Help Me Meet My Pen Pal & Represent Long Beach in Qingdao, China

Hi everyone,

My name is Savannah Hudson, and I am going into my second year of college at Cal State University Long Beach studying Kinesiology Sports Psychology and Leadership. I’ve been given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to travel to Qingdao, China this summer with the Sister Cities of Long Beach program. I’ll be joining the Mayor of Long Beach, his official delegation, and fellow digital pen pals from both countries in an inspiring cultural exchange—and I’ll finally get to meet Yumi, my pen pal and friend, after months of connecting across continents.

Yumi and I have spent the past semester exchanging messages about our cultures, daily lives, and dreams for the future. Through the Digital Pen Pal Program—an initiative by Sister Cities of Long Beach designed to connect international students and create citizen ambassadors—we’ve built a genuine friendship that transcends distance.

As part of the program, we were asked to create a project that represented our friendship and cultural exchange. I poured my heart into a digital scrapbook that shared our journey together—and I’m honored to share that I was awarded 2nd place out of 25 international submissions! You can view the project here:

Click here to see my winning scrapbook: file:///.file/id=6571367.12056150

But this trip is about more than meeting my pen pal. It's a powerful opportunity for my future. While in Qingdao, I’ll:

As a student passionate about sport psychology, leadership, and global understanding, this experience will open doors and leave a lasting impact on my academic and personal journey.

To make it all possible, I need your help.

The cost of flights, travel expenses, and program fees totals $3,500. As a full-time student, I’m doing everything I can to fund this dream, but I need a little extra support. Any donation—big or small—brings me closer. Even sharing this campaign means the world.

Thank you for believing in me, supporting my growth, and helping me become a young ambassador for our city and our world.

With endless gratitude,

Savannah Hudson