2009 CRAB FEED GALA!
by Becky Wong
The exquisite pleasure of gorging on finger-licking fresh crab plus the merriment of St. Patrick's Day combined to make Wa Sung's first Crab Feed on March 14th a huge success. Some 380 people filled the San Leandro Boys and Girls' Club Gym and feasted on pasta, garlic bread, salad, ice cream and, of course, CRAB to their heart's content. MC Harry Greer shared the spotlight with Edgar Woo to keep festivities going, encouraging people to bid on the Fantastic Silent Auction Items and buy an arm's span worth of raffle tickets!
Spirits were high as Jeff Stevens provided music and the sound system for the event. Tim Nelson and Shari Friedel, and Heidi Finberg of Las Positas CC District headed the bar, assisted by Wa Sung members Jeff and Cindy Quon, Alice Chin, and Bill Sakakura. President Cyndee Lim provided balloons and beautiful stage decorations that really jazzed up the hall. Greeters Cecily Jones, Donna DeNu-White, Arnold Mew and Harry and Mary Fulmer warmly welcomed the crowd and kept track of tickets and receipts. Meanwhile, Chris Dear attended to the refuse detail.
The excellent meal was prepared by a seasoned kitchen crew: Frank & Genie Young, Garrienne Nakano, Ben Yee, Isobel Polvorosa, Marylou and Cruz Cisneros, Joanne Young and Jeanne Pong. You should have seen Isobel, Bill Sakakura, Florence Lau and Cindy Quon dole out that CRAB! We owe a debt of gratitude to all of them for hours of behind-the-scenes preparation and work both before, during and after the event. Donations of food were received from Chabot Foundation, H.J.Heinz, Dreyer's Ice Cream, Safeway, Chabot College Fresh and Natural, and Horizon Beverage. Soft drinks and water were donated by Heidi Finberg of Chabot College Foundation.
The very attractive Silent Auction was headed by Karen Dea and Beatrice Wong, assisted by a committee of George Wong, Audrey Huie, Richard & Adrienne Fong, Arnold Mew, Yauna Baron, Arlene Lum, Chris Nishida, and Lucy Meyer. Thanks to Wa Sung Board members and others who donated items.
Volunteers from Castro Valley High did an awesome job selling raffle tickets, the grand prize being 50% of the ticket sales. Sandy Wong of Oakland walked aways with a handsome check as the happy winner! A Nintendo Wii was also given away as a door prize to a lucky attendee. And table service “with a smile” was provided by the youth of the Boys and Girls Club, who received grateful tips for a job well done.
Kudos to Committee Co-Chairs Genie Young, Becky Wong, and Erna DeNu, for whom this was a labor of love. Everyone is extremely happy to see the proceeds go towards Merit Scholarship Awards given every spring to deserving Bay Area High School Seniors. Appreciation was also expressed to Chabot Foundation in the form of a $1,500 donation made to their new Textbook Rental Program, headed by Heidi Finberg.