Quantcast

Howard Beach restaurateur donates to earthquake relief

By Howard Koplowitz

The owner of a Chinese restaurant in Howard Beach plans to assist the victims of the Sichuan earthquake by donating half of his lunch and dinner checks from the next two Thursdays to the Red Cross.

Danny Chan, owner of Danny's Szechuan Garden at 164-14 Cross Bay Blvd., announced the arrangement Tuesday with City Councilman Joseph Addabbo (D-Howard Beach).

“I did this for the tsunami, for Hurricane Katrina,” Chan said. “So this is the third time we're doing it. We want to donate half the proceeds to the earthquake.”

Chan, 61, was born in southern China and raised in Hong Kong before coming to the United States in 1974. He first lived in Pennsylvania before moving to Rosedale in 1977 and later settling in Howard Beach.

He opened his restaurant on Cross Bay Boulevard in 1978.

When Chan set aside half of his receipts to help the victims of the tsunami and Katrina, the donations amounted to more than $1,000 each, he said.

Addabbo thanked Chan for the aid.

“Once again, Danny Chan has offered to help those in need,” the councilman said in a statement. “I thank and comment him for his generosity and good community character.”

Chan said he will set up a donation box in his restaurant for those who want to give to the Red Cross if they do not patronize his business on June 5 and June 12 — the two days he plans to give half of his lunch and dinner checks to the organization.

The earthquake hit Sichuan province May 13, killing more than 67,000 Chinese and injuring more than 220,000 as of Tuesday, according to the latest figures from the Chinese government.

Reach reporter Howard Koplowitz by e-mail at hkoplowitz@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 173.