ENERI News Blog

Chinese American Service League, Inc. (CASL) Kam L. Liu Building

2141 South Tan Court (Corner Princeton Avenue), Chicago, Illinois 60616-1998

www.caslservice.org (312) 791-0418

CHINESE AMERICAN SERVICE LEAGUE HOSTS

29TH ANNUAL CHINATOWN COMMUNITY DINNER

“MAKING A DIFFERENCE, ONE PERSON AT A TIME”

DECEMBER 2, 2011 AT FURAMA RESTAURANT IN CHINATOWN

______________________________________________________________________

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Ellyn Harris, Director of Development

NOVEMBER 30, 2011 (312) 791-0418 or ellyn_harris (at)

caslservice.org or ENERI Communications

info (at) enericom.net

CHICAGO, IL — The Chinese American Service League (CASL) will hold its 29th Annual Chinatown Community Dinner, “Making a Difference, One Person at a Time,” 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, December 2, 2011 at Furama Restaurant, 2828 South Wentworth Avenue in Chicago’s Chinatown.

Over 400 people are expected to attend the dinner, co-emceed by popular TV broadcaster Nancy Loo of WGN-TV and community leader Alan Ang. The event will raise funds to sustain and drive the comprehensive human services and other programs CASL provides annually for its 17,000 clients. A nurturing hub within the heart of Chinatown, CASL connects families and individuals of all ages with the vital support they need to flourish physically, economically, mentally, and socially, enabling them to thrive and contribute to the greater Chicago community.

The event kicks off with a reception featuring passed hors d’oeuvres prepared by the 74th Class of CASL’s award-winning Chef Training Program, which trains students in Western continental cuisine and places graduates at Chicago’s fine restaurants, hotels, and catering services. Since its inception in 1986, the program has trained nearly 1,300 students. A gourmet nine-course Chinese banquet will follow.

The evening program includes a traditional Chinese lion dance by P.C. Leung, a performance of the “Dun Huang Fairy Dance” by CASL’s Cultural Retention Program, a raffle, lucky bin raffle, and a silent auction. The raffle Grand Prize is two round trip main-cabin tickets to China courtesy of American Airlines. Second prize is an Apple 16GB iPad2 courtesy of Best Buy, 55 West Roosevelt Road. Third prize is a $400 Hing Kee Gift Certificate donated by Hing Kee, 2140 South Archer Ave. Raffle tickets cost $5 each. The Lucky Bin Raffle tickets are $10 each.

The silent auction features a pair of Chicago Bears tickets (Chicago Bears vs. Kansas City Chiefs Game, Sunday December 4, 2011 at Soldier Field) donated by the Gatorade Company and a framed photo autographed by Chicago Bears Hall of Famer Gale Sayers donated Gale Sayers. Pre-bidding will begin Wednesday, November 30, 2011. The starting bid is $300 and the minimum increment is $25. Please email Stephanie Chan at Stephanie_Chan@caslservice.org to pre-bid.

CASL will present its 2011 Outstanding Service Awards to Cathay Bank, Terry Noone, and UPS for their admirable volunteerism and contributions the Chinese community. For the past two years, two Cathay Bank employees have volunteered every Tuesday. They help in many ways including conducting mock citizenship exams, doing activities with seniors in our Adult Day Center and helping employment clients learn English for job interviews. Terry Noone has given two years of service to CASL’s Chef Training Program. He has trained over 6 classes of Chef Training students on English and interviewing skills and designed an interview guide booklet for the students. For over 7 years, UPS has supported CASL through sponsorships, donations and by being great CASL Ambassadors to the corporate community. For the last two years, UPS employees have dedicated themselves to volunteering with our clients every month, which qualified CASL for a grant that will support the Volunteer Program initiatives for the next year.

Event sponsorships are available at the Jade level of $6,500 and the Gold level of $3,500. All sponsors of this event will receive a table for 10 and multiple branding opportunities. Tables of 10 are available for $850 and individual tickets are $85.

For more information on sponsorship and ticket reservations, to purchase raffle tickets or to make a gift donation, please contact Ellyn Harris at (312) 791-0418 or ellyn_harris (at) caslservice.org.

ABOUT THE CHINESE AMERICAN SERVICE LEAGUE

Founded in 1978, the Chinese American Service League, Inc. (CASL), a 501(c)(3), is the Midwest’s largest and most comprehensive social service agency of its type. Housed in the architecture award-winning Kam L. Liu Building, CASL’s over 300 dedicated bilingual and bicultural staff and 700 volunteers serve over 17,000 clients annually. CASL has a budget of over $11 million which funds programs that range from job training and child care to financial education and senior health screenings. CASL helps families and individuals attain self-sufficiency through services that strengthen their physical, economic and mental well-being. CASL is a United Way partner social service agency located in the heart of Chicago’s Chinatown. (Kam L. Liu Building, 2141 South Tan Court, corner Princeton Avenue). For more information, please contact (312) 791-0418 or adminis (at) caslservice.org or visit www.caslservice.org.

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