Overseas China Education Foundation

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{{Infobox organization

| name = Overseas China Education Foundation

| logo = Overseas China Education Foundation logo.png

| Non-profit_type = Non-profit charity

| type = Educational Charity, 501(c)(3)

| tax_id = 76-0680540

| founded_date = October 1992
El Cerrito, California, US

| formerly = SOS China Education Fund

| founder = Wenyuan Shi

| location = Houston, Texas, US

| key_people = Tina Miao, President

| num_volunteers = > 3,000

| area_served = China

| focus = Rural Education in China

| endowment = $382,313.57 (2011) {{cite web|url=http://www.ocef.org/images/OCEF/finance/Financial_Report_2011_English.pdf|title=OCEF Financial Report 2011|publisher=OCEF|accessdate=20 August 2013}}

| website = {{Official URL}}

| expenses = $272,138.76 (2011)

}}

Overseas China Education Foundation (OCEF) is an independent, non-political, non-religious and non-profit charity organization, founded in October 1992 by a group of Chinese students and scholars in California. Formerly known as SOS China Education Fund (SOSCEF),{{cite web|url=http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/packages/ccic/org/sos-edu/.index.html|title=Original SOSCEF Website (archived)|publisher=www.ibiblio.com|accessdate=20 August 2013}} OCEF changed to its current name and was registered in Texas in April 2001 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. OCEF's sole mission is to help underprivileged children in impoverished rural areas of China receive education and improve the quality of education in rural China.{{cite web|url=http://www.ocef.org/english/about-us|title=OCEF - About Us |publisher=www.ocef.org|accessdate=6 November 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ocef.org/organization|title=OCEF - 基金会概况 |publisher=www.ocef.org|accessdate=22 April 2012}}

Overview

OCEF is headquartered in Houston, Texas and has local chapters in many cities across the U.S., including Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, New York, San Diego, San Francisco, and UIUC.{{cite web|url=http://www.ocef.org/volunteer/local-chapter|title=OCEF - Local Chapters |publisher=www.ocef.org|accessdate=8 November 2012}}

OCEF raises funds primarily via donations from individuals, corporations and foundations in the U.S., then distributes them directly to the students, teachers and schools in rural China, through the volunteers in China (run by OCEF's China Affairs group), without any interference by governments or other organizations. The distribution process is completely transparent and discussed in details on OCEF's BBS forum.

Operated predominantly by unpaid volunteers, OCEF keeps operational costs minimal (3.4% of annual donation receipts in 2011). In its 20-year journey (1992 through spring 2012), OCEF has made continuous achievements through steady steps.{{cite web|url=http://www.ocef.org/images/OCEF/pdf/OCEF_Presentation_GEN_Final.pdf |title=OCEF - 20th Anniversary Brochure|publisher=www.ocef.org|accessdate=6 November 2012}}

  • Raised over $3 million donations
  • Distributed over RMB 14 million across 27 provinces in China
  • Sponsored 41,610 students and teachers
  • Built 412 libraries
  • Donated 373,019 books

In 2012, OCEF celebrated its 20th anniversary through a series of events around the world, in Beijing,{{cite news|title=海外中国教育基金会助推中国乡村教育发展|url=http://www.csgyb.com.cn/pdf/121/A4.swf|accessdate=2 November 2012|newspaper=慈善公益报|date=2 November 2012}}

New York,{{cite news|title=中國教育基金會 慶周年籌善款|url=http://ny.worldjournal.com/view/full_nynews/20637634/article-%E4%B8%AD%E5%9C%8B%E6%95%99%E8%82%B2%E5%9F%BA%E9%87%91%E6%9C%83-%E6%85%B6%E5%91%A8%E5%B9%B4%E7%B1%8C%E5%96%84%E6%AC%BE?instance=nybull_news|accessdate=October 31, 2012|newspaper=世界日报|date=October 28, 2012}}{{cite news|title=OCEF庆祝成立20周年|url=http://ny.usqiaobao.com/focus-new/ny-news/7691-ocef-20|accessdate=2012-10-31|newspaper=侨报|date=28 October 2012}}{{cite news|title=助中国贫困学生 海外中国教育基金会慈善拍卖|url=http://video.sinovision.net/?id=8836|accessdate=4 November 2012|newspaper=美国中文电视|date=2012-10-27}}{{cite news|title=海外中国教育基金会庆20周年|url=http://ny.stgloballink.com:82/community/201210/t20121029_1815216.html|accessdate=5 November 2012|newspaper=星岛日报|date=2012-10-29}}

