Merit Award Scholarships Available

The Wa Sung Community Service Club began awarding scholarships in 1957 to outstanding students of Asian descent graduating from high schools in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. Since then over 800 scholarships have been awarded. The scholarships are funded from the Perpetual Scholarship Fund, fundraising events, and generous donations from individuals. The continuing support from the donors, Wa Sung members, and Friends of Wa Sung make these scholarships possible every year.

For 2012, 10 scholarships of $1,000 each will be awarded. Deadline for application is April 2, 2012. Application forms can be obtained from the counselor's office in all high schools in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties, or can be downloaded here.



Wa Sung Community Center Opens

On January 6, 2011, inside the beautiful OACC auditorium, along with the annual Wa Sung Inaugural dinner event, the celebration of the opening of the new Community Center was enjoyed by supportive community organizations, city and state officials, Wa Sung members and guests. The WSCC office was open showcasing the 59 years of history; various memorabilia, photos, past issues of Community Directories, articles written by WS founders, chronicle of newsletters, a TV showing the development and success of the Junk Boat Restoration project, a 1930 WS Baseball Team picture, a 180 degree wall photo of the Easter Pancake Breakfast crowd, a collage exhibiting the many faces of our past & current membership, Merit Award Exhibit and other fundraising events displayed. [More]




President Karen Dea's Message

In 1952, it was the Year of the Dragon and a new community service organization emerged, called the Wa Sung Service Club. Presently in a couple of weeks we welcome the Year of the Dragon. Of all the Chinese Zodiac, the Dragon is the mightiest of the signs. Dragons symbolize such character traits as dominance and ambition. They’re driven, unafraid of challenges, and willing to take risks. Coincidently the element Water Dragons years are 1952 and 2012. Water calms the Dragon’s fire and are able to see things from other points of view. They don’t have the need to always be right. Their decisions, if well-researched, are usually better since they allow other’s to become involved. As you can see these Dragon traits weaved into the history making of what Wa Sung was born with and meant to be.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Wa Sung Community Service club in providing educational & community service. That’s been six decades of the formation of pillars molding the Wa Sung club toward it’s milestones and cornerstones and happenstance recognized cornerstone heroes, such as the transitioning of the Silver Dragon restaurant and Asian Health Services also brings together the community with food to the soul. [More]

 

Wa Sung Junior League

Established in 2010, Wa Sung's Junior League is a promising and upcoming place for all young adults, ages 18 to 26. Our main purpose of this program is to provide support and resources for the young adults in this age group that is often neglected when it comes to specific age-oriented clubs and organizations within our communities. It is within this age group that many individuals are beginning to embark into the both frightening and exciting path of life and the real world. [More]



 

A Chef’s Delight...Sweeeeeet!

The rhythm was progressively unstoppable as an exhilarating fundraiser was being planned and the climax was nearing fruition…this was the rhythm of the remarkable committee that didn’t miss a beat in presenting the Wa Sung Community Service Club’s 11th annual ‘A Chef’s Delight,’ a food and wine tasting festival fundraiser!

A crowd of 300+ attendees, consisting of the club’s members, corporate sponsors, Friends of Wa Sung and loads of gregarious guests were present on October 2 at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center to enjoy close to 40 vendors, exhibiting wines & beverages, desserts, and restaurateurs. Stage presence was the setting for the VIP & Sponsors to enjoy an early appreciation reception. Jazz saxophonist, Prasant Radhakrishnam shared the stage accenting the ambiance with live Jazz music. [More]

 

The 54th Annual Merit Award Scholarships


The night was full of smiling high school seniors, proud parents, laughing guests, hungry club members and a very charming keynote speaker. What night is this you’re probably asking? Why it was Wa Sung’s 54th Annual Merit Awards Ceremony held on May 12, 2011.

This year the ceremony was a dinner held at Aroma Restaurant in Alameda. To change it up a bit, instead of a luncheon as in years past, we had a dinner. The night started out with members, presenters and donors getting to know the scholarship winners and their families. Raymond Tang served us a delicious menu of crab cake appetizer, raw potato salad, prime rib with mashed potatoes or salmon with noodles and tiramisu for dessert. He even served an eggplant meal for a few of the vegetarian diners. [More]



The 55th Annual Easter Pancake Breakfast



Before the breakfast began, many volunteers and members were hard at work setting up for the great feast. Outside, tables were rolled in and laid out in preparation for the hungry pancake eaters. Row after row of chairs were lined out waiting to be sat upon. Inside, around 30 pounds of Krusteaz Pancake mix was being gleefully mixed and stirred by the veteran batter-mixer, Karly Wu. It didn’t take a talent scout to realize that this girl was up to the task. Karly, a 3rd year volunteer, took me behind the scenes of the batter preparation process, revealing the “secret” recipe. She was very enthusiastic and confident in the event’s success.

Further away from the batter mixing and juice pouring were various booth setups. People from all over the area came to represent their respective organizations. A quick glance across the field granted a full display of excited groups, including The Asian Health Services, The Asian Community Mental Health Services, The Oakland Chinese Chamber of Commerce, The Hep B Project, AYSC, The Oakland Police and Fire Departments, Albert Brown Mortuary, The Wa Sung Junior League Table for Easter Hats, and the Youth Volunteer Sign-In Table.


 
 
junk boat

Wa Sung Junk Boat

at Lincoln Square


The story of our Junk Boat starts with a trans-Pacific voyage made by an oceangoing junk called the "Free China" which sailed from Taiwan to San Francisco in 1960. In 1961, Dr. Joshua Fong wrote to the Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco asking if the consul might know how the Wa Sung Service Club could obtain a junk boat similar to the Free China. The boat would be displayed in a park in Oakland -- perhaps even at a Chinese wharf in Lake Merritt as "a symbol of the determination and spirit of Free China and its people."

This idea evolved, an over the next few years, with the collaboration of the Oakland Parks and Recreation Department, a Junk Boat play structure was designed for Lincoln Park. Wa Sung raised over $15,000 to help guild the boat, and on Sunday, March 23, 1969 at 3:30 p.m., it was dedicated with a ceremony including fireworks and followed by a Chinese gourmet dinner at the Marco Polo Restaurant in Jack London Square. [More]