– U.S. Government and Non-Profit Organizations Join Forces to Fight Epidemic Affecting up to One Million Asian Americans –

WASHINGTON, D.C., DOYLESTOWN, PA AND SAN FRANCISCO, CA – September 14, 2010 – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Minority Health, the Hepatitis B Foundation and the Association of Asian
Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO) today launched a new campaign to raise awareness of the epidemic of chronic hepatitis B among Americans of Asian and Pacific Islander heritage.  Chronic hepatitis B is a life-threatening liver disease caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). The focus of the campaign is a new television public service
announcement (PSA) that encourages Asian Americans to get tested for this preventable and treatable disease.

Chronic hepatitis B is known as a “silent killer” because it can slowly destroy the liver over time without causing noticeable symptoms.  As the world’s leading cause of liver cancer, HBV is second only to tobacco among known human carcinogens.  Americans of Asian and Pacific Islander descent experience the greatest burden of the disease in the United States.  Although Asian Americans comprise only 5 percent of the U.S. population, they represent more than half of the estimated 1.4 to 2 million people chronically infected with hepatitis B in this country.

“The disproportionate impact of chronic hepatitis B among Americans of Asian and Pacific Islander descent is one of the most serious – but frequently overlooked – racial and ethnic health disparities in the United States,” said Dr. Garth N. Graham, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health, Office of Minority Health at the Department of Health
and Human Services.  ”Because of their high hepatitis B rates, Asian Americans are nearly three times more likely to develop primary liver cancer than Americans of non-Asian descent.”

Hepatitis B can be diagnosed with a simple blood test.  Yet alarmingly, as many as two-thirds of Asian Americans living with the disease do not know they are infected.  The new PSA, noting that one in ten Asian Americans has hepatitis B, asks “Could you be one of them?”  Viewers are encouraged to visit www.hepb.org, where information about the disease is available in several Asian languages.

The PSA will begin airing in September on network affiliates and community stations in metropolitan areas with significant Asian populations, including Houston, Los Angeles, New York City, Philadelphia, Seattle and Washington, D.C.  Importantly, the PSA has been translated into Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean for relevant in-language programming.  The PSA is supported by funding from Gilead Sciences, a maker of hepatitis treatments.

“Our message is simple: Asian Americans need to get tested for hepatitis B,” said Joan Block, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Hepatitis B Foundation. “People who test negative for HBV can be vaccinated against the disease, and effective treatments are available for those who test positive.  But not knowing your status means that you are living with an
increased risk of dying prematurely from liver cancer as well as unknowingly passing HBV on to your children and other loved ones.  Too many people are suffering needlessly from this preventable and treatable disease.”

The new campaign reflects increasing momentum to address chronic hepatitis B in the United States.  In January 2010, the Institute of Medicine published a landmark report recommending new policy, legislative, community and medical efforts to confront and control the disease.  Additionally, HBV screening campaigns have been launched in a
number of U.S. cities, and proposed federal legislation calling for increased funding for hepatitis prevention and care is currently pending in Congress.

“Communities of Asian and Pacific Islander heritage in America are mobilizing and demanding that this neglected disease be taken seriously as a public health priority,” said Jeffrey Caballero, Executive Director, AAPCHO.  ”Campaigns like this and similar efforts taking place across the country can play an important role in raising awareness,
reducing stigma and increasing screening and treatment rates for hepatitis B – all of which are critical to ending this epidemic.”

About the PSA

The PSA, entitled “B,” was developed by 26-year-old photographer Bao Nguyen in collaboration with Boat People SOS, a national Vietnamese-American community-based organization.  The PSA was the winner of the B Real Film Contest at the 2009 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival.  It is intended to be used for information purposes to help the public better understand hepatitis B.  The announcement is supported by funding from Gilead Sciences, a maker of hepatitis
treatments.  Participation of the Office of Minority Health (OMH), Hepatitis B Foundation and AAPCHO in this campaign and PSA does not imply the endorsement by HHS/OMH of any services or products.

For more information or to request a copy or images of the PSA please contact Lauren Graham at lgraham@hepBscreening.org or (212) 584-5015.

About Hepatitis B

The hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the world’s most common serious liver infection and is up to 100 times more infectious than HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.  It is passed via the blood and other bodily fluids through sex, the use of contaminated syringes and needles, or the sharing of personal items such as razors or toothbrushes.  The virus can
also be passed from mother to child at birth.  HBV slowly destroys the liver, and approximately one in four people chronically infected will die prematurely from serious complications such as cirrhosis (liver scarring), liver cancer or liver failure.  Worldwide, 350 million people are living with chronic hepatitis B, with the greatest number of cases
occurring in Asia and Africa.  An effective vaccine to prevent HBV has been available for more than 20 years, and is considered the first anti-cancer vaccine since HBV is the primary cause of liver cancer throughout the world.  However, universal infant immunization is not yet standard practice in many parts of Asia, and mother to child
transmission is the primary cause of chronic HBV infection in many Asian countries.  There are several effective therapies to manage and control chronic HBV, but up to 65 percent of Americans with the disease do not
know they are infected.

