(SHANGHAI, CHINA -November 9, 2011) In the 1940’s Pearl Buck and Mme. Soong Ching Ling were working towards mutual goals, trying to save China from World War II invasions. Ms. Buck’s efforts were generated from her home in Pennsylvania and Mme Soong in her native China. 70 years later, their legacies are reunited in China as they establish the Shanghai Soong Ching Ling – Pearl S. Buck Charitable Fund. The Fund will continue the legacy and dreams of Mme. Pearl S. Buck and Mme. Soong Ching Ling, to promote the welfare of women and children and to strengthen the cultural exchange between the East and West.

In 1938, Pearl Buck was the first American woman awarded both the Nobel Prize for Literature and the Pulitzer Prize for her epic portrayal of Chinese peasant life, based on the many years she lived in China. In 1941, she devoted her resources to support China during World War II by establishing the China Emergency Relief Committee. The committee raised funds and donated money and medicine to China via the China Defense League, the relief organization established by Mme. Soong Ching Ling. In 1949, when she became aware of the immense problem of children of mixed race, Pearl Buck and her friends in Bucks County, Pennsylvania founded The Welcome House Adoption Agency, which continues today. In 1964, the Pearl S. Buck Foundation was created as a child sponsorship organization to help children in their own countries with health, education and job training.

Janet L Mintzer, Pearl S. Buck International President and CEO stated, “I am here today representing a vitally important part of the legacy of Pearl S. Buck - the organization she founded over half a century ago to build a stronger global community in China and promote cultural understanding and eliminate injustice and prejudice suffered by children. Ms. Buck challenged us to look beyond physical and cultural differences, not to discount them, but to accept that every person’s culture is a rich combination from which we can all learn. When we use the traditions and strengths of other cultures as resources, we enrich our own cultures and lives. With this in mind, it is especially meaningful to be establishing the Pearl S. Buck Charitable fund in partnership with the Shanghai Soong Ching Ling Foundation and the PA Center to continue the legacy of two very important women in history, promote the causes of women and children and improve cultural ties between the US and China”.

Mme. Soong Ching Ling, also known as "the Mother of China" believed that Chinese Women's Liberation was an inseparable part of the Chinese revolution. Her views set the tone for the radical line for the advancement of women in China. During her lifetime, she founded the International Peace Maternity and Child Health Care Institutions of the China Welfare Institute, The Soong China Ling International Kindergarten and the Children's Palace. Mme Soong was dedicated to cross-cultural communication people-to-people diplomacy, and is respected worldwide for these efforts.

The Honorable Lu Ping, President of the Shanghai Soong Ching Ling Foundation stated, “During Soong Ching Ling‘s lifetime, she put forth incredible efforts to promote peace and friendship through international exchange in cultural, education programs. Through cooperation with Pearl S. Buck International, we are furthering her dreams.”

Soong Ching ling and Pearl Buck were great women of the 20th century. Today, with support from the Pennsylvania Centre in China, the Soong Ching Ling Foundation - Pearl S. Buck International Charitable Fund will work towards improving the quality

of life and providing opportunities for disadvantaged or impoverished children in China; promoting awareness and an understanding of the values and attributes of each other’s cultures.

The Honorable Lu Ping, President of Shanghai Soong Ching Ling Foundation, Mao JingQuan, Vice President of Shanghai Soong Ching Ling Foundation, Janet L. Mintzer, President & CEO of Pearl S. Buck International, Ning Shao, Chief Executive of Pennsylvania Center China and more than 80 guests participated in the launch ceremony.

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The Shanghai Soong Ching Ling Foundation
http://www.ssclf.com/
The Shanghai Soong Ching Ling Foundation, established in 1986, is dedicated to carrying out its namesake’s life-long cause of improving the lives of underprivileged women and children of China, promoting the healthy and multi-faceted growth of children, and conducting international exchanges for the same cause. Working hand-in-hand with the China Welfare Institute founded by Soong Ching Ling, the Foundation has made remarkable progress in these areas in the past 24 years and continues to enhance its efforts.

Pearl S. Buck International
http://www.psbi.org/
Pearl S. Buck International is a non-profit organization, founded in 1964, with three distinct functions that operate as one with the common mission of continuing the legacy and dreams of Pearl S. Buck, including her commitment to improving the quality of life and expanding opportunities for children and promoting an understanding of the values and attributes of other cultures, the injustice of prejudice, and the need for humanitarianism throughout the world.

Pennsylvania Center China
www.pausa.org.cn
The PA Center, sponsored by the PA Department of Community and Economic Development in collaboration with private-sector members of the PA business community, was established to promote exchange and cooperation between Pennsylvania and China in the fields of trade and investment, education and culture. In this regard, PA Center works with nearly 150 organizations each year, which have included historic China performances by the Philadelphia Orchestra in 2008 and in 2010 at the World Expo in Shanghai.