Museum of Chinese in America
8th Annual Celebration of Community Heroes A 1950s Themed Ging Hawk “Essex House” Ballroom Dancing Affair
Wednesday, June12, 2019 Jing Fong Restaurant 20 Elizabeth Street, New York City
Members of the Ging Hawk Club, 1953 Courtesy of Marcella Chin Dear, MOCA Collection
WELCOME TO THE
8th ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF COMMUNITY HEROES
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June 2019
Dear friends of MOCA: Tonight is an evening to celebrate unsung heroes serving their communities. We congratulate, thank, and pay tribute to leaders and visionaries–members of the Museum of Chinese in America’s (MOCA) extraordinary community. Tonight, we honor four driving forces in the Asian American community that have greatly influenced us and have acted as our heroes throughout the years. Founded in 1929, the Ging Hawk Club was a pioneering Chinese American Women’s Association The Ging Hawk–"striving for knowledge"–Club brought together some of the first Chinese American women who attended college in the United States. Over the years, they provided community services, formed the backbone of war relief efforts, and led the conversation around U.S.-China relations at a global level. We gratefully acknowledge the opportunity to honor this extraordinary association. Our Community Hero Commissioner Wellington Chen has dedicated his life to serving as a leader for the Chinatown community. As the Executive Director of the Chinatown Partnership, Commissioner Chen has committed himself to community engagement, having a long record of community service and civic engagement. Commissioner Chen was the first Chinese American to serve on a community board and local development corporation in Queens where he was eventually recruited to serve on the NYC Board of Standards and Appeals. Commissioner Chen continues to strengthen the community and serve as a cherished leader for all. Our Community Hero Margaret Lam has selflessly devoted her life to uplifting Chinese community and culture in New Jersey. As a Chinese American philanthropist and a resident of Montville for almost 50 years, Mrs. Lam is the founder of the New Jersey Chinese Festival and continues to serve as a chairperson. She cares deeply about education and was the commissioner of the School Ethics Commission for the NJ State Board of Education. As a distinguished community leader, Mrs. Lam received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 2004. For all these reasons and more, we celebrate Margaret Lam. Our Community Hero BUBBLE_T is a New York-based nightlife collective centering queer Asian visibility, creativity, and expression. Founded in 2017 by Nicholas Andersen, Karlo Bello, Stevie Huynh, Paul Tran, and Pedro Vidallon, BUBBLE_T set out to bring Asian representation to the epicenter of the American cultural landscape. They are brave and outspoken in conquering stereotypes, which have earned them the term “Slaysians” from the LGBTQIA+ communities. They have brought extraordinary change in the lives of queer and transgender Asian/Pacific Islander Americans. YOU MAKE MOCA POSSIBLE. Your presence here this evening, your support throughout the year, and your visits to the Museum—all of these gifts to the Museum keep us going. Congratulations to our honorees this evening! Thank you for celebrating with MOCA. Congratulations. With warm regards and gratitude,
Jonathan Chu CCH Co-Chair, Trustee
Christina Ho CCH Co-Chair, Trustee
Eric T. Lee CCH Co-Chair, Trustee
Sandra K. Lee CCH Co-Chair, Trustee Emeritus
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about the
museum of chinese in america (moca) The Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) engages visitors in an ongoing and historical dialogue, in which people of all backgrounds are able to see American history through a critical perspective, to reflect on their own experiences, and to make meaningful connections between: the past and the present, the global and the local, themselves and others. MOCA began in 1980 as the New York Chinatown History Project, a community-based organization founded by scholar John Kuo Wei Tchen and community activist Charles Lai, to promote knowledge and understanding of the history and contributions of Chinese Americans. Today, MOCA is a national cultural anchor and a global destination. On the border of Chinatown and SoHo in New York City in its Maya Lin-designed home that was recently highlighted by Architectural Digest as one of Lin’s most memorable designs, MOCA preserves, presents and explores the diverse history, heritage and culture of people of Chinese descent in the United States through innovative exhibitions, educational initiatives and public programs. MOCA is one of more than 44 museums and cultural institutions in the five boroughs that provides eligible IDNYC cardholders with free one-year memberships.
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board of trustees
OFFICERS
Members
Jonathan Chu
Mary HL Chen
Co-Chair
Stephen Mong Co-Chair
Stanley R. Chiu
Michelle Koo Hayashi Gregory P. Ho
Co-Vice Chair & Assistant Treasurer
Chieh Huang
Christina Ho
June Jee
Co-Vice Chair
Jonathan Lee Treasurer
Lian Fang Secretary
Patricia Pei Tang Past Board Chair
David Liu Past Board Co-Chair
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Roy I. Delbyck
Eric T. Lee Thomas Liou Jing Tsu David Wah Theodore T. Wang Joe Wong Bing Zhao
8th Annual Celebration of Community Heroes
co-chairs
JONATHAN CHU
Chu Enterprises, LLC
ERIC T. LEE
Soros Fund Management
CHRISTINA HO
Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc.
SANDRA K. LEE
Harold L Lee & Sons Inc.
