Asian Health Service Center Charity Gala: Thousands Gather to Celebrate 50th Anniversary

The Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association hosted a Lunar New Year celebration on February 1st in Millbrae. The event brought together over 250 community leaders, including Director Lai Mingqi of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in San Francisco, Director Zhuang Yashu of the San Francisco Bay Area Overseas Chinese Education Center, along with elected officials such as California Senator Jesse Arreguin, Assemblymember Phil Ting, Liz Ortega, Lena Tam from Alameda County, and city mayors and council members from various cities, as well as the San Francisco District Attorney. It was a night of grandeur and unity as they welcomed the Lunar New Year.

The charity fundraising event had the theme “Our Legacy Our Vision” and kicked off with a traditional lion dance performance. Julia Liou, CEO of Asian Health Services, the daughter of Taiwanese and Hong Kong immigrants, who joined AHS over twenty years ago, highlighted the achievements of AHS over the past 50 years. These achievements include establishing the first Asian American multi-campus COVID testing and vaccination center, creating the nation’s first multilingual anti-Asian hate response team, founding a mental health academy to foster local mental health professionals, and securing AHS among the top 10% of community health centers in the U.S.

Liou announced the successful completion of a $2 million dental fundraising campaign to establish Northern California’s first specialized dental inpatient medical center covering four major specialties, expected to serve 6,000 patients annually. Additionally, she unveiled a $15 million capital fundraising campaign to construct a senior clinic and a new medical center, further expanding the reach of services to benefit thousands of patients.

Emphasizing the concept of reaping what you sow, Liou stressed that the development of the community comes from the joint efforts and contributions of many individuals. The mission of Asian Health Services is not only to provide medical care but also to empower the community, enabling those who receive assistance to give back, thereby promoting community prosperity and growth.

Before the event commenced, guests enjoyed cocktails and participated in a silent auction. During the banquet, several short films were screened, reflecting on the development and achievements of Asian Health Services (AHS) over the past 50 years. Tributes were paid to 50 outstanding community members, and multiple fundraising rounds were held, with attendees generously responding. Dr. Sue Chan, the first physician of AHS, donated $100,000, a board member contributed $25,000, and eight other generous individuals donated $10,000 each. Furthermore, the attendees on-site actively responded, accumulating numerous small donations to support the development of AHS.

Board member Chen Xipeng of AHS expressed to the media that the majority of AHS employees hold a passionate dedication to serving the community, not just for the job, hence they enjoy widespread support and trust. He estimated that the total amount raised that evening could reach one million dollars.

Asian Health Services (AHS) Center, founded in 1974 by a group of Chinese students on Harrison Street in Oakland’s Chinatown, initially started as a small clinic providing accessible and culturally sensitive medical services to underserved immigrants. After years of development, AHS now operates at 13 locations, offering medical, dental, and mental health services, caring for over 50,000 patients annually in 14 languages.