SPCC Fundraising Gala, held on August 27, 2022, returned after two years!
Chinese Club Gala Returns and Sells Out the House
SOUTH PASADENA, CA, September 5, 2022—More than 250 guests attended the first South Pasadena Chinese-American Club (SPCC) Gala held since 2019 due to the pandemic. A capacity crowd filled 25 tables at the Tong Tak House Restaurant in Arcadia on Aug. 27. An invitation-only VIP reception starting at 5:30 p.m. and featuring dim sum led off the event.
A 10-course Chinese banquet followed. This included roasted Peking duck, filet mignon and succulent lobster.
Congresswoman Judy Chu (27th CD) presented a Certificate of Congressional Recognition and commended the club for its achievements during the pandemic. She also noted that John Hah, a South Pasadena High School senior who has been volunteering for SPCC for eight years, introduced her.
Mike Fong, 49th state Assembly District, also presented a certificate of recognition to the club. After the Nov. 8 General Election, South Pasadena will move from Assembly District 41 to 49 due to census-related redistricting.
Officials from South Pasadena and the South Pasadena Unified School District represented the city and schools at the event. The police and fire chiefs, their staff and the police chaplain attended. Former SPCC presidents and board members, including a group of the club’s original founders known as the SPiCCy Mamas, were present. Chamber of Commerce officials and business owners attended. Table sponsors included the Zee Family Foundation, William and Ines Lei, Ed Chen of Athens Services, Mayor Pro Tem Jon Primuth, Jason and Jennifer Mak, the SPiCCy Mamas and Pasadena City College Board of Trustees’ Member Kristine Kwong.
SPCC President Yuki Cutcheon, who served as MC for the evening, orchestrated several successful fundraising efforts at the event. Both a silent and live auction were part of the program.
Cutcheon conducted a special raffle to raise funds to purchase Chinese-language books for the Mandarin Dual Immersion Program at Marengo Elementary School. Guests purchased tickets for a chance to win the prize, a set of 12 whiskey-filled crystal zodiac figurines in a gold carrying case. She announced that longtime SPCC Club member Tappan Zee would match all monies raised. The winner declined to accept the prize, and instead took the microphone and conducted his own impromptu auction. Steven Inzunza and Jamie Khuu Inzunza of Mamma’s Brick Oven Pizza & Pasta bid $500 to win the specialty item.
With the matching gift, SPCC raised $6,500 for the books, Cutcheon announced. Marengo Principal Patricia Cheadle and teachers from the Dual Immersion program expressed appreciation for the donation.
The evening also proved successful in raising funds for the nonprofit organization.
“SPCC raised approximately $30,000 for the evening,” Cutcheon reported after the event, “to support SPCC’s awards of college scholarships to high school seniors and grants to the School District and public library, as well as for SPCC to sponsor such cultural events as the recent Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month celebration and the Lunar New Year Senior Citizens’ Luncheon.”
“It was fantastic to be able to celebrate together once again in person,” Cutcheon said, “and to have such incredible support from the community of South Pasadena.”
Article by Sally Kilby
Photos courtesy of Ben Moreno
View the digital program for the SPCC 2022 Gala