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SPONSORS GOLD TABLE Margaret Lam and David Yen of New Jersey Chinese Festival The Cheng Family Trust Con Edison
SILVER TABLE Coalition of Asian-American IPA Jonathan Chu Eric T. Lee Thomas Liou Gregory P. Ho and Linda Sanchez Dr. Jianyou Tan Joe and Lily Wong
BRONZE TABLE
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CAMS-CAIPA Community Service Fund Chinatown District Management Association Wellington Z. Chen Stanley R. Chiu Victoria Rong Kennedy Sandra K. Lee William C. and May Louie Margaret W. Wong & Associates Stephen Mong
PATRON Rocky and May Ying Chen Michael Dineen Jennifer and Joseph Dussich Michelle Koo Hayashi Mars Wrigley Confectionery Newmark Knight Frank Wynn Salisch Grace Wen Wilem Wong William Woo Oi Wu
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PAST CCH HONOREEs 2012 Chinese American Medical Society OCA-NewYork Chapter Sandra K. Lee
2013 Rocky Chin and May Y. Chen Peter Lau Families with Children from China of Greater New York
2014 Marcella B. Chin Dear Jason Wang
2015 Y.C. Chen Dr. Betty Lee Sung Veronica Tsang Jennifer Chin Dussich
2016 Fay Chew Matsuda Eric Y. Ng Apex for Youth Wells Fargo
2017 Glenn Lau-Kee Wing on Wo & Co. Chinatown Ice Cream Factory First American International Bank
2018 Carl Shan Leung Council Member Margaret Chin The Chen Family (Pearl River Mart) Victoria Rong Kennedy 10
HONOREES Wellington Z. Chen Commissioner Wellington Chen is the Executive Director of the Chinatown Partnership since 2006. The Partnership is currently working with NYC Department of Transportation to design a wayfinding pilot project. Commissioner Chen has a long record of community service and civic engagement. As a young volunteer and student studying architecture and environmental studies, he began to see his neighborhood worsening– inspiring a lifelong interest and pursuit in community resuscitation and rejuvenation. In the process Commissioner Chen became the first Chinese American to serve on a community board and local development corporation in Queens and was eventually recruited to serve on the NYC Board of Standards and Appeals. He led numerous initiatives and provided guidance to a number of organizations such as the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission, the City University of New York, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Coro NY Leadership Center. His work as Landmark Committee Chair helped to preserve and restore Flushing Town Hall and he designed the structure that now houses the Tonga Mission to the United Nations. A graduate of the School of Architecture and Environmental Studies at City College of New York (1985), Commissioner Chen was a staff member of I. M. Pei & Partners (now Pei Cobb Freed & Partners) in the early 1980s for five years. He was born in Taiwan and grew up in Singapore, Hong Kong and Brazil.
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HONOREES Ging Hawk Club Founded in 1929, the Ging Hawk Club was an association of Chinese American women that offered an alternative to traditional, male dominated associations. The Ging Hawk -�striving for knowledge� Club brought together some of the first Chinese American women who attended college in the United States. Over the years, they provided community services, formed the backbone of war relief efforts, and led the conversation around U.S.-China relations at a global level. By challenging traditional Chinese family values in their pursuit for education and demanding Chinese representation in American institutions, the Ging Hawk Club demonstrated extraordinary courage and persistence. By 1936, Ging Hawk Club had extended its membership to both men and women who are Chinese Americans between the age of 17 and 25 attending high school or college around New York. Ging Hawk Club was continually active until the 1960s.
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HONOREES Margaret Lam New Jersey Chinese Festival, Founder & Chair Recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor (2004) School Ethics Commissioner of New Jersey (1998-2003) Recipient of the Montville Township Chamber of Commerce’s Citizen of the Year Award (2018-2019)
Margaret Lam is a Chinese American philanthropist who has devoted herself to uplifting Chinese community and culture in New Jersey. A resident of Montville for almost 50 years, Mrs. Lam started her journey by organizing Chinese residents to participate in the Fourth of July parade. Five years later she joined the Fourth of July Committee. In 1989, Governor Kean invited her to start the New Jersey Chinese Festival, where she continues to serve as a chairperson. Mrs. Lam’s achievements include five terms as the President of the Northern New Jersey Chinese Association. She was the commissioner of the School Ethics Commission for the NJ State Board of Education as well as the director of the Morristown chapter of the Girl Scouts of America. In 2004, Mrs. Lam received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.
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HONOREES BUBBLE_T BUBBLE_T is a New York-based nightlife collective centering queer Asian visibility, creativity, and expression. It started in the spring of 2017 as an impromptu gathering at a gay bar in Bushwick, a way to celebrate friends, family, and community - no translation needed. Since then, BUBBLE_T has evolved into a roving dance party, activating spaces like MoMA PS1 and Museum of Chinese in America through a confluence of fashion, art, music, and drag. Organizers Nicholas Andersen, Karlo Bueno Bello, Stevie Huynh, Paul Tran, and Pedro Vidallon foster community through the celebration of shared references: the excesses of Asian cinema, queer Asian futurism, and late night karaoke. A recent party flier recontextualized imagery from the Vietnamese variety show Paris by Night, weaponizing its camp factor into a cornerstone of queer Asian expression. Through the collective memories of our ancestors, Bubble_T pays tribute to our family’s festivals, night markets, and all night garage parties. It’s a few hours of freedom, a respite from having to explain our culture, our bodies, our selves. Photo Credit: Minu Han
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CELEBRATION CO-CHAIRS
Jonathan Chu
Managing Director, Chu Enterprises, LLC Jonathan is a Managing Director of Chu Enterprises, a third-generation, privatelyowned real estate company that specializes in leasing, managing, and developing commercial property in New York City. Previously, Jonathan was an Investment Associate and Senior Advisor to the Group Chairman of First Eastern Investment Group in Hong Kong, China. Prior to that, Jonathan was an analyst at SMH Capital f/k/a Sanders Morris Harris where he worked in the financial services, TMT, healthcare, and pharmaceutical sectors. Committed to the Chinatown and Lower East Side community, Jonathan serves as the Co-Chair of the Museum of Chinese in America, is a Board Director of Apex for Youth, is a Full-Board Member of Manhattan’s Community Board 3, and a Board Director for Eastbank NA, a community bank in Chinatown, New York. A native New Yorker, Jonathan received his B.A. in Economics from Harvard University where he also captained the Harvard Tennis Team and earned AllAmerican Honors. After graduating in 2005, Jonathan played on the ATP Tour for two years and has represented Hong Kong in the Davis Cup. In 2019, Jonathan will run his first TCS NYC Marathon as Co-Captain of the MOCASpike150 team.