About the Office of Minority Health

The mission of the Office of Minority Health (OMH) is to improve and protect the health of racial and ethnic minority populations through the development of health policies and programs that will eliminate health disparities.   OMH was established in 1986 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). It advises the Secretary and the Office of Public Health and Science (OPHS) on public health program activities affecting American Indians and Alaska Natives, Asian Americans, Blacks/African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, Native Hawaiians, and other Pacific Islanders.  OMH and its regional staff also work closely with State offices of minority and multicultural health.  For more information, visit www.minorityhealth.hhs.gov.

About the Hepatitis B Foundation

The Hepatitis B Foundation is a national nonprofit organization solely dedicated to finding a cure and improving the quality of life for those affected with hepatitis B worldwide through research, education and patient advocacy. For more information, visit www.hepb.org or call (215) 489-4900.

About the Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations

The Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO) is a national association representing 27 community health organizations dedicated to promoting advocacy, collaboration and leadership that improves the health status and access of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and other Pacific Islanders in the United States. Since 1987, AAPCHO has advocated for policies and programs that improve the provision of health care services that are community driven, financially affordable, linguistically accessible, and culturally appropriate. For more information on AAPCHO and its Guiding Principles and Values, please visit www.aapcho.org.

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ROOT INTERNATIONAL PEACE CORPS AND CHAO FAMILY FOUNDATION EXCEEDED FUNDRAISING GOAL OF $100,000 IN SUPPORT OF TAIWAN TYPHOON MORAKOT RELIEF EFFORTS AND SETS NEW GOAL OF $150,000
To continue the relief efforts, we encourage individuals, communities, and associations to donate and support Typhoon Relief to help us meet our new goal of raising $150,000.

PALO ALTO, California – September 3, 2009

Root International Peace Corps (RIPC 美國路竹會), a US-based, non-profit disaster relief organization, and the Ping and Amy Chao Family Foundation (趙修平夫婦基金會) are pleased to announce that they have collaboratively fundraised over $100,000 in donations from the community all across North America and individuals in support of ongoing relief efforts related to Taiwan Typhoon Morakot. Due to overwhelming need overseas, we have decided to raise the new target to $150,000. Chao Foundation pledges to match funds to meet the new goal of $150,000. We encourage individuals, communities, and associations from all across the world to unite in helping Typhoon Morakot victims and restoration.

Chinese and Asian communities across North America had responded to this crisis with overwhelming support. A successful August 23 fundraising event co-hosted by World Journal and San Francisco Chinese Business Association raised $40,000 plus $40,000 matching fund from Chao Foundation. Chao Foundation’s dollar-for-a-dollar matching program also helped raise over $21,000 so far on the internet non-profit online community www.eastvillagers.org.

RIPC and Chao Foundation will use the donated funds through joint relief efforts to provide medical aid and supplies in partnership with its sister organization Taiwan Root Medical Peace Corps (TRMPC 臺灣路竹會), a 15-year old Taiwan-based non-profit that is widely considered the A-team in medical and disaster relief. Over the years, the TRMPC has mobilized over 6,000 volunteers and is known for being the first onsite in over 25 countries across 200 missions that have so far touched over 100,000 lives.

“We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to North American Chinese and Asian communities and individuals for your generous donations and support to address the enormous challenge of providing medical care and equipment to those affected by Typhoon Morakot,” said RIPC and TRMPC President Dr. Chi-Chun Liu.

“Chao Foundation feels privileged to partner with so many individual donors in support of Typhoon relief efforts. Regardless if it’s ten dollars or thousands of dollars, Dr. Liu and I will make sure that every dollar donated through TRMPC/RIPC will be put to best use for Typhoon relief,” said Ping Chao, chairman and founder of Chao Foundation. “Our online fundraising and matching program raised over $21,000 within merely two weeks. More importantly, with the help of non-profit online community www.eastvillagers.org, we literally brought together a diverse group of people from all across U.S. and Canada, young and not-so-young, Chinese speaking and non as one community behind this important cause. That’s just incredible.”

