Einstein Faculty Member Inspires Charitable Effort among Friends in China and in the Bronx
This Einstein SHOUTout! goes to Dr. Jidong Shan, director of the molecular cytogenetics core in the department of genetics, who teamed with generous friends from China and members of the Grace Christian Church in the Bronx to donate 5,000 3M medical masks to Montefiore this week.
![Seven friends who graduated from a Beijing high school affiliated with Renmin Univeristy, who are attending universities in the United States, raised funds through their charitable foundation to donate the masks]()
Seven friends, who graduated from a Beijing high school affiliated with Renmin University of China and are attending universities in the United States, raised funds through their charitable foundation to donate the masks
Dr. Shan grew up in Changchun, within the Jilin Province of China. In speaking with a childhood friend, she shared how Einstein and Montefiore — like many healthcare institutions in the New York area — were in dire need of medical masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE) critical to protecting caregivers while they administer to patients with COVID-19.
![Delia Vieira-Cruz from EH&S (left) coordinated with Jidong Shan on receiving the 5,000 masks]()
Delia Vieira-Cruz from EH&S (left) coordinated with Jidong Shan on receiving the 5,000 masks
Communities Connecting
“At first my friend told me she could ship 100 masks to me,” explained Dr. Shan. “Then she spoke with her son Bowen, who is a freshman at NYU. He teamed with six friends from high school who also are attending American universities to establish a charity, Beijing Forward Foundation. This allowed them to raise enough money to send 5,000 masks.”
When members of Dr. Shan’s church learned of the need for the masks, they were eager to pitch in, too. Their contributions partially covered the import duty fees required for delivery of an overseas donation.
Dr. Shan also received a letter from the seven friends spearheading the altruistic effort. (The group also has made similar donations to other area hospitals.) Signed by Bowen Gong, Ziyuan Zhao, Ziyi Wang, Yufeng Chi, Mingjun Ma, Yongyi Li, and Shiyin Jin, the letter noted “…we could not help thinking about those who work at the front line tirelessly fighting for American people’s lives,” and it concluded, “We are in this together. Stay safe, stay strong!” The last four words were also taped to the boxes of masks that they sent.
![The five boxes arrived with the message: Stay safe; stay strong]()
The five boxes arrived with the message: "Stay safe; stay strong"
Further Team Effort
Dr. Shan coordinated with Einstein’s environmental health & safety department (EH&S) to work out the logistics for getting the donated masks, which were delayed slightly by having to pass through customs. The first two boxes arrived on Thursday, April 2, and the remaining three were delivered on Monday, April 6.
“It really shows how we are all one community, and we will get through this together,” said Dr. Shan.
We All Pitch In
While Governor Cuomo has recently purchased and provided additional PPE to the state’s many hospitals, it’s likely there will be continuing demand for these and other items, which include masks, respirators, and gloves. Does your department or lab have such items that could be pressed into active duty to protect our colleagues in the health system as they tend to the sickest COVID-19 patients? View Einstein’s COVID-19 DONATION page to learn the items most in need, where to bring or send your donations, and/or to set up a drop-off time through EH&S.
Posted on: Friday, April 10, 2020