Friends of Mandarin Scholars Gala – Wrap-Up & Thank you!

Thanks to everyone who came out on Saturday to support the 3rd Annual Lunar New Year Fundraising Gala for Friends of Mandarin Scholars (FMS)! This is our major fundraising event for the year, and we are so grateful to the 300 people who joined us for the event last night, as well as all of the people who supported us in making the event happen. It was wonderful to see our everyone having a great time and enjoying a parent’s night out together. We are still finalizing receipts and payments, but preliminary estimates are that we raised approximately $40,000 through the Gala, building on the $70,627 raised thus far to bring us to approximately 70% of our $158,000 fundraising goal to support the Mandarin program, including our Mandarin aides, Summer School, professional development, curriculum supplies, etc.

It was truly a night to celebrate the efforts of our dedicated teachers, staff, and trustees who work on behalf of SMFCSD to provide our children with a K-8 Mandarin education. Along with their guests, we had 22 teachers & staff from the College Park Mandarin Preschool & Elementary Programs, as well as Superintendent Cynthia Simms, Assistant Superintendents Donna Lewis & Molly Barton, SMFCSD Trustees Chelsea Bonini & Audrey Ng, and San Mateo County Board of Education Trustee Rod Hsiao join us for the occasion. Special thanks to Principal Diana Hallock for also donating some very popular live auction items, including two Principal for a Day opportunities and her grandmother’s jewelry.

Please send us any favorite photos or videos, and check out our Facebook page and webpage as we’ll be posting more pictures and videos from the event there.

Among the highlights: Janelle Wang served as an incredibly gracious and wonderful Mistress of Ceremonies – we hope you’ll continue to watch her on TV as the anchor for NBC Bay Area News at 5pm. Chef Martin Yan entertained and also raised $1050 for his special chicken dish, cooked right on the spot along with some great insights on Mandarin education and culture. Ms. America 1st Runner Up Crystal Lee reminded us that our children may not understand or appreciate what we’re doing right now but they will when their education & Mandarin skills open up doors for them in the future (fingers crossed!). And finally, as noted by our keynote speaker, Beth Weise, we are incredibly fortunate to have a whole school program at College Park Elementary School as well as full commitment on the part of the District to continuing to grow the Middle School Component in coordination with the High School District. Our program is only one of 189 in the entire country and also one of the oldest. Thanks to all of you for supporting the program at the school and at home!

Please save the date for our next event, which will include more from Beth Weise on her book, “A Parent’s Guide to Mandarin Immersion” as well as many other multilingual resources, exhibits, and family-friendly activities on Saturday, May 9 Multilingual Resource Fair @ 10am-4pm at Foster City Library.

Special thanks to everyone who helped pull the whole event together:

Gala Co-Chairs: Shieny Chung & Vita Blake

Auction Committee & Volunteers: Van Nguyen-Do & Eric Tsai, Betty Chiu, Carol Chang, Maggie Yeh, Nhi Huynh, Queenie Hua & Cynthia Chow

Accounting & Registration: Yining Wang & Jenny Wong

Volunteer Coordinator: Deanna Antiporda

Mistress of Ceremonies: Janelle Wang, NBC Bay Area News

Special Guests: Martin Yan, Award-Winning Chef & TV Host | Crystal Lee, Miss California 2013 & First Runner-Up for Miss America 2014 | Elizabeth Weise, Author of “A Parent’s Guide to Mandarin Immersion”

DJ & Auctioneer (you all really made him work that live auction!): Jason Louie

Chinese Dance Performance: Hai Yan Jackson Chinese Dance

Lion Dance: Chung Ngai Dance Troupe

Photography: Charisse Domingo & Silicon Valley De-Bug (Red Carpet photos), Mariati Paham (event photos)

Pianist: Alex Chui

Video Dad Extraordinaire (and birthday boy!): Bryan Han

Assistant Videographers: Addy Antiporda, Jeff Chen, & Charlotte Ku

Day Of Coordinator: Puja Bramania

Registration Volunteers: Alice Shie, Jocelyn Mancio, & Sandra Chang

Food Coordinator: Vivian Lee

Photo Sales: Dorothy Huang & Raji Swamy

Editor: Laura Mandaro

Graphic Design: Edwin Sunsanto & Doris Hui

Printing: Fong Brothers Printing & Plasti-Print

Flowers: Oku Nursery & Enchantment Floral

Website & Facebook: Tammy Shueh

FMS Board Meeting Hosts: Cari Rotoli & Atticus Rotoli of Kingston Cafe

And thanks to everyone who pitched in throughout the evening to help out – whether you helped with clean-up, jumped in to help with sales or other tasks, or just offered to help, we really appreciate your support!

Thanks to everyone who donated items to our live auction and everyone who bid on them!

Thailand Koh Jum Beach Villa presented by the Taylor Family

Tahoe Donner Cabin presented by the Chen Family

Tahoe Kings Beach Cabin presented by the Nichols Family

Labor Day Weekend Multi-Family Tahoe Excursion presented by the Lau-Kung family

W San Francisco Hotel Getaway presented by the Chow Family

Principal For A Day presented by Principal Diana Hallock & Lowell Hallock

Jewelry – Family Heirlooms Diana Hallock, in honor of her paternal grandmother, Chauncey India Davis Omo

Fishing Boat Trip for Father & Child presented by Michael Phi & Betty Chiu

Train Your Mind & Body with Taekwondo presented by Gold Medal Martial Arts

Roll Into the Ritz Like Royalty presented by Donald Kung & Eric Tsai

Weekend Getaway in the Sierras – Arnold, CA presented by the Yu Family

Food Fit for the Gods: Banquet Dinner Party presented by Spices Restaurant

ABC Station Tour presented by Kristen Sze

Fast Freddie Rodriguez Cycling Fun presented by the Fast Freddie Foundation

Bolinas Weekend Adventure presented by Gifford Calenda & Christina Gil

Thanks to everyone who donated items to our silent auction and everyone who bid on them!