For those wishing to learn more about this important cause, donation information and timely updates about the relief mission can be found at the Chao Foundation and RIPC’s online non-profit community and fundraising hostwww.eastvillagers.org.  Here is the Chao Foundation websitewww.chaofoundation.org and RIPC website www.ripcusa.org.

About RIPC and RIPC

In 2007, Root International Peace Corps (RIPC 美國路竹會) was founded in the US as a sister organization of Taiwan Root Medical Peace Corps (TRMPC 臺灣路竹會) to provide services in response to increasing needs across the globe. Over the years, TRMPC has mobilized over 6000 volunteers. Its 197 missions so far have touched over 100,000 lives from high mountains of Taiwan to 25 countries across Africa, South and Central Asia, South America, Eastern Europe and South Pacific. Founded in 1995 through the vision of Dr. Chi-Chun Liu, TRMPC believes that medical service should transcend national borders and exceed the limitations of politics, race, and religion. It holds as its end goal a united international community working in cooperation to bring about equitable access of healthcare to all populations. Since then, TRMPC has extended its services to include disaster relief, humanitarian aid, public health education and development. More information about RIPC and TRMPC is available at www.ripcusa.org and www.taiwanroot.org. 

About Chao Foundation

The Ping and Amy Chao Family Foundation (趙修平夫婦基金會) was founded in California’s Silicon Valley in 2005 by Ping Chao and his wife Amy Chao. It was established exclusively for charitable purposes. The foundation aims to fund and nurture initiatives improving the health and well-being of children and youth in economically disadvantaged regions throughout the world; promoting the spirit of philanthropy and developing awareness of non-profit practices and opportunities for service for the younger generation of China and the greater Chinese Diaspora. More information about the Chao Foundation is available atwww.chaofoundation.org.


For More Information Please Contact:

U.S.
Ping Chao
Chao Foundation and Root International Peace Corps
408-316-3551
admin@eastvillagers.org

Taiwan
Dr. Chi-Chun Liu 
Taiwan Root Medical Peace Corps
886-2-86676700
tradm@taiwanroot.org

美國路竹會及趙修平夫婦基金會
已為莫拉克颱風賑災籌得美金十萬元
– 新目標推至美金十五萬元 –


美國加州 Palo Alto市及台灣同時發佈 –  2009年9月3號

美國路竹會(RIPC, 美國之非營利救援組織) 及 趙修平夫婦基金會 今日宣布 在兩會共同努力下，為莫拉克颱風賑災，收到美加地區 各社團及個人捐款 共十萬美元。隨著時間的推進及對災情的更多瞭解，兩會決定把目標推高到十五萬美元，以供需求。趙修平夫婦基金會仍維持對等追加捐款方式，鼓勵 全世界任何個人及社團共襄盛舉。

莫拉克颱風造成的傷害，無與倫比。而緊急救援行動, 在投入大量人力時, 需要財力支援。 兩會在北美洲展開連續籌款活動，穫得各方熱烈響應。 八月二十三日又與世界日報及舊金山中華企業協會合作, 進行賑災勸募。當日捐得四萬美元，趙修平夫婦基金會即時對等追加四萬美元。 同時，趙修平夫婦基金會 以同樣的對等追加捐款方式, 經由 東村族( www.eastvillagers.org 網路非營利社區) 鼓勵電腦連線捐款。到發稿為止, 東村族賑災募款平台的捐款總數已超過二萬一千美元。

兩會將賑災善款透過 台灣路竹會（TRMPC）用於提供災民的醫療援助及賑災資源上。台灣路竹會是美國路竹會的姊妹組織,成立迄今15年，被公認為一優秀的台灣非營利醫療災難救援組織。台灣路竹會曾動員超過6,000名志工在災後第一時間趕到災區，救援行動遍及25個國家，出動200次任務，截至目前為止，救援人數已超過100,000人。

路竹會會長劉啟群醫師說， “我們衷心感謝北美洲所有的社團和個人為提供災民的醫療照顧及設備慷慨解囊。這次救援行動，挑戰性比以往都高。 你們的愛心﹐無論在資源及士氣上，都是很大的鼓勵，讓我們可以為更多災民的需求提供更多的援助。”

趙修平說，“這幾週來 與這麼多的捐款善士併肩努力，非常感動。我與路竹會劉會長一定會把每一分毫捐款 ，充分並且及時運用到救災任務。此外，電腦連線捐款在頭兩週內就達到兩萬一千美元，達成原定的兩萬美元目標。東村族 www.eastvillagers.org 協助的賑災募款平台，把分布在美加廣大地區的有心人牽到一起。不分老少，地域，國籍，語言，每個人都無私的投入了愛心。這是始料未及的。”

