Asia Institute Partners with Shanghai Sunrise on Coffee for a Cause

SANTA FE, N.M. - July 7, 2014 - PRLog -- The Asia Institute announced today that is has begun a partnership with Shanghai Sunrise on a summer program to assist Shanghai Sunrise’s students. The program, entitled Coffee for a Cause, is a five week volunteer program in Shanghai, China, which will bring U.S. university alumni from the Big Ten China - Shanghai Alumni Network with Shanghai Sunrise students.

Students from Shanghai Sunrise are some of Shanghai’s lowest income students, receiving high school and university scholarships to cover their annual tuitions (around $940 per student). Shanghai Sunrise students qualify for scholarships under three criteria; financial need, academic standing and either a single parent household or the family is under severe debt from medical costs due to a chronic or terminal illness. Since being established in 1996, Shanghai Sunrise has awarded over 9,400 scholarships.

The Asia Institute selected the Big Ten Shanghai Alumni Network for the Coffee for a Cause program, as the Big Ten Shanghai Alumni Network is the most established and acknowledged U.S. university conference in Shanghai, with an estimated 2000 alumni represented from the 14 member universities. In addition, the Big Ten universities are well recognized in China for their high academic integrity, teaching and overall quality of education.

Bradley A Feuling, Chairman, the Asia Institute notes, “Coffee for a Cause is an exceptional program, which bridges a wide gap between low income children who are academically gifted, but do not have the financial means to pursue their larger educational goals in Shanghai, and alumni from universities in the Big Ten Conference, who have either returned or relocated to China. The Asia Institute is committed to building educational learning opportunities for students around the world, and we are excited to be working closely with such strong partners as Shanghai Sunrise and the Big Ten Shanghai Alumni Network.”

For more information about Shanghai Sunrise, please visit: http://www.shanghaisunrise.com.

Shanghai Sunrise

Shanghai Sunrise provides High School and University scholarships to Shanghai area students from working poor families. Shanghai Sunrise is a charitable organization under the Shanghai Charity Foundation. Through the financial support of individuals and corporations, Shanghai Sunrise sponsors ensure these students are able to graduate from high school and have the chance to go onto university.

About the Asia Institute

The Asia Institute was founded in 2006 by connecting the four key sectors of society (private, public, not-for-profit and education) through a partnership network with a mission to build the leading education platform connecting Asia with the rest of the world. Over the past seven years, the Asia Institute has worked with nearly 1000 students and faculty, and has quickly become a leading host partner for many educational institutions in areas such as short-term programs, student recruitment, experiential learning, faculty exchange, and career development.