..........................................................................................................................................................................................

Family creates James W. Hsu Memorial Fund at CFSV
to aid tsunami victims and help next generation of students
Stanford Student Perished Dec. 26 th in Tsunami in South Asia

Community Foundation Silicon Valley and the Hsu family today announced the creation of the James W. Hsu Memorial Fund , which will aid in the recovery and rebuilding efforts in South Asia in the wake of the devastating earthquake and tsunami that ravaged the area on Dec. 26.

The fund commemorates Stanford Graduate School of Business student and Atherton resident James Hsu, who lost his life during the tsunami while vacationing on the island of Koh Phi Phi.

James Hsu will be remembered as the extroverted, cheerful and athletically gifted young man who was always the first to help others. A graduate of the University of California at Berkeley, Hsu followed in the footsteps of his older brother Stanley and sister Peggy by enrolling at Stanford University.

“James was a friend to all, and made the most of his experience at Stanford by meeting with as many people as possible, and involving himself in every activity he could,” remembers Peggy Hsu’s fiancé Ben McCaw.

One such activity took James and several of his classmates on a school-sponsored study trip to Thailand and Singapore. “He was having the time of his life in Thailand, and when the trip ended he decided to stay in South Asia for a few extra days,” remembers McCaw. Hsu was last seen on a beach at Koh Phi Phi when waves engulfed his bungalow.

The Hsu family was unable to contact James following the tsunami so Ben and Peggy traveled to Thailand to look for James themselves. After scouring local hospitals and speaking with State Department officials, the family is sure James perished in the tsunami.

While in Thailand, Ben and Peggy were touched by the kindness and generosity of the local residents who aided them in their search. To honor James and those who survived the tsunami, the Hsu family established a fund at Community Foundation Silicon Valley to raise money not only for the current relief efforts in South Asia, but also for the rebuilding process. In future years, the fund may also benefit other local causes for which James cared. “We want to keep his spirit alive by helping others,” explains McCaw.

A memorial service will be held for James at Stanford University at Memorial Church at 6:30p.m. on Sunday, January 23, the date of his 26 th birthday.

Memorial contributions made by check should be made out to Community Foundation Silicon Valley with “The James W. Hsu Memorial Fund” in the memo line, and mailed to the Community Foundation at:

Community Foundation
Silicon Valley
60 S. Market Street
Suite 1000
San Jose, CA 95113-2336

..........................................................................................................................................................................................
© 2005 Community Foundation Silicon Valley - 60 S. Market Street, Suite 1000, San Jose, CA 95113 - 408-278-2200 - About this site