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WE DID IT! - CHI AM PRODUCES ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL EVENT

In a dreary economy filled with tales of unemployment, and recession, Chi Am Circle attempted the impossible ¡V a big brave fundraising undertaking in the worst of times. Did it discourage them? Not these strong ladies of Chi Am, led by the infamous Chi Am circle 1965 founders Muriel Kao and Gerrye Wong and their equally spirited cohorts Sylvia Eng and Pearl Lee.

After a year of planning, many hours dedicated by more than 60% of the membership and many a sleepless night and tiring time, October 3 came and went ¡V and Chi Am Circle can revel in the glory of success. Seven hundred people clamored into the Hyatt Regency Santa Clara eager to see long lost friends, buy raffle tickets, bid on wonderful unique silent auction items, yell out bids in the Open Auction 5 prizes and enter the ballroom to feast their faces on a wonderfully filling lunch and their eyes on some beautiful models and clothes.

Everyone worked so hard on this project, but the rewards make it all worthwhile, and the comraderie we all got from working together was the best result of all. Oldtimers got to work with newer members, young and old melding together their talents and time. It was a wonderful effort put forth by so many members, whether for months, days, or just the one day's work at the show. It was the combination that brought in the winning tally.

There were mishaps and fiascos, missteps and miscalculations, wrong decisions and right choices, happy and sad faces. But through it all, the Chi Am spirit pervaded and everyone at the fashion show said it showed fine organization, a true spirit of community dedication, and a closeness not always seen between club members. The organizations that partnered with us with their model representatives and their purchase of a table in support were all keys to our success.

Friends of Children with Special Needs Founder VP Anna Wang not only modeled for us but sold $800 in raffle tickets to her organization's Board members and families. The children performing their Mexican Hat Dance were charming and eager to be a part of our show which brought cheers from our audience aware of their medical problems. Diablo Valley Chinese Culture Club member model Tere Lee sold $400 of raffle tickets, surpassing any of our own members sales, except for Helen Chew who almost tied her.

A special gift will be given to these top sellers in appreciation, well deserved, don't you agree? A big token of thanks should go to Jennie Hong who logged in and out the books to all the members and models for sales. And take a bow, all you members who came through for her and sold the tickets sent to you. It all counted to make this big successful sale. The hostesses at the show were a triumphant group, led by capable Helen Chew.

Choreographing 50 people on stage was a daunting job, but with the help of our commissioned Production Team, DEG, our wonderful AC and Lights team of Gordon Lee and the Hyatt and our back stage coordinators Pauline Fong and Ginger Lai, and our designer coordinators Lillian Gong-Guy, Aimee Leung, Sharon Wong, Mabel Lai, Pauline Lee, Bev Harada, Brenda Wong, Carol Fong and Doris Char. All of the last minute crisis were handled smoothly and the show ran on time and with special pizzazz that the audience well enjoyed. The wonderful Favors bags with a multitude of items inside were donated by Lifetime, and capably distributed by Marichu Scanlon who did a remarkable job of trying to be spread the gift items equitably right up to the night before when she was given 700 Shiseido perfumes to put inside. Wanda Ching and her crew went around personally distributing the horoscope bracelets, donated by Paul Chen from Beijing, and no matter how efficient we all could attempt to be, some people missed their bracelets, or their bag items. In any event, everyone marveled over the program booklet Jenny Leung and Muriel Kao put together and the Table centerpieces so lovingly prepared by Chi Am members under the tutelage of Creative divas Joanne Tanabe and Helen Kwan. If any members want to give up their programs, we need some to send to donors and advertisers who weren't able to come. Turn them in to Muriel.

The paragon of patience was Virginia Bakken who had to field all of the reservation requests right up to the day of the lunch to seat everyone in the room. She logged in all 700 reservations by date received to be fair on seating placement, and to her amazement, over half the room was sold to those purchasing Premier Tables. Sandy Joe was a one-woman committee gathering, coordinating and wrapping 100 gifts that went to all the 42 models, 5 presidents, 6 designers, 6 coordinators, 7 back stage hair and make up stylists, MCs, general co-chairs, and Choreographers, all at her own expense and time. That is called true spirit of giving!

Behind it all, of course were the four co chairs toiling month by month to keep everyone on target in a peaceful manner. Sylvia was the master mind behind hotel negotiations, Muriel whipped everyone into shape for her printing deadlines, Pearl acknowledged every donor as soon as she received any sponsorship money, and supervised all of the silent auction, raffle, Sponsorship, Rehearsal committees with her ever ready smile and patience. As for myself, I well earned the title of Monster Mommy Money Getter Gerrye trying to keep all the models, clothes designers, store coordinators happy while doggedly going after the $$$$$$.

