Community Corner
Newton Comedy Fundraiser Nets $12K For Wuhan, China
Newton has one of the oldest US to China high school exchange programs, and many here feel strong ties to China because of it.
NEWTON, MA — A Newton North alum, and rising comedy star in China helped raise more than $12,000 last month to send to Wuhan the epicenter of the new coronavirus outbreak.
The Jingshan Exchange program, the oldest US - China high school exchange program in the the states, hosted "Comedy for a Cause," a show staring North alum Jesse Appell talking about his experience living in China and highlighting “what makes China laugh.”
Appell founded a project called Laugh Beijing to use comedy to bridge cultural gaps and has lived in China for several years.
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Organizers said he was a natural fit to help with the fundraiser.
"We have connected with the non-profit organization, WeStar Corp, to purchase medical supplies and donate to Wuhan hospitals," Star (Yixing) Lew, a Chinese teacher at North told Patch.
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Following that, the Newton Chinese School hosted a "Walk for Wuhan," which also featured Appell and was widely attended, as Newton News reported.
Hundreds donated $10 and wore white shirts with the phrase "Be Strong Wuhan," Appell and Mayor Ruthanne Fuller among them outside Newton City Hall.
"This is a difficult time for the Chinese community, and it is spreading to the other parts of the world," Fuller said as the march was set to begin. "As mayor, I stood with you yesterday. Today I walk with you. I promise you can count on me to link arms with you tomorrow as well."
It's not clear how many people attended that march, but estimates put it at hundreds.
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