‘Noon Year’s Eve’ Event at the Crocker Art Museum


By Brenda Fong
On December 31, 2019, the Crocker Museum hosted their high-energy “Noon Year’s Party” for families. The day was filled with live stage performances and musicians featuring the many diverse groups and faces that make-up Sacramento. In addition the Museum featured hands-on forms of arts and crafts located throughout the complex. The Museum featured a ball drop at 12-noon!

CACS Foundation staff (Douglas Hsia, Corliss Lee, Karun Yee, and I) hosted a table to share our Chinese culture through paper arts; Douglas gave demonstrations on an antique abacus that fascinated the visitors. We represented China in the “Global Village Room” along with 3 other cultural groups from the API community.

CACS Foundation’s 12th Annual “Operation Santa Claus”

2019 Operation Santa Clause Team
Anne and Santa
By Karun Yee

The Foundation proudly presented our 12th annual “Operation Santa Claus” program under the leadership of Chair, Anne Luong. Working with the Sacramento Chinese Community Service Center staffers, we procured applications from their after school program for deserving youngsters.

A big thank you to our faithful volunteer shoppers and our Board members for shopping and gift wrapping gifts; a big thank you to Dave Young for housing and organizing the many bags of gifts and driving them to the assigned school. Thanks to Ray Giles for offering his services as our photographer, and thank you to Service Center staff for providing snacks, beverages, and coordinating activities for the kids.

We provided a craft activity coordinated by Karun Yee, Merlayna Yee-Chin, June Fong and Brenda Fong. The highlight of the day was a visit from “Santa Claus” (aka Franc Martinez) –Santa was a great hit with the kids and their families!

We are grateful to the SCCSC staff, and our many CACS volunteer shoppers, and donors who made this year’s a success. We serviced approximately 100 families from 7 local area schools.

This annual event is a way of giving back to those less fortunate, and sharing with the community the holiday spirit!

2019 CACS Scholarship Application Videos

Three student scholarships will be awarded:
1st prize $1,000; 2nd prize $500; 3rd prize $500
to help fund post-secondary education.

Seniors at Kennedy High School were invited to submit a 1 minute video. The topic is – My viewpoint of diversity and inclusion in the community. The videos were judged on creativity and impact.

The scholarship winners will be recognized at CACS’ annual Gold Mountain Celebration Oct. 11, 2019.


Sarah Yang


Christina Chen


Rom David Arca


Peter Saephan


Kasia Leanne Her


Michelle Yang


Kaylyn Yu


Casandra Lee


Emily Kui


Evelyn Wu


Oziel Carrillo-Rendon


Jessica Thao

Awaiting permission to publish video


Billie Dee Scott


Maia Campos

Awaiting permission to publish video


Logan Bermudez


Anna Lau


Malia Duran


Arianna Rodriquez

Awaiting permission to publish video


Jasmin Andrade

2nd CACS Foundation Chinese Fashion Show

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By Karun Yee

Remember you’re never fully dressed without a smile! We all know what you wear gives the first impression. One look can say a thousand words. Clothing can get you a job, or get you thrown out, depending on the circumstance. That is why a person’s appearance and what they are wearing is so important through the ages.

Our fashion show exhibited antique highly embroidered handmade clothing that was a very precious commodity in those old days. Your station in life could be seen at a glance from the scullery maid to the emperor. This private collection of antique clothing came from Sandra Yee, Karun Yee and the Folsom History Museum.

The symbols on the clothing also held great significance to the wearer. Embroidered butterflies meant happiness. Chest badges with birds for civil service ranks and beasts for military officers were shown. Discussion on interesting historical traditions was presented in a slide show developed by me.

CACS Foundation and the Folsom Historical Society presented our 2nd Chinese Fashion Show luncheon on July 21, 2019. The event was a sold out! The main purpose was to help raise funds and regional recognition of the many contributions of the Folsom Chinese. At one time there were over 2,500 Chinese living in Folsom until the 1908 fire destroyed Chinatown. Before and after the building of the Transcontinental Railroad, the Chinese were able to earn a living in the area working the levees, agricultural work, fishing and mining activities, and businessmen and women. Because of the immense interest in the 150th Anniversary Transcontinental Rail Road Celebration, it appropriate to bring focus to the Chinese in the area. The Folsom History Museum opened their Chinese Museum exhibit in June.

Our event was an opportunity to network with old and new friends from different backgrounds and organizations. It was designed to be fun, educational, entertaining, and of course, enjoying great Chinese food all for a worthy cause.

All this could not happen with out a tremendous amount of work from both organizations. I want to personally thank: Jeff Ferreira, Ann Rhea, and staff; Karla, Kaitlyn, Kathleen, Jennifer, Roberta and Barbara. Also, Franc, Doug, David, Merlayna, Corliss, Betty, John, Greg, Kathy L. Ann D., Elizabeth N. Our lovely models; Brenda Fong, Joyce Eng, Aubrie Fong, Brigid Velayas, Olivia Stayi, Farra Bracht, Nancy Yee, Joanna Littau, Hannelore Whetstone, and Cathy Wei. It was a labor of love!

CACS Foundation Family Day at the Crocker Art Museum

By Karun Yee
CACS Foundation was invited to have a Calligraphy Booth at this free family multicultural day on Sunday, June 23, 2019 at the Crocker Art Museum. Board Directors Doug Hsai, Cathy Wei, Brenda Fong and Karun Yee participated and dressed in traditional Chinese outfits.

We also had the honor of modeling our Chinese outfits for the famous Locke artist, Ning Hou who painted us on a 4′ x 4′ canvas as shown on the photos below. Douglas was left doing the calligraphy and holding down the booth by himself, while the 3 of us spent 3-1/2 hours as models for this oil painting by Ning Hou. Everyone in attendance enjoyed the painting and our Calligraphy booth!