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CELEBRATION CO-CHAIRS
Christina Ho
VP of Customer Service, Orange and Rockland Utlities, Inc Christina Ho is Vice President – Customer Service for Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc. (O&R). She is responsible for providing administrative, operational and management leadership for the customer service departments in the company. Serving 96 communities over a three-state region just north of New York City, O&R’s Customer Service function entails all aspects of customer interactions. Christina is an active volunteer for the company and in the community having served as a mentor through Women in Communications and Energy (WICE), and coordinating activities for students through the company’s job shadowing program. She has been a contributor on pre-college education committee work for both the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and Engineers Without Borders (EWB). She has also been involved with a research project at the Bronx High School of Design and Construction that aims to demonstrate synergistic effects of green roofs and solar energy canopy systems. Ms. Ho holds an MS in Earth and Environmental Engineering from Columbia University. She has a Bachelor of Engineering in Chemical Engineering from the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art. Personal interests include travelling, smoking meats, making origami, and golfing poorly.
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CELEBRATION CO-CHAIRS
Eric T. Lee
Portfolio Manager, Soros Fund Management Eric T. Lee is currently the Portfolio Manager at Soros Fund Management, a private American investment management firm based in New York. Previously, Mr. Lee was the Managing Partner at AYO Capital and Co-Chief Investment Officer and a Managing Partner of Blockhouse Capital Management, a hedge fund focused on credit and equity investments with a macro overlay. Before Blockhouse, Mr. Lee was a Partner and Portfolio Manager at PointState Capital Management where he was primarily responsible for high yield and distressed credit investments. Mr. Lee has also been a Managing Director and Portfolio Manager with Duquesne Capital Management, as well as a Director at Deutsche Bank in the High Yield Research Group. Mr. Lee is the Vice Chair of the Board for Apex for Youth, and sponsor of the Eric T. Lee Endowed Scholarship Fund at the University of Pennsylvania. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in May 1998 with a B.S. in Economics from The Wharton School and minor in Asian American Studies. Eric loves to bring his daughter Alexa to MOCA’s Family Festivals!
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CELEBRATION CO-CHAIRS
Sandra L. Lee
CEO, Harold L Lee & Sons Inc. Sandra K. Lee is the chief executive of a family-run insurance brokerage and is a fourth-generation Chinese American. Her father, Andrew P. Lee, pioneered the concept of insurance to the Chinese community; Ms. Lee is an insurance broker, life & health agent, real estate broker and registered nurse. Today, Harold L. Lee & Sons, Inc., named after her grandfather, is nationally recognized with satellite offices in California with licenses in over 30 states. Continuing her family legacy, Ms. Lee has been an active civic and business leader. Crain’s NY Business has featured Ms. Lee as one of NY’s “100 Most Influential Business Leaders” and as a top “100 Minority Business Leaders.” She is a David Rockefeller Fellow, a select group of senior executives with a strong civic commitment to New York City. She served on the boards of the Museum of Chinese in America between 2012 and 2018. She was also a trustee of the New York Downtown Hospital for 19 years and is a board officer of the Chinatown Health Clinic Foundation, Ms. Lee is a graduate of the University of Rochester and the Helene Fuld School of Nursing. She is married to Arnold Kawano and has two sons, Thomas, a Cardiologist at NY’s Mount Sinai Hospital, and Mark, a User Experience Evangelist at Apple.
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EVENING PROGRAM
WELCOME Cindy Hsu, Emcee Jonathan Chu, CCH Co-Chair
REMARKS Nancy Yao Maasbach, President
DINNER COMMUNITY HEROES AWARD Margaret Lam
Presented by Dr. Sunhoo Foo Vice President of CAIPA
COMMUNITY HEROES AWARD Wellington Z. Chen
Presented by Claire Shulman Former Borough President of Queens, New York City
MOCA SHOWCASE Hello Peril Swing
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EVENING PROGRAM
COMMUNITY HEROES AWARD Ging Hawk Club Presented by Sandra K. Lee, CCH Co-Chair
EDUCATIONAL APPEAL COMMUNITY HEROES AWARD BUBBLE_T Presented by Michelle Koo Hayashi, MOCA Trustee and Dr. Jess Ting, Plastic Surgeon of the Mount Sinai Center for Transgender Medicine and Surgery
CONCLUDING REMARKS Christina Ho, CCH Co-Chair
AFTER PARTY The Crown, Hotel 50 Bowery
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MENU
APPETIZER Fried Spring Rolls (V.) / Mixed Puff with Pork
ENTREE BBQ Spare Ribs Platter Stir-Fried Lotus Root, Chinese Yam and Snow Peas Stir-Fried Bell Pepper, Beef Fillet and Chicken Fillet Fish Maw Soup with Crab Meat Sautéed String Beans Lobster with Ginger & Scallion Sauce Crispy Chicken with Garlic Fried Rice Yi Mein
DESSERT Taro Coconut Milk with Sago
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EMCEE Cindy Hsu Cindy Hsu is an Emmy Award winning anchor and reporter who has been at CBS 2 News in New York City since 1993. Hsu’s work at CBS 2 has been recognized with numerous awards. Recently, Hsu was awarded “Reporter of the Year” from the NY & NJ Asian-American Law Enforcement Organization. Her personal adoption story, “Bringing Rosie Home,” was nominated for an Emmy Award and won the New York AP Broadcasters Award for Best Feature. She received Emmy Awards for Outstanding Single Hard News Story for “Smuggled from China,” which exposed the horrific plights of Chinese refugees from the Golden Venture ship, and for her live coverage of the snowstorm of 1994. American Women in Radio and Television honored her with the Golden Apple Award, and she also received the Friends of Adoption Award from the Adoptive Parents Committee. Hsu spends much of her off-duty time performing community work and is strongly involved with the Asian-American community. She is a Big Sister and has served on the Advisory Board of APEX, a group that pairs Asian professionals with recent immigrants and young people who need guidance. She’s served on the Board of Directors of the Museum of Chinese in the Americas and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, as well as the Newswatch Advisory Council which monitors fairness in journalism. Hsu was born in Honolulu, Hawaii to a Coast Guard family that moved every two to four years. She graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in communication studies and lives in New York City with her daughter.
