Houston Chinese community hosts fund-raising concert

The Chinese community in the fourth largest U.S. city of Houston staged a concert Saturday to raise funds for China's earthquake-stricken Sichuan province.

Local performing groups, individuals and winners from a local singing competition joined the three-hour concert co-sponsored by local Chinese groups, including the Chinese Civic Center and Southern U.S. Chinese Media Group.

Performers presented programs such as Chinese and English songs, Chinese operas, as well as musical instrument performance. A silent auction was held simultaneously to help raise funds.

"We are praying for Ya'an and hoping that more lives could be saved. We hope that the Ya'an people can survive this disaster and rebuild their homeland," said Bjorn Lindgren, chair of board of Chinese Philanthropy Global Partnerhsip, a U.S. charity that helps raise funds for philanthropic projects in China.

"Our motherland was hit by another severe natural disaster. People both in China and overseas are actively collecting funds for our country's disaster relief efforts," said Guo Yuxiang, president of the Chinese Civic Center.

"The fundraising efforts in Houston demonstrate overseas Chinese's love and support to our compatriots at home," said Guo.

Donations collected at the concert will be sent to China through the Chinese Consulate General in Houston, organizers of the event said.

A 7.0-magnitude earthquake jolted China's southwest Sichuan province on Saturday, leaving nearly 200 people dead and more than 12,000 others injured.