The Press was wonderful to us. There was a 3 page color spread in the September issue of Gentry Magazine, Sal Pizarro's San Jose Mercury New column gave us a glowing report, the Sunnyvale Sun and Cupertino Courier Community Newspapers gave us cover stories, the Los Altos Town Crier featured an article, and Sing Tao and World Journal came to cover the event too.

The party is over, ladies ¡V but the memories will forever linger on. Thanks to everyone who were a part of the team, and wish we could name you all individually. You know who you are ¡V pat yourself deservedly on the back! Everyone take a bow --- we were a team that can't be held back no matter how the economy looks. When there is a need, Chi Am Circle women know how to work hard support community needs. The youth who will reap the rewards of this event will be very grateful!

Fashion Show Co-Chair Gerrye Wong

Pizarro: So many reasons behind Chi Am Circle Club's success

By Sal Pizarro
spizarro@mercurynews.com

Posted: 10/05/2009 05:00:00 PM PDT
Updated: 10/05/2009 07:57:57 PM PDT

I had no idea so many people in Silicon Valley were fascinated by fashion. But how else could you explain the more than 700 folks who crowded into the Hyatt Regency in Santa Clara on Saturday afternoon for "Rainbow of Hope," the Chi Am Circle of Santa Clara County's annual fashion show luncheon?

A lot can be traced to the work of the event's four co-chairs: Gerrye Wong, Muriel Kao, Sylvia Eng and Pearl Lee.

But it could have been the chance to see Mountain View Mayor Margaret Abe-Koga strutting her stuff on the runway in a red patterned jacket, or Los Altos chef Lawrence Chu, who looked pretty snazzy in a white linen suit.

Or perhaps it was to see U.S. Rep. Mike Honda, who flew in from Washington, D.C., to make a few runway moves in a silver-gray sportcoat made of bamboo fibers from Cassara Bros. (I heard he bought it, so you might see it again.)

Maybe it was the presence of the group's three honorees as Women of Distinction for 2009: community volunteer Eva Jones, Lifetime Networks CEO Andrea Wong and Olympic skating champion Kristi Yamaguchi.

Whatever the reason, it turned out great. Chi Am Circle, an amazing group of Asian-American women, pulled in thousands of dollars to support Asian-American children with special needs and provide scholarships to deserving high school graduates.

Yamaguchi and Wong have a bit in common. Wong was in charge of reality programming at ABC when it launched "Dancing with the Stars," which Yamaguchi won in 2006.

At Lifetime, Wong helped bring over "Project Runway" from Bravo, and at Saturday's lunch, Yamaguchi successfully bid $1,000 for a dress designed by "Project Runway" contestant Ra'mon Coleman. "You were great in the Olympics, but for me, your greatest victory was on 'Dancing with the Stars,' " Wong, a Sunnyvale native, joked with her fellow honoree. "Now that you've won the 'Project Runway' dress, maybe that's your biggest win."

SPONSORS & SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS - THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

SPONSORS

Platinum Circle - $5000 and Above
Alan Eustace and Kathy Kwan ~ In Honor of Helen Kwan, Dr. Lawrence K. W. Tseu

Golden Circle - $2500 TO $4999
The Gordon N. and Anita T. Chan Foundation

Silver Circle - $1000 TO $2499
Dennis & Lynette Chen ~ In Honor of Carolyn Jow, Dr. Jerry Hiura & Lucia Cha, Judson and May Chu, Chao Suet Foundation, Kenneth & Pamela Fong, Gee Family Foundation / Buck Gee, John & Muriel Kao, Ken & Bonnie Kwong, Edwin & Margaret Lee Foundation, Dr. & Mrs. George & Helen Leong, Ow Family Properties - George Ow, In memory of George Bing Mew: LCA Architects, Inc., Gifford and Vivian Fong, Calvin Marshall Mew and Arnold Mew and Associates, Chao Suet Foundation, United Commercial Bank (UCB), Calvin & Gerrye Wong, Blossom Yim, APAPA / C. C. Yin, Anonymous.

Bronze Circle - $500 TO $999
Howard & Rosemarie Cheung, Victor L. Chinn ~ In Honor of Carolyn Jow, Friends of Children with Special Needs Board Members: Limin Hu, Albert Wang, Cherene Wong, Maria Wong, Chenming Hu, Sherry Meng, John Yang, and Steve & Amy Cho, Eva Jones, Gene & Violet Lee, Pete McHugh, Vice Mayor - City of Milpitas, Marjorie Quon, Mabel Seid, Sereno Group Real Estate, Annette Tan, Arthur Tom, The Honorable Mae C. Woo and Darryl & Celeste Ellett-Woo, Anonymous.