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MOCA SHOWCASE Hello Peril Swing Hello Peril Swing is a NYC based dance group that specializes in the American vernacular dances of swing and solo jazz and possesses a deep connection with Asian culture. Group members consist of first generation immigrants from Asia (Malaysia, Japan, China, Korea respectively), a VenezuelanChinese emigrant, and secondgeneration American-Toishanese. Hello Peril Swing members typically dance the lindy hop, Charleston, balboa, and solo jazz dances in social, competitive, and performance settings. Members dance most often in NYC--but between San Francisco to Hong Kong to Beijing- have showcased their talents globally. Members include: Andy Lee, Andy Yong Weng Zhin, Akemi Kinukawa, Jackson Lee, Nancy Qin, Olivia Lau, Steve Wong, and Sharon M. Chin.
Our name pays homage to the Hello Peril band from the film, Always Be My Maybe. Punning on the yellow peril pejorative, we present Asian-American dancers who can swingout hard. We are honored to celebrate the pioneering Ging Hawk Association who organized epic ballroom dances, including swing, in the 1930s-50s, to create community and fraternity at a time when Asian-Americans were often isolated from wider American society. Swing is a dance that originated in Harlem and while it may have been integrated at the Savoy Ballroom, it was often segregated elsewhere. Hello Peril Swing is proud to continue the swing traditions of our American and Asian-American heritage.
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EXHIBITION ON VIEW The Moon Represents My Heart: Music, Memory and Belonging May 2 - September 15, 2019
The Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA)’s Spring/Summer 2019 exhibition The Moon Represents My Heart: Music, Memory and Belonging focuses on the transformative power of music identity in immigrant Chinese communities from the 1850s to the present. During this period, disparate music genres converged with historic milestones, including changes in U.S. immigration legislation and China’s soft power emergence. The exhibition delves into how Chinese immigrant communities have yearned for the ‘old country’, fashioned new American identities, or challenged stereotypes through their embrace of music forms as far-reaching as Cantonese opera, hip hop, Asian American Movement music, Taiwan love ballads, Cantopop, western classical, karaoke, Beijing underground rock, and many other genres. The exhibition is co-curated by Hua Hsu, staff writer at The New Yorker, and MOCA’s curatorial team: Herb Tam, Curator and Director of Exhibitions, and Andrew Rebatta, Associate Curator. The Moon Represents My Heart: Music, Memory and Belonging and related programs are made possible with the generous support of the S.H. Ho Foundation, Con Edison, and the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.
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UPCOMING EXHIBITION Gathering: Collecting and Documenting Chinese American History October 3, 2019 – March 22, 2020 Gathering: Collecting and Documenting Chinese American History will tell the origin story of historical societies, museums, and organized projects that document and make public the history of Chinese throughout America. This first-of-its-kind survey exhibition is part of our year-long initiative to commemorate the contributions of Chinese railroad workers in the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad 150 years ago. Our goal is to showcase the breadth, depth, and investment of organized documentation and collection of Chinese history in America. Through this project we hope to expand the dialogue, strengthen connections, and increase collaborative work among these organizations. Participating Organizations (as of 4/30/2019) Chinese American Museum of Chicago (Chicago, IL) Mai Wah Society (Butte, MT) Chinese American Museum Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA) Chinese Historical Society of New England (Boston, MA) Chinese Historical Society of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA) Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation (San Francisco, CA) Chinese Historical Society of America (San Francisco, CA) Kam Wah Chung State Heritage Site (John Day, OR) Mississippi Delta Chinese Heritage Museum (Cleveland, MS) Wing Luke Museum of the Asian American Experience (Seattle, WA) San Diego Chinese Historical Society and Museum (San Diego, CA) Walk of Remembrance (Monterey, CA) Portland Chinatown Museum (Portland, OR) Chinese American Museum of Northern California (Marysville, CA) Chinese Bunkhouse Preservation Project (Fremont, CA) Chinese Historical & Cultural Project (San Jose, CA)
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CONGRATULATORY LETTERS FROM OFFICIALS
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DISTRICT OFFICE: 101 LAFAYETTE ST., 103 NEW YORK, NY 10013 212-587-3159 FAX: (212) 587-3158 CITY HALL OFFICE: 250 BROADWAY, SUITE 1882 NEW YORK, NY 10007 (212) 788-7259
CHAIR AGING COMMITTEES
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK
MARGARET S. CHIN
COUNCIL MEMBER, 1 DISTRICT, MANHATTAN ST
AGING (CHAIR) CONSUMER AFFAIRS HOUSING AND BUILDINGS IMMIGRATION RULES, PRIVILEGES, AND ELECTIONS SANITATION AND SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT STANDARDS AND ETHICS YOUTH SERVICES
June 12, 2019 Museum of Chinese in America 215 Centre Street New York, NY 10013 Dear Friends, It is my great pleasure to greet the attendees of the Museum of Chinese in America’s Eighth Annual Celebration of Community Heroes. By bringing the vibrant stories of the Chinese American experience to life, MOCA has led the work to challenge historical erasure, educate visitors and provide valuable opportunities for members of the Chinese community to unravel their cultural identity through history. This year, MOCA’s Spike 150 Initiative highlighted the untold story of the Chinese laborers who helped to build the transcontinental railroad. Laboring under brutal conditions, these workers were some of the first Chinese immigrants to America. For more than a century, their stories remained largely untold. Thanks to MOCA, new generations will learn about the role Chinese Americans played in building our country. Through exhibitions and programs like the Spike 150 Initiative, MOCA not only preserves – but shapes – our collective narrative throughout the past, present and future, and fosters critical dialogues that transcend generational and geographical boundaries. MOCA’s work empowers our community with a voice and language to share the stories that make up our immigrant identity. I would like to congratulate this year’s honorees: the Ging Hawk Club, Wellington Chen, Executive Director of the Chinatown Partnership, Margaret Lam, the President and Founder the New Jersey Chinese Festival, and Bubble_T, a New York-based nightlife collective. Lastly, I would like to thank the trustees and staff of MOCA for being vocal advocates for our community. At a time when so many immigrants and communities of color feel silenced to share their truth, I thank you for your continued efforts to resist the erasure of our diverse history as a city, and as a country. I send my best wishes for your continued success. Sincerely,
