GW parents Jian Zhang and Min Shi were thrilled when their daughter Isabella Zhang, GWSB B.Accy ’14, chose to attend GW—even though it was thousands of miles away from their home in China.
“GW’s community values were a fit with our family,” say Jian and Min. “During her four years, Isabella received a lot of valuable career training and internship opportunities, which were valuable to help her secure a full-time job after college. As parents, we have also actively expanded the influence of GW in China. Isabella will always be thankful to her alma mater, carrying forward its culture and promoting its values.”
Joining the Family Philanthropy Board and providing philanthropic support to GW was a “natural step” for Jian and Min. “Keeping close contact with schools and participating actively in a school’s development has been a tradition of our family,” say Jian and Min, who also established a fund in China that provides financial aid for students around the world.
Jian and Min hope their support of the GW School of Business Dean’s Fund will make an impact on students of need and enhance the research opportunities of students and faculty.
“We believe students who are eager to study should be offered a place to receive a proper education,” say Jian and Min. “Education is the biggest gift you can give to anybody.”