Friends of Chi Am - $200 TO $499
Dan L. Altamirano, Capitol Square Partners, Bianne Shu-Woon Chan, Evelyn Gate, Ken & Faye Gee, Hing Accountancy Corp., Jennie Hong, Walter & Patricia Joyce, Susan S. Lee, Lawrence & Loretta Louie, Mrs. Lilian Lum, Hiro & Betty Ogawa, Mary Ann & Ed Sing, Stephen S. & Toy San Tom, Christopher & Elizabeth Wills for Model Wendy Fong, Darlene & Jim Woodson.

Supporters of Chi Am - $199 and less
Assoc. of Chinese Cooking Teachers, Inc., Sherri Burke, John & Lisa Grotts, Mr. and Mrs. Neil Hamilton, Dorothy and Wing Lai, Phyllis Lee Leong, Daniel & Shirley Mock, Nancy Pyle - Councilmember for District 10, Irene Riley, Andrea Tanemura ~ In Honor of Virginia Bakken, Nguyen Tran - 2009 Scholarship Recipient, Cynthia Wilcox, Edward G. Wong, Sylvia Yeh, Erica Yew, Helen Young, Ralph & Hazel Young.

CONTRIBUTING ORGANIZATIONS

Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation, Asian Americans for Community Involvement, Asian Law Alliance Bay Area Chinese Chrysanthemum Growers Assn., Chinese Historical and Cultural Project, Contemporary Arts Theatre Scene, Chinese American Women's Club, Chinese Community Center of the Peninsula, Diablo Valley Chinese Culture Club, Friends of Children With Special Needs, Friends of On Lok, Chinatown OptiMs Club, Organization Resolved with Charitable Involvement and Developing Sisterhood, San Jose Taiko.

MEDIA SPONSOR

Gentry Magazine

PREMIER TABLE SPONSORS

Virginia Bakken, Bay Area Chrysanthemum Growers Assn., Anita Chan, Diana Chan, Chinese Historical & Cultural Project, Helen Chew (2), Lawrence Chu, Comcast, Sylvia Eng, Eustace/ Helen Kwan, Priscilla & Elizabeth Fong, Friends of Children with Special Needs, Lillian Gong-Guy, Cats/ Dr Jerry Hiura, Ken and Sandy Joe, Woman Of Distinction Eva Jones (2), Carolyn Jow, Vera Koo, Mabel Lai, Pearl Lee, LG General Engineering, Lifetime Networks, Dr. David And Elaine Shen, Eileen Tong, Title Sponsor Dr. Lawrence Tseu (2), Steve Wong/Wong Electric, Woman of Distinction Andrea Wong, Gerrye Wong (2), Woman of Distinction Kristi Yamaguchi, Barbara Yee, Flora Zee.

REGULAR TABLE SPNSORS

Asian Americans for Community Involvement, Asian Law Alliance, Chinatown OptiMs Club, Chinese American Womens Club, Diablo Valley Chinese Culture Club, Melody Chee, Pauline Fong, Scott and Leslie Hu, Elma Jeung, Cleo Jong, Muriel Kao, Margaret Abe Koga, Kimberley Lee, Friends of On Lok, Lani Owyoung, Rita Tong, Donald Wong, Gerrye Wong (2), Liza Wong, Darryl and Celeste Woo Family.

SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Hyatt Regency Hotel, Santa Clara - Melissa Woodley, Lifetime Networks - Favors Bag, Sandra and Ken Joe - Favors, Southwest Airline - Laura Jackson, Paul Chen - Horoscope Bracelets, Flower Cottage - Paul & Grace Fong, Gentry Magazine - Stefanie Beasley, Azadeh Couture, Bloomingdale's Stanford, Joanna Staniszkis The Silk Project, Cassara Brothers Clothiers, Grand Couture - Doris Grover, Victor East West, Taylor Babaian & Susanna Burke - Cloutier Agency, Bruce Barton - Editor of Los Altos Town Crier, Sheri Burke, Amie Chang, Frank Chang - China Stix Restaurant, William Chang - Merlion Restaurant, Paul Chen, Yee-Lynn Chen - Shiseido, Tiffany Carney & Jacqueline Ramseyer - Silicon Valley Community Newspapers, Kim DeLevett - Southwest Airlines, Debbie Gong-Guy, Mary Gottschalk, Mei Huey Huang & Lisa Wu - World Journal, Ken Joe, Kathleen Ko, Nancy Kwan, Peter P. Lou - Orange Caterpillar, Darlene Mar, Sal Pizarro - San Jose Mercury News, Terrie Pologianis - Lifetime Networks, Wanda Wong, Derek Woodworth - Hyatt Hotel AV Dept., Caroline Young, Sylvia Young.