Margaret S. Chin Council Member, District 1 New York City Council
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THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK
COREY JOHNSON SPEAKER
CITY HALL NEW YORK, NY 10007
TELEPHONE (212) 788-7210
June 12, 2019 Dear Friends: As Speaker of the New York City Council I am delighted to extend my personal greetings to everyone here tonight at the Museum of Chinese in America’s (MOCA) 8th Annual Celebration of Community Heroes! For centuries, people from all across the world have come to this great city of ours to pursue their dreams and to seek better lives for themselves and their families. And by working hard, meeting daunting challenges, and marking personal triumphs, they have helped to make New York one of the greatest, most diverse cities in the world. That’s why the New York City Council and I are fighting to keep New York the welcoming place that it has always been. We recognize that New York City’s diversity is one of our greatest strengths – something that has made us truly unique and a beacon of hope and opportunity to so many. On this special night of celebration, I would like to thank MOCA and its dedicated staff for the important work they are doing to help bring over 160 years of Chinese American history to life for us to experience, learn from and enjoy. Congratulations as well to this year’s honorees. I hope everyone has a wonderful time tonight! Enjoy! Sincerely,
COREY JOHNSON Speaker
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June 12, 2019 Dear Friends: I am pleased to join you in celebrating the Museum of Chinese in America’s 8th annual celebration of community heroes. This year’s community hero honorees deserve the special recognition you’re giving them: The Ging Hawk Club, Comissioner Wellington Chen, Margaret Lam, and BUBBLE_T. Since 1980, MOCA has told the story of the contributions made by the Chinese in America and promoted cultural understanding across Manhattan communities. Your collections bring Chinese-American history to life, and your engaging exhibits reach more than 50,000 visitors each year. On behalf of the Borough of Manhattan, I thank you for all you do and wish you another year of success! Sincerely,
Gale A. Brewer Manhattan Borough President
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THE SENATE STATE OF NEW YORK ALBANY, 12247
TOBY ANN STAVISKY
CHAIRWOMAN COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION
Senator, 16th District
ALBANY OFFICE ROOM 913
LEGISLATIVE OFFICE BUILDING
ALBANY, NY 12247 PHONE 518-455-3461 FAX 518-426-6857
VICE CHAIRWOMAN MAJORITY CONFERENCE
COMMITTEE MEMBER EDUCATION ETHICS & INTERNAL GOVERNANCE
DISTRICT OFFICE 142-29 37th AVENUE FLUSHING, NY 11354 PHONE 718-445-0004 FAX 518-445-3461
FINANCE HEALTH JUDICIARY RACING, GAMING, & WAGERING
STAVISKY@NYSENATE.GOV
Museum of Chinese in America 215 Centre Street New York, NY 10013
June 12, 2019
Dear Friends: roes.
I am delighted to congratulate you on your Eighth Annual Celebration of Community He-
For almost forty years, the Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) has showcased the 160-year history of people of Chinese descent in the United States. History comes to life in your innovating exhibitions, multimedia productions, school curricula, tours, workshops, and conferences. MOCA contextualizes the past and illustrates issues in the present, as well as making parallels with other immigrant experiences. It is truly an invaluable institution in New York City. Thank you for making Chinese American history accessible to all. I would like to congratulate tonight’s Community Heroes: The Ging Hawk Club; my longtime friend, Mr. Wellington Z. Chen, NYC LPC Commissioner and Executive Director of Chinatown Partnership; Ms. Margaret Lam, President and Founder of the New Jersey Chinese Festival, and Vice President of the New Jersey Chinese-American Chamber of Commerce; and BUBBLE_T. These Community Heroes have supported MOCA’s mission and improved the community through their outstanding work. I wish you all continued success as you continue to present the rich tapestry of Chinese American history. Your efforts are especially important at this critical juncture. Sincerely yours,
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THE ASSEMBLY STATE OF NEW YORK ALBANY YUH-LINE NIOU Assemblymember 65th District
DISTRICT OFFICE: 64 Fulton Street, Room 302, New York, New York 10038 212-312-1420 • FAX: 212-227-8054 ALBANY OFFICE: Room 818, Legislative Office Building, Albany, New York 12248 518-455-3640 • FAX: 518-455-7092 EMAIL: niouy@nyassembly.gov
May 30, 2019 Museum of Chinese in America 215 Centre Street New York, NY 10013 Dear Friends of the Museum of Chinese in America, I am honored to extend my best wishes to the Museum of Chinese in America and all of their honorees as their friends and supporters gather in celebration of their 8th Annual Celebration of Community Heroes. Since 1980, MOCA has catered to those interested in Chinese American history, heritage, and culture. MOCA’s dedication to fostering dialogue among patrons and bringing a new understanding to the experience of the Chinese in the United States has helped to preserve the rich Chinese cultural heritage in New York City. I wish to extend my congratulations to this year’s honorees: The Ging Hawk Club, Wellington Chen of the Chinatown Partnership, Margaret Lam, and BUBBLE_T. I want to also thank MOCA and all of their honorees for their outstanding leadership and service to the Chinese American community. MOCA has done incredible work for the Asian American community by preserving Chinese culture and heritage in New York City. I look forward to MOCA's future endeavors and wish them success in years to come.
