By Kimberly K. Fu, February 13, 2017

Event celebrates Chinese New Year, promotes education

             
C. C. Yin, founder and chair of the Chinese American Association of Solano County, greets guests at CAASC’s annual Chinese New Year Celebration and Scholarship Fundraiser. 
 

Their heads bobbing and vibrantly-colored bodies swaying to a rhythmic drumbeat Saturday night, a pride of