This opportunity gave CACS Foundation a chance to interact with the art and multicultural community in a different way. Bringing focus on Chinese culture and talent is one of our mission statements we have accomplished.

Author Lecture with Kim Luke

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On June 1, local author Kim Luke, who made Sacramento home after escaping Revoluntionary China, discussed her book, The Lu Family Saga, an autobiography of a young girl whose great-grandfather, Lu Haodong, plotted alongside Dr. Sun Yat-sen to overturn the feeble Qing Dynasty, the last of the Chinese Dynasties. Generations later, the girl was born into a world still in turmoil. She and her family struggled, suffered, and survived.

This author lecture, held at the Jan Ying Museum, 13947 Main Street, Locke, was jointly sponsored by The CACS Foundation and the Locke Foundation.

Photos of the author lecture can be viewed here.

May 2019 Foundation President’s Message

Cathy Weis
Dear CACS Members and Friends,

After a long and wet winter, we started the spring of 2019 with fully stocked reservoirs and ready for a prosperous year. CACS Foundation started the 501 (c) 3 application three years ago in May of 2016. Coincidentally, our federal nonprofit tax-exempt status was finally approved on October 12, 2018 – the date we held our Gold Mountain Celebration last year! With the 501(c) 3 status, CACS Foundation is enhanced with more opportunities and resources to carry on our mission.

CACS Foundation will continue our focus of historical, cultural and educational activities. We are planning quite a few exciting events for you. On June 1, CACS Foundation will join forces with Locke Foundation to present an interesting author lecture event, featuring Kim Luke, a past President of CACS and her new book “The Lu Family Saga: A Generational Family History Through Revolutionary China”. On July 21, don’t miss our 2nd annual “Fashion in Tradition” Chinese fashion show and luncheon, benefiting the future Folsom Chinese Heritage Museum and Folsom Historical Society.

With the 150th anniversary of the Transcontinental Railroad, 2019 brings the most significant national recognition of Chinese American achievements. CACS Foundation will be part of the Crocker Art Museum’s Race to Promontory Exhibition and family festival day on June 23.

Please save the date for our signature Gold Mountain Celebration on Friday, October 11, 2019. More detailed information about all of our events is inside this newsletter or on our website www.CACSweb.org

Our programs depend on your generosity. Your donation will be fully tax-deductable now! We are also calling for your help! Come and volunteer at our many exciting and rewarding activities. If you have any suggestions or ideas for CACS Foundation, please feel free to contact me at [email protected].
All of our Best,

cathy-sig
Cathy Wei
CACS Foundation, President

Fashion in Tradition 2019

2019ChanHouseFashionShowModelThe Chinese American Council of Sacramento Foundation and the Folsom Historical Society will present “Fashion in Tradition,” a benefit Chinese fashion show and luncheon on Sunday, July 21, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Happy Garden Restaurant, 5731 Stockton Boulevard, in Sacramento.

The fashion show will present exquisitely embroidered Chinese garments from the private collection of Karun Yee, dating back to the Qing dynasty (1644-1912). Garments and photographs from the archives of the Folsom History Museum will also be presented. The luncheon will feature fine Chinese Mandarin and Cantonese dishes.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the restoration of the historically significant Chan House, home of the future Chinese Heritage Museum in historic Folsom. The Chinese Heritage Museum will join the family of Folsom Historical Society museums, which include the Folsom History Museum (823 Sutter St.) and Pioneer Village, an outdoor interpretive center (196 Wool St.)

The Chinese Heritage Museum is being established to recognize the many contributions the Chinese have made in Folsom and California. Those contributions will be on display in the Chan House at 719 Sutter Street, which was the home of Howard Chan Sr. and Mabel Chan, descendants of Oak Chin Chan, a Chinese immigrant who arrived in Folsom in 1852 and became a prominent business man and the Chinese mayor of Folsom. The Chan family first rented the property in the 1920s but was not allowed to purchase the home until 1943 when the Chinese Exclusion Act was repealed. Howard Chan, Jr. and June Chan grew up in the home and are still local residents.

Folsom’s Chinese history is featured in the Folsom History Museum’s newest exhibit, “The Chinese Legacy in Folsom,” which runs from May 4 through September 1.

Tickets for the fashion show and luncheon are $50 per person. They can be purchased online at www.folsomhistoricalsociety.org/events, or by telephone at 916-985-2707 between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. The Folsom Historical Society is a 501(c)(3) corporation.

2019ChanHouseFashionShowPosterDownload Poster

ASPEA Scholarship Winner

may2019-APSEA-Cathy Wei, Zernaz Waiz_scholarship recipient_and Alex Eng
Foundation President Cathy Wei, scholarship recipient Zernaz Waiz and and Council President Alex Eng

On Wednesday, May 1, 2019, CACS Council and Foundation sponsored Zernaz Waiz, from Armijo HIgh School, with a $1,000 scholarship and 1/2 table at the APSEA Annual Scholarship Gala at the Tsakopoulos Library Galleria. Zernaz is multilingual and has traveled to Greece and Afghanistan to translate for refugees. Her ability to converse in other languages is a valuable asset throughout her volunteer work at the Lao Family Community Development, Arman Hope Foundation, and Fairfield Youth Commission. Zernaz plans to pursue a degree in business administration and nursing.

2019may-APSEA-Honey Lum, Mona Pasquil, Zen Marshall, Alex Eng, Joyce Eng, Sandy Louie and Lucy Oback
Honey Lum, Mona Pasquil, Yen Marshall, Alex Eng, Joyce Eng, Sandy Louey and Lucy Oback