Sincerely,
Yuh-Line Niou Assemblymember, 65th District
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THE CITY OF NEW YORK OFFICE OF THE MAYOR NEW YORK, NY 10007
June 12, 2019
Dear Friends: It is a pleasure to welcome everyone as the Museum of Chinese in America hosts its 8th Annual Celebration of Community Heroes. As a city built by immigrants, New York is home to people who hail from every corner of the map, speak a multitude of languages, and represent a wide array of backgrounds and beliefs. This unparalleled diversity is the source of our singularity and strength, and it lends us endless reasons to celebrate. Tonight, I am proud to join in recognizing individuals whose contributions have united and uplifted Chinese Americans in the five boroughs and beyond. This event is also a terrific occasion to commend MOCA for its commitment to sharing the rich heritage of our thriving Chinese community with all New Yorkers. I look forward to the many ways this outstanding Chinatown institution will continue to enhance our cultural landscape as we work together to build a fairer city and a brighter, more inclusive future for all. On behalf of the City of New York, congratulations to this year’s honorees. Please accept my best wishes for a festive evening and continued success in the Year of the Pig. Sincerely,
Bill de Blasio Mayor
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THE CITY OF NEW YORK OF F I C E O F T H E C O M P T R O L L E R S C O T T M. S T R I N G E R
June 12, 2019 Museum of Chinese in America 215 Centre Street New York, NY 10013 Dear Friends, It is my pleasure to extend best wishes to all attending the Museum of Chinese in America’s 8th Annual Celebration of Community Heroes. Since its inception in 1980, the Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) has done remarkable work to preserve and showcase the unique history and culture of people of Chinese descent in the America. MOCA is devoted to making Chinese American history accessible to visitors of all ages and backgrounds. From its thought-provoking exhibits to its educational workshops and programs, MOCA ensures these important stories and experiences will not be lost to history. I am confident MOCA will continue to serve as a cultural hub for decades to come. Congratulations to tonight’s honorees: the Ging Hawk Club, Wellington Chen, Margaret Lam, and Bubble_T. Their remarkable commitment to the Museum of Chinese in America’s mission is evident in all they do. Thank you to the Museum of Chinese in America for bringing us together to celebrate community and culture. Please accept my best wishes for continued success. Sincerely,
Scott M. Stringer New York City Comptroller
MUNICIPAL BUILDING • 1 CENTRE STREET, 5TH Floor • NEW YORK, NY 10007
PHONE: (212) 669-3500 • @NYCCOMPTROLLER WWW.COMPTROLLER.NYC.GOV
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June 12, 2019 Nancy Yao Maasbach President Museum of Chinese in America 215 Centre Street New York, NY 10013 Dear Ms. Maasbach: Greetings to you and to all the friends and supporters of the Museum of Chinese in America on the occasion of your 8th Annual Celebration of Community Heroes. This evening’s event is a great opportunity to celebrate the success the Museum of Chinese in America has had in preserving and presenting the history, culture and diverse experiences of people of Chinese heritage in the United States. Since its founding in 1980, the Museum has promoted dialogue and understanding among people of all cultural backgrounds and has brought Chinese American history to vivid life through innovative exhibitions and compelling educational and cultural programs. Tonight is also a great opportunity to pay tribute to your distinguished honorees, who have made significant contributions to the community. On behalf of the nearly 2.4 million residents of Queens, “The World’s Borough,” I offer our sincere congratulations to The Ging Hawk Club, Wellington Chen, Margaret Lam and BUBBLE_T. I hope all in attendance enjoy tonight’s 8th Annual Celebration of Community Heroes and I wish you and everyone associated with the Museum of Chinese in America continued success in all your endeavors. Sincerely,
Melinda Katz President Borough of Queens
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June 12, 2019 Museum of Chinese in America 215 Centre Street New York, NY 10013 Dear Friends: It is with great pleasure that I extend my warmest greetings and congratulations on the occasion of the Museum of Chinese in America’s Eighth Annual Celebration of Community Heroes event at Jing Fong Restaurant. Throughout its history, MOCA has offered multiple programs, collections, membership opportunities and exhibitions. Tonight’s gala fits perfectly with its mission to see American history through a critical perspective, to reflect on experiences and to share the untold stories of the making of America. The MOCA Celebration of Community Heroes pays tribute to the outstanding contributions and achievements made by individuals, institutions and organizations that have inspired hope and helped advance our community. Congratulations to this year’s honorees: The Ging Hawk Club, Commissioner Wellington Chen, Margaret Lam and BUBBLE_T. Each of you is truly deserving of tonight’s recognition. I commend the board and members of Museum of Chinese in America for your dedication and commitment to providing important services to the community. Thank you for your tremendous contributions to the City of New York. Please accept my best wishes for a successful event. Sincerely,
