If you walked into Ming’s Seafood Restaurant on the evening of April 10th, the first thing you’d notice was the buzz. Guests clustered around the silent auction tables, pointing at items, whispering bids, drinks already in hand. The 21st Annual Fundraising Gala hadn’t officially started yet, and the room was already full of energy.
Then a voice cut through the chatter. A vocal solo performed by a member of the Boston Chinese Musicians Association opened the evening, and the room went still. It was one of those moments where a single voice holds an entire room. By the time the last note faded, the gala felt like it had truly begun. The Masters of Ceremonies, Dana Brown, took the stage, followed by greetings from Board President Linda Thorsen and Executive Director Mei Hung, who spoke of CCC’s continued dedication to bridging cultures, strengthening community bonds, and building cross-cultural understanding across the Greater Boston area.
Dinner followed, and for a little while, conversation and laughter took over. Then, at 7:30, the room quieted again for the Awards Ceremony. Five honorees were recognized:
Immigrant Learning Center – Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Award
Anne D’Urso-Rose – Excellence in Community Service Award
Boston Chinese Musicians Association – Excellence in Arts and Culture Award
Andrew Goldberg – Edward F. O’Connell Inspirational Service Award
Bow Sim Mark – 50 Years of Legacy Award
There’s something about watching someone walk up to accept an honor surrounded by the people who know them best. It reminded all of us why we were there.
The performances that followed brought a different kind of energy. Cecilia Wong appeared with a sword in hand and delivered a dance that had the whole room watching in silence, every movement sharp and deliberate. Jean Lukitsh then offered a graceful rendition of Leung Yi, bringing warmth and elegance back into the room. Two very different acts, each one a small window into the depth of Chinese artistic tradition.
At 8:15, the silent auction closed. Throughout the evening, guests had been browsing and bidding on Chinese artifacts and tickets to cultural experiences across the Greater Boston area. But the real excitement came with the live auction. Red Sox vs. Yankees tickets drew immediate attention. A collection of fine wines sparked a bidding war. A week-long villa stay in Tuscany had many guests reaching for their paddles. And original scrolls and oil paintings donated by artists found enthusiastic new owners. The Pledge of Hope that followed capped off the auction with a wave of generosity that swept through the entire room.
By 9:15, as closing remarks wrapped up the night, the feeling in the room was simple: this community shows up for each other. Twenty-one years of galas, and the energy in the room said something that numbers alone cannot capture. People lingered after the program ended, not because they had to, but because they wanted to. Old friends caught up over the last of the evening’s wine. New faces exchanged contacts. Volunteers who had spent weeks preparing finally got to sit down and take it all in. It was a reminder that a fundraising gala is never really about the funds alone. It is about a room full of people choosing, year after year, to invest in something bigger than themselves.
Thank you to everyone who made the evening possible. We look forward to seeing you at our next gathering.
