Smith School Students Are Changing the World, One Book at a Time

Students and alumni from the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business are setting an example for social responsibility in China. The Smith Executive MBA program community in Shanghai helped support the second annual Team Maryland Charity Fundraiser Dinner at the Shanghai Howard Johnson Zhangjiang Hotel on November 29 in support of The Library Project, a non-profit organization that provides books and libraries to schools and orphanages in remote or impoverished areas in China. This year, the event raised more than 60,000RMB which will be used to build approximately 10 libraries in Anhui province, Maryland’s sister state.

The Smith school joined 21 companies, including platinum sponsors Black & Decker, Howard Johnson, The Children’s Place, Under Armour, Jaguar, Land Rover, W.R. Grace, and Microsoft to donate products and services that were auctioned off at the charity event.

“We are extremely thankful for the support from Team Maryland and all the sponsors and donors who made contributions,” said Tom Stader, founder of The Library Project. “The fact that we raised 35 percent more this year than last goes to show that even in a difficult financial environment giving to people in need still brings out the best in all of us. We look forward to working on the third annual event next year.”

The Library Project seeks to raise funds to support a goal of completing 110 libraries by the end of 2008. To date, the organization has established 79 elementary school libraries, provided more than 56,500 Chinese language children's books, and given approximately 17,700 children access to improved educational infrastructure. The fundraiser benefits schools that will each receive a gift of 500 Chinese-language children's books, plus furniture or additional construction as needed.

The Library Project donates books and libraries to under financed elementary schools in China. They believe education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty that exists in the developing world. As they see it, education is change.

Their goal is to develop The Library Project into an organization that helps empower millions of children every year through the gift of education. This goal will take an enormous amount of dedication, planning, and hard work. They need your help.
More information is available at www.library-project.org.