Peter Koo Council Member 20th District, Queens
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STANDARDS & ETHICS TRANSPORTATION
CARLOS MENCHACA COUNCIL MEMBER
TH
38 DISTRICT, BROOKLYN
May 31, 2019 To Whom It May Concern: I am pleased to congratulate the Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) on their 8th Annual Celebration of Community Heroes. It is my honor to acknowledge the importance of MOCA and their commitment to bridge connection among those from all cultural backgrounds. Since its founding in 1980, MOCA has made it their mission to preserve the immigration stories of the diverse Chinese community in America. At this critical time in our history, it is more important now than ever to elevate the voices of immigrants who make New York City and our country vibrant. At the beginning of this year, MOCA rung off the Year of the Pig with an eight-week MOCA Fest through educational programs and events such as MOCATalks: Last Boat Out of Shanghai with Helen Zai, and Lunar Night Market that featured local vendors. Most recently, MOCA spearheaded a historic initiative to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the completion of the first Transcontinental Railroad, which was made possible with thousands of Chinese laborers. MOCA hosted the unveiling of the postage stamps for the anniversary, and recognized Chinese railroad workers who have long been forgotten in conversation. MOCA’s work has been invaluable and I am happy to celebrate MOCA and honorees: the Ging Hawk Club, Commissioner Wellington Chen, Margaret Lam, and BUBBLE_T. Sincerely,
___________________
Carlos Menchaca NYC Council Member | 38th District
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CONGRATULATORY REMARKS
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Margaret Lam and David Yen CONGRATULATES THE HONOREES OF THE MUSEUM OF CHINESE IN AMERICA’S 8TH CELEBRATION OF COMMUNITY HEROES
WELLINGTON Z. CHEN GING HAWK CLUB
BUBBLE_T
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The Cheng Family Trust
CONGRATULATES THE HONOREES OF THE MUSEUM OF CHINESE IN AMERICA’S 8TH CELEBRATION OF COMMUNITY HEROES
WELLINGTON Z. CHEN GING HAWK CLUB MARGARET LAM
BUBBLE_T
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JONATHAN CHU
CONGRATULATES THE HONOREES OF THE MUSEUM OF CHINESE IN AMERICA’S 8TH CELEBRATION OF COMMUNITY HEROES
WELLINGTON Z. CHEN GING HAWK CLUB MARGARET LAM
BUBBLE_T
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Strengthening Communities
WE SALUTE THE
Museum of Chinese in America AND CONGRATULATE ITS 2019 HONOREES
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Everything Matters
Congratulations to
MUSEUM OF CHINESE IN AMERICA 8 Annual Celebration of Community Heroes th
GING HAWK CLUB
COMMISSIONER WELLINGTON CHEN
MARGARET LAM
BUBBLE_T
CAIPA (Coalition of Asian-American IPA) is one of the most successful independent practice associations in Greater New York with over 1,000 private practice providers, covering over 70 specialties. Our provider network currently serves over 500,000 people in Downstate New York. At CAIPA, our mission is to provide the highest quality of care to our patients with compassion.
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eric t. lee CONGRATULATES THE HONOREES OF THE MUSEUM OF CHINESE IN AMERICA’S 8TH CELEBRATION OF COMMUNITY HEROES
WELLINGTON Z. CHEN GING HAWK CLUB MARGARET LAM
BUBBLE_T
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Thomas Liou
CONGRATULATES THE HONOREES OF THE MUSEUM OF CHINESE IN AMERICA’S 8TH CELEBRATION OF COMMUNITY HEROES
WELLINGTON Z. CHEN GING HAWK CLUB MARGARET LAM
BUBBLE_T
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Gregory P. Ho and Linda Sanchez CONGRATULATES THE HONOREES OF THE MUSEUM OF CHINESE IN AMERICA’S 8TH CELEBRATION OF COMMUNITY HEROES
WELLINGTON Z. CHEN GING HAWK CLUB MARGARET LAM
BUBBLE_T
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Joe
and
Lily Wong
CONGRATULATES THE HONOREES OF THE MUSEUM OF CHINESE IN AMERICA’S 8TH CELEBRATION OF COMMUNITY HEROES
WELLINGTON Z. CHEN GING HAWK CLUB MARGARET LAM
BUBBLE_T
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Best Wishes to the Museum of Chinese in America’s 8th Annual Celebration and
Congratulations to this year’s Honoree
Margaret Lam
From
Marie and Shau-wai Lam
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LEE
INSURANCE CONGRATULATES
MOCA
8th Annual Celebration of Community Heroes: &
Honorees:
Ging Hawk Club Pioneering Chinese American Women’s Association Commissioner Wellington Chen Executive Director of the Chinatown Partnership Margaret Lam Philanthropist BUBBLE_T Asian/Pacific/LGBTQIA Collective
SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1888 w w w. l e e i ns . co m New York
NoCal
SoCal
C A L I C E N S E # 0 B17 0 7 1
Sandra K. Lee Stephen Boon
2019 Celebrating Our 130th Anniversary! 55
Wellington Z. Chen CONGRATULATES THE HONOREES OF THE MUSEUM OF CHINESE IN AMERICA’S 8TH CELEBRATION OF COMMUNITY HEROES
GING HAWK CLUB MARGARET LAM
BUBBLE_T
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Stanley R. Chiu
CONGRATULATES THE HONOREES OF THE MUSEUM OF CHINESE IN AMERICA’S 8TH CELEBRATION OF COMMUNITY HEROES
WELLINGTON Z. CHEN GING HAWK CLUB MARGARET LAM
BUBBLE_T
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William C. and May Louie CONGRATULATES THE HONOREES OF THE MUSEUM OF CHINESE IN AMERICA’S 8TH CELEBRATION OF COMMUNITY HEROES
WELLINGTON Z. CHEN GING HAWK CLUB MARGARET LAM
BUBBLE_T
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Stephen Mong CONGRATULATES THE HONOREES OF THE MUSEUM OF CHINESE IN AMERICA’S 8TH CELEBRATION OF COMMUNITY HEROES