Art Class or Party presented by Art Attack

Art Classes presented by Corner Art

Balloon Twisting Fun presented by Lien Pham

Be Well Package presented by Rosalyn Yu & Worldwide Integrative Healthcare

Beauty Package presented by Lily Beauty, Sephora, Dayna Beauty & Oceanic Foot Spa

Birthday Party Package presented by Tat Wong Kung Fu Academy

Bowling Bowl-a-Rama presented by Bel Mateo Bowl

Burlingame Package presented by Books Inc., Five Monkeys & Jougert

Camp presented by Genius Learning

Coffee Basket presented by Starbucks & Peets

Creativity for the Kid in All of Us presented by Scribble Me Happy

Dancing the Day Away presented by Peninsula Ballet Theater

Dental Kids’ Sonicare Toothbrush Kit presented by Leong Dental

Dental Whitening or Intro Dental Exam presented by Dr. Derek Chua

Family Museum Package 1 presented by Asian Art Museum, de Young Museum & California Academy of Sciences

Family Museum Package 2 presented by Happy Hollow Park & Zoo, Gilroy Gardens Family Park, & Bay Area Discovery Museum

Fitness Membership presented by The Bay Club

Foster City Staycation presented by Crowne Plaza, Olives & Waterfront

Get Organized! presented by Christine Hsu

Gift Card presented by Cheesecake Factory

Gift Card presented by Ranch 99

Gift Cards for Target presented by Friend of FMS

Gift Certificate presented by Amici’s Pizza

Gift Certificate presented by Blueline

Gift Certificate presented by Evvia Restaurant

Gift Certificate presented by Isobune

Gift Certificate presented by La Corneta

Gift Certificate presented by Mokutanya $20/ea Pack of 5

Gift Certificate presented by Mollie Stone’s

Gift Certificate presented by Olives

Gift Certificate presented by Pizzaria Delfina

Gift Certificate presented by Straits

Golf Lessons presented by Mick Soli

Horseback Riding presented by Moss Beach Ranch

Jumping Gymnastics Camp presented by Accel Gymnastics – Burlingame

Kick Boxing presented by Impact Kick Boxing

Kids Museum Package presented by Exploratorium, Hiller Museum, Bay Area Discovery Museum & Children’s Discovery Museum

LA Getaway presented by Hilton Hotel

Legarza Basketball Camp presented by Legarza Basketball Camp

Let the Music Begin presented by Scherzo Music

Mental Arithmetic Program presented by Gigamind Explorer

Mini iPad presented by the Tong Family

Multilingual Camp presented by Universe of Colors

Orchestra & Dinner presented by Peninsula Ballet Nutcracker & Celia’s Restaurant

Paper Crafting Fun presented by Paper Source

Rest Well Package presented by Rosalyn Yu & Worldwide Integrative Healthcare

San Mateo Out & About presented by Lil Couture, Junior Gym & Century Theater

San Ramon Day presented by Yogurtland & Massage Envy

SF Giants Sports Fan presented by SF Giants

Seafood Adventure presented by Adventure Cat & Moonstar Restaurant

Shall We Dance presented by Dance Vita & Kirkpatrick’s School of Dance

Shaolin Cultural Package presented by Shaolin Cultural Center

Soup Basket presented by Lara Heisler Koob

Snowboarding Gear: Helmet and Goggles presented by Jennifer Lin

Sports Package presented by Chicago Bulls

Swim & Gym Package presented by Peninsula Swim & PJCC

Swinging Gymnastics presented by Accel Gymnastics – Foster City

Theatre presented by Broadway by the Bay

Tutoring presented by Kumon

Tutoring on Multi-Subject Needs presented by Tutoring Center

Wine Tour & Tasting for 10 presented by Fortino Winery

Wine Tour & Tasting for 8 presented by Concannon Winery

Wine Tour & Tasting for 6 presented by Retzlaff Vineyards + appetizers

Yoga, TRX Training & Accessories presented by MYNULIFSTUDIO & Lululemon

Thanks to all of our program sponsors & advertisers:

Thanks to everyone who sponsored ticket donations for our SMFCSD staff and teachers to attend the gala with their guests:

Thanks to the FMS Board of Directors for their tireless commitment to our organization and the Mandarin program in SMFCSD:

Cari Pang Chen, Chair

T. Van Do, Vice Chair

Eric Tsai, Secretary

Yining Wang, Treasurer

Jenny Wong, Banking Officer

Vita Blake, Community Relations

Melissa Wurster, Fundraising Chair

Deanna Ng-Antiporda, Volunteer Coordinator

Shieny Chung, Events

Helen Fong, Bayside STEM Liaison

Kirk Black, SMFCSD Liaison

Friends of Mandarin Scholars Gala – Wrap-Up & Thank you!