如果你想更瞭解此次賑災的任務，捐款及救援最新消息，請上非營利社區及募款平台www.eastvillagers.org 或台灣路竹會網站 www.taiwanroot.org。

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ROOT INTERNATIONAL PEACE CORPS RECEIVES A TOTAL OF NT$10 MILLION DONATION FROM HEWLETT-PACKARD COMPANY FOUNDATION AND HP EMPLOYEES IN SUPPORT OF TAIWAN TYPHOON MORAKOT RELIEF EFFORTS

TAIPEI, Taiwan – September 3, 2009 –

Root International Peace Corps (RIPC 美國路竹會), a US-based, non-profit disaster relief organization, is pleased to announce that it has received a NT$10 million donation from the Hewlett-Packard Company Foundation and the employees of Hewlett-Packard Company in support of ongoing relief efforts related to Taiwan Typhoon Morakot.

RIPC will use the donated funds through joint relief efforts to provide medical aid and supplies in partnership with its sister organization Taiwan Root Medical Peace Corps (TRMPC 臺灣路竹會), a 15-year old Taiwan-based non-profit that is widely considered the A-team in medical and disaster relief. Over the years, the TRMPC has mobilized over 6,000 volunteers and is known for being the first onsite in over 25 countries across 200 missions that have so far touched over 100,000 lives.

“We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the Hewlett-Packard Company Foundation and the employees of Hewlett-Packard Company for providing us with such a generous grant to address the enormous challenge of providing medical care and equipment to those affected by Typhoon Morakot,” said RIPC and TRMPC President Dr. Chi-Chun Liu.  “Their commitment to our typhoon relief efforts is truly an exemplary model of businesses caring for communities in crisis, and their contributions provide a huge boost in both resources and morale that will allow us to extend our relief efforts to many more lives and their critical needs.” 

For those wishing to learn more about this important cause, donation information and timely updates about the relief mission can be found at RIPC’s online non-profit community and fundraising host www.eastvillagers.org, or at the TRMPC websitewww.taiwanroot.org. 


About TRMPC and RIPC

Founded in 1995 through the vision of Dr. Chi-Chun Liu, Taiwan Root Medical Peace Corps. (TRMPC 臺灣路竹會) believes that medical service should transcend national borders and exceed the limitations of politics, race, and religion. It holds as its end goal a united international community working in cooperation to bring about equitable access of healthcare to all populations. Since then, TRMPC has extended its services to include disaster relief, humanitarian aid, public health education and development. In 2007, Root International Peace Corps. (RIPC 美國路竹會) was founded in the US as a sister organization of TRMPC to provide services in response to increasing needs across the globe. Over the years, TRMPC has mobilized over 6000 volunteers. Its 197 missions so far have touched over 100,000 lives from high mountains of Taiwan to 25 countries across Africa, South and Central Asia, South America, Eastern Europe and South Pacific. More information about RIPC and TRMPC is available at www.ripcusa.org and http://www.taiwanroot.org. 

For More Information Please Contact:

U.S.
Ping Chao
RIPC
408-316-3551
admin@eastvillagers.org    

Taiwan
Dr. Chi-Chun Liu 
RIPC and TRMPC
886-2-86676700
tradm@taiwanroot.org

美國路竹會收到HP基金會及HP員工 台幣一千萬元莫拉克颱風賑災善款

美國加州 PALO ALTO市及台灣同時發佈 –  2009年9月３號

美國路竹會 (RIPC) ，為美國之非營利救援組織，今日宣布該組織收到美國HP基金會及HP員工所認捐之台幣一千萬元莫拉克颱風賑災善款。

美國路竹會(RIPC)將透過與台灣路竹會（TRMPC）的合作將此筆賑災善款用於提供莫拉克颱風災民的醫療援助及賑災資源上。台灣路竹會是美國路竹會的姊妹組織,成立迄今15年，被公認為一優秀的台灣非營利醫療災難救援組織。台灣路竹會曾動員超過6,000名志工在災後第一時間趕到災區，救援行動遍及25個國家，出動200次任務，截至目前為止，救援人數已超過100,000人。

“我們衷心感謝HP此次為提供莫拉克颱風災民的醫療照顧及設備慷慨解囊。” RIPC及 TRMPC會長劉啟群說，“HP承諾捐款賑災足以為企業回饋受災鄉里的表率。對這次救援行動，無論在資源及士氣都是大大的鼓舞，讓我們可以為更多災民的需求提供更多的援助。”

如果你想更瞭解此次賑災的重要任務，捐款及救援任務最新消息，請上美國路竹會的網路非營利社區及募款平台 www.eastvillagers.org 或台灣路竹會網站 www.taiwanroot.org。

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