WELLINGTON Z. CHEN GING HAWK CLUB MARGARET LAM
BUBBLE_T
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Melissa’s Creation
melissacreation.com 6A Elizabeth Street, New York 10013 (917) 887-0055 CONGRATULATES THE HONOREES OF THE MUSEUM OF CHINESE IN AMERICA’S 8TH CELEBRATION OF COMMUNITY HEROES
WELLINGTON Z. CHEN GING HAWK CLUB MARGARET LAM
BUBBLE_T
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CAMS-CAIPA Community Service Fund is proud to support MoCA’s 8th Annual Celebration of Community Heroes Congratulations to all of tonight’s honorees Ging Hawk Club • Wellington Chen Margaret Lam • BUBBLE_T
CAMS-CAIPA Community Service Fund · 11 E Broadway 4C New York NY 10038 · (212) 334-4760 · camsociety.org
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for its excellence in the preservation and presentation of the experience of the Chinese in America and recognizing the heroes of our Community UNITED WE STAND AS A COMMUNITY 包厘分行
法拉盛分行
Bowery Branch
Flushing Branch
6 Bowery New York, NY 10013
36-30 Main Street Flushing, NY 11354
布碌崙分行
世貿中心分行
5518 8th Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11220
116 Nassau Street New York, NY 10038
Brooklyn Branch
WTC Branch
212.285.4770 | AbacusBank.com
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CONGRATULATES THE HONOREES OF THE MUSEUM OF CHINESE IN AMERICA’S 8TH CELEBRATION OF COMMUNITY HEROES
WELLINGTON Z. CHEN GING HAWK CLUB MARGARET LAM
BUBBLE_T
Chinatown District Management Association CONGRATULATES THE HONOREES OF THE MUSEUM OF CHINESE IN AMERICA’S 8TH CELEBRATION OF COMMUNITY HEROES
WELLINGTON Z. CHEN GING HAWK CLUB MARGARET LAM
BUBBLE_T 64
MUSEUM OF CHINESE IN AMERICA would like to give special thanks to
AMYAS NAEGELE FINE ART BASES SHARON CHIN EVAN EISMAN COMPANY JING FONG RESTAURANT GIVESMART G&P PRINTING HELLO PERIL SWING NINA KUO MATTHEW'S JAZZ BAND MELISSA'S CREATION SCHOOL FOR GLOBAL LEADERS (MS 378) RENNY SHIH SPIKE 150 AMBASSADORS SAM WANG
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STAFF
Nancy Yao Maasbach President
Edward Cheng Director of External Relations
Kevin Chu Collections Manager Internship and Volunteer Manager
Grayson Chin Visitor Services Manager
Erwin Geronimo Manager of Facilities and Private Events
Josh Davis Chief Operations and Technology Officer
Director for Collections and Research
Lauren Nechamkin Assistant Director of Education
Justin Onne Multimedia Producer
Andrew Rebatta Associate Curator
Herb Tam Curator and Director of Exhibitions
Melissa Wansin Wong
Joseph Duong
Associate Director of Institutional Relations
Director of Programs and Guest Experience
Neil Wu-Gibbs
Molly Gibson Education Manager
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Yue Ma
Manager of Special Events and Board Relations Special Assistant to the President
Hailey Savage
Gee-Wey Yue
Programs and Museum Experience Associate
Manager of Tourism
EDUCATORS Alexander Ho Alice Fung Dianne Choie Kristen Sze-Tu
Nicole Tan Stephanie Zank Taylor Koczot
VISITOR SERVICES Carly Hickey Cori Linville Beth Traver
Hilary Yeh Grace Zhang
INTERNS AND VOLUNTEERS Hannah Beak Cydney Blitzer Erica Brower Jenna Bucien Yuli Cheng Alexander Echelman Nusheen Ghaemi Yangchin Lui Mingsi Ma Claire Mondry Jackie Ng
Noel Peng Karin Roslund Miya Tada Jackson Tham Xingya Wang Yiwen Wang Xinming Xia Xinyuan Xu Isabella Yang Marina Roujia Yang 67
In the Media “The Museum of Chinese in America Brings a Rich and Sometimes Painful History to Life … It Weaves History, Culture and Community Seamlessly.”
“The Museum of Chinese in America is [an] institution where collection and community converge.”
“25 Best Museums in New York City”
“‘Where are you really from? How do I fit in here?’ It’s a complicated question and one the museum artfully addresses in both its permanent and temporary exhibitions.”
As seen in:
215 Centre Street, New York, NY 10013 T 855.955.MOCA (6622) 68 F 212.619.4720 E info@mocanyc.org
HERITAGE SOCIETY The MOCA Heritage Society recognizes and honors those friends and members of the Museum of Chinese in America who have prioritized a commitment to sustaining the Museum for future generations by including MOCA in their estate plans.
BECOME A CHERISHED MEMBER OF THE MOCA HERITAGE SOCIETY BY Making a gift to MOCA in your will or trust Considering a charitable remainder trust or gift annuity Remembering MOCA as a beneficiary of a retirement plan or life insurance policy
These gifts are critical to ensuring a future for MOCA. Members of the MOCA Heritage Society receive invitations to exclusive events at the Museum.
To learn more about the MOCA Heritage Society Contact Nancy Yao Maasbach, President, at 917-484-4155.
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SAVE THE DATE 2019 MOCA LEGACY AWARDS GALA November 13, 2019 Mandarin Oriental Columbus Circle, NYC Black Tie
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Liberty National Golf Club hosted the playing of the 12th Presidents Cup in 2017.
EIGHTH ANNUAL GOLF OUTING to benefit the
MUSEUM OF CHINESE IN AMERICA June 20, Thursday, 11:00 am Liberty National Golf Course 100 Caven Point Road, Jersey City, NJ SPACE IS LIMITED
RSVP BY JUNE 17, 2019
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150,000+ MILES 1,500+ RUNNERS 150+ STORIES 15+ EVENTS HOW TO PARTICIPATE BECOME A SPIKE AMBASSADOR
JOIN THE VIRTUAL RELAY
www.MOCASpike150.org
Museum of Chinese in America 215 Centre Street, New York, NY, 10013 mocanyc.org | 855-955-6622
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