operations. IMA provides them with macro-economic consulting but also runs peer group forums for these companies’ Asian (particularly China) CEOs and CFOs. When travel restrictions were imposed in China, IMA quickly moved their meetings online. Many of the corporate executives called in daily to share stories and learn from their peers.

James described how IMA and many other companies quickly adapted to digital technology to stay in touch with their clients and to improve the effectiveness of “working from home”. James also noted that, in many factories or distribution centers, the work force was divided into teams to operate on different schedules and were not in contact with each other. This was to provide assurance that if a team member of one group became sick, the other team could still function effectively.

James also addressed the issue of pay during times of crisis. He noted that his clients in China instituted a number of different strategies. Some service firms promised eleven months of pay to their employees and to return the lost month if annual revenues met budget, while others granted extra bonuses to their employees to help them go through the crisis.

Notes from James’ talk will be posted on our website in the near future.

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WSCRC Compiles Donation and Assistance Program Resources

Dear WSCRC Members and Friends,

Many of you have reached out to us to inquire how you might make donations of goods or cash to help support the community’s fight against coronavirus. We have complied a list (below) of local organizations that we know who would welcome your support. We hope this list will make it easier for you to understand how you can contribute in these times of great need. The information compiled and presented above is based on our review of sources online. Please make sure to clarify specifics and details with any organization you might potentially support.

We’d like to point out that the Chinese Community in Seattle has been very active in raising funds and seeking donations to help our local hospitals. In particular the United Chinese Americans of Washington (UCAWA) and Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Washington State (CCCWA), in collaborations with other Washington based Chinese associations, are running fund drives to provide support to local hospitals (details are in the list below).

We are also working with our contacts to understand what medical products in China are available for immediate shipment to the U.S.. If you have sources of supply, we’d be interested in hearing from you so that we can pass on this information to our members as well as government agencies that are seeking such equipment.

We appreciate the compassion that our community is showing in this time of stress.

Stay safe (and wash your hands!).

Best Regards,
J. Norwell Coquillard, Executive Director
Man Wang, Director

Government Resources

State of Washington

The State of Washington is working to identify needs and fill shortages, by soliciting bulk donations and purchasing from sources outside of normal contracts. The Department of Enterprise Services (DES) is leading this effort. The state is also coordinating with manufacturers that are willing to shift gears and repurpose their manufacturing operations.

For detailed information, please visit the State of Washington PPE Information Page: https://des.wa.gov/about/agency-overview/covid-19-information-%E2%80%93-des-guidance/personal-protective-equipment.

  • Some of the key information on PPE donation and purchasing includes,
    • A list of over 20 specific PPE and infection-control products identified by the Department of Health.
    • For bulk donations, donors need to download an Excel sheet from the link and send the completed form to PPEDonation@des.wa.gov.
    • For state purchasing, suppliers who have bulk amounts of any of the products listed on the page in stock and can deliver within 1-2 weeks can download a form from the link and send the completed form to the Department of Enterprise Services at DESContractsStrategy@des.wa.gov.
  • The Washington State Department of Commerce is working with companies that can alter operations to support this effort. Companies should contact the Department of Commerce at covidmanufacturing@commerce.wa.gov.

City of Seattle – King County

The City of Seattle and Public Health – Seattle & King County are joining forces to solicit donations.

  • Needed Supplies include new and unused N95, P100 and surgical masks, gloves, disposable gowns, eyewear, and more.
  • Donation Portals
  • Contact: PPEdonations@seattle.gov
  • Donation Items Collection
    • Upon receiving a donation through the form, City employees will follow up with the donor to determine the best route for drop-off or pick-up of donations. The City is partnering with Goodwill Industries in King County for picking up donations.
    • Starting March 21, 2020, the city will be able to dispatch Goodwill to providers to arrange for pickup services. If a donor prefers to drop off materials, a City employee will coordinate a date and time.
    • All supplies collected will be relocated to a centralized facility in the SODO neighborhood provided by a private company as a collection point.