Chicago,

San Francisco,{{cite news|title=海外中国教育基金会(OCEF)庆祝其成立20周年, 于圣荷西举办庆典|url=http://dailynews.sina.com/gb/news/usa/sinaus/su/20121031/15323917238.html|accessdate=5 November 2012|newspaper=Sina 新浪网|date=31 October 2012}}

and the main event on November 4, 2012, in Houston.{{cite news|title=OCEF holds picnic in Fort Bend, adds library in China|url=http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/sugar_land/news/ocef-holds-picnic-in-fort-bend-adds-library-in-china/article_f78f3550-a1d5-5483-973a-bd5b84f81ff5.html|accessdate=31 October 2012|newspaper=Your Houston News|date=October 29, 2012}}{{cite news|title=海外中国教育基金会喜迎成立20周年 持之以恒只做一件事:帮助中国乡村孩子们|url=http://epaper.uschinapress.com:81/qiaobao/html/2012-10/27/content_743820.htm|accessdate=5 November 2012|newspaper=侨报|date=27 October 2012}}{{cite news|title=海外中國教育基金會 資助推動中國鄉村教育發展|url=http://la.worldjournal.com/view/full_texas/20467034/article-%E6%B5%B7%E5%A4%96%E4%B8%AD%E5%9C%8B%E6%95%99%E8%82%B2%E5%9F%BA%E9%87%91%E6%9C%83-%E8%B3%87%E5%8A%A9%E6%8E%A8%E5%8B%95%E4%B8%AD%E5%9C%8B%E9%84%89%E6%9D%91%E6%95%99%E8%82%B2%E7%99%BC%E5%B1%95|accessdate=31 October 2012|newspaper=世界日报|date=13 October 2012}}{{cite web|title=张传兵副总领事出席海外中国教育基金会二十周年庆典并致辞|url=http://houston.china-consulate.org/chn/zlgxw/t985640.htm|publisher=houston.china-consulate.org|accessdate=6 November 2012}}

OCEF Programs

OCEF offers a variety of funding programs across over 20 provinces in rural China and has developed comprehensive operational procedures that ensure all OCEF funds are distributed diligently and transparently.{{cite web|url=http://www.ocef.org/english/funding-projects |title=OCEF - Programs|publisher=www.ocef.org|accessdate=6 November 2012}}

  • [http://www.ocef.org/english/funding-projects/469-comprehensive-support-program Comprehensive Support Program]
  • [http://www.ocef.org/project/financial-aid Financial Aid Program]
  • [http://www.ocef.org/project/scholarship High School Scholarship Program]
  • [http://www.ocef.org/project/teacher-aid Teacher Aid Program]
  • [http://www.ocef.org/project/book-aid Library Program]
  • [http://www.ocef.org/project/school School Building Program]

OCEF conducts site-visits to inspect OCEF sponsored programs, during which the inspectors examine the status of aid recipients, confirm the proper use of all aid money, and verify that the schools have followed OCEF policies in the pre-screening of aid applicants and in the disbursement of aid. The majority of the local funding programs are inspected every other year.

Publications

OCEF regularly publishes reports, journals, newsflashes, etc. for its supported students, donors, members and volunteers.{{cite web|url=http://www.ocef.org/publication |title=OCEF - Publications|publisher=www.ocef.org|accessdate=8 November 2012}}

Awards and Prizes

  • In April 2005, OCEF received Top 10 Reading Advocate Award from the [http://www.lsc.org.cn/CN/index.html Library Society of China].{{cite web|url=http://12355.cityyouth.cn/node/116|title=OCEF(海外中国教育基金会)"阅读推广贡献奖"|publisher=www.cityyouth.cn |date=19 March 2009 |accessdate=8 November 2012}}
  • In November 2009, OCEF received the $50,000 grand prize in the America's Giving Challenge sponsored by the Case Foundation, Parade magazine and the Facebook Causes application, for the most donations received over the 30-day period. OCEF received 13,772 donations and raised $156,637 in addition to the $50,000 award money.{{cite web|url=http://www.thedailytell.com/2009/11/facebook-users-donate-2-1-million-during-americas-giving-challenge/ |title=Facebook users donate $2.1 million during America's Giving Challenge|publisher=www.thedailytell.com |date=25 November 2009 |accessdate=22 April 2012}}
  • In December 2009, OCEF received a $25,000 prize in the Chase Community Giving Contest, following Facebook users' voting.{{cite web|url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20091217005636/en/Chase-Facebook-Announce-100-Small-Local-Charities|title=Chase and Facebook Announce 100 Small and Local Charities to Receive $25,000 Each from Chase Community Giving|publisher=www.businesswire.com|date=17 December 2009|accessdate=22 April 2012}}
  • In May 2010, Socialbrite named OCEF second place in its list of top ten most successful NGOs at Causes.{{cite web|title=Behind the success of 10 top causes|date=19 May 2010 |url=http://www.socialbrite.org/2010/05/19/behind-the-success-of-10-top-causes/|publisher=Socialbrite|accessdate=7 November 2012}}

References

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