Donating Directly to Hospitals/Hospital Foundations                

Seattle Children’s Guild Association (Seattle Children’s Hospital)

  • Monetary Donation Portal: https://www.seattlechildrens.org/giving/
  • Medical Supply Donation: accepting curbside drop off of unopened boxes or bags
    • Seattle Drop-off Location: Seattle Children’s Guild Association Office, located within the Seattle Children’s Administrative Building. Address is 6901 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115
    • Bellevue Drop-off Location: 1500 116th Ave. NE, Bellevue, WA 98004
    • Drop-off Time: 9am – 3pm, Monday – Friday
    • Call 206-987-7000 or 206-987-2153 upon arrival for staff to collect donation items

EvergreenHealth Foundation (Evergreen Hospital)

Providence Hospital

Overlake Medical Center Foundation (Overlake Hospital)

  • Accepted Items
    • Unopened packages of N95 and standard procedure masks
    • Unopened packages of disinfecting wipes
    • Unopened bottles of hand sanitizer
    • Unopened packages of gloves
    • PPE suites and gowns
  • Drop-off Location
    • Address: 1035 116th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA 98004
    • Approved donations will be directed to drive up to the Starbucks entrance on Swistak Drive and call the foundation at 425-688-5525 from their car. Foundation staff will meet donors an ask them to fill out a donation form.
  • Drop-off Time
    • 9am – 3pm, Monday – Friday
    • Call the foundation for weekend drop-off

University of Washington Medical Center

Virginia Mason Foundation (Virginia Mason Medical Center)

Swedish Medical Center Foundation (Swedish Medical Center)

Other Foundations and Organizations

United Chinese American of Washington (UCAWA) Fundraising

UCAWA, along with 40 organizations in the region, aims to raise $140,000 by March 31, 2020 to EvergreenHealth Foundation to support the Evergreen Hospital in Kirkland. As of March 18, they have raised $43,948.

Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Washington State (CCCWA) Foundation

  • Monetary Donation can be made through,
    • Zelle: info@ccc-wa.org
    • ACH
      • Band of America
      • Account Number: 138127683476
      • Routing Number: 12500024
    • To donate medical supplies, please contact,

Mask4WA through gofundme

The goal is to raise $100,000 dollars to purchase masks (FDA approved KN95 and surgical masks) for frontline healthcare workers at the University of Washington, Swedish Medical Center, and Seattle Children’s Hospital.

 

HUST Alumni Association of Seattle

Alibaba.com PPE site (for purchase)

In addition to statewide efforts to provide funds and supplies to health care industry, government agencies and local organizations are also working together to provide assistance to people, communities and business are severely impacted by coronavirus. The Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce has compiled a comprehensive list of such resources and efforts that includes information listed below. For detailed information, please visit https://www.seattlechamber.com/home/membership/community-news/detail/2020/03/18/wegotthiswa?utm_source=Message+from+the+President&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=Coronavirus+Update+-+March+20

  • Emergency food assistance
  • Small Business Support
  • Housing and Rent Assistance that includes COVID-19 Rental Assistance Fund and Seattle Chamber’s Housing Connector Program.
  • Support for groups that are lack of resources, including but not limited to residents without health insurance and/or access to sick days, residents with limited English language proficiency, Healthcare and gig economy workers, and communities of color. This effort is fund by the COVID-19 Response Fund at the Seattle Foundation https://www.seattlefoundation.org/communityimpact/civic-leadership/covid-19-response-fund
  • Support for art organizations and workers
  • Donate blood https://www.bloodworksnw.org/
  • In-kind donations of food, supplies, and furniture needed for the isolation, quarantine, and recovery sites that the County has set up and individuals in needs, including students and homeless.
  • The Seattle Chamber is also setting up a fund called the Keep Workers Safe and Healthy Fund.
    • The goal of the fund is to keep healthcare coverage intact for employees through April 2020, and to keep employees safe by reimbursing employers for janitorial services, protective equipment, and supplies.
    • Fundraising goal is $10 million. Please contact pledge@seattlechamber.com to make a contribution to this fund. The Chamber is working to set up a website to accept online contributions.

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Washington State China Relations Council

1301 5th Avenue, Suite 1500 Seattle, WA 98101-2611

Tel: (206) 441 - 4419

E-mail: info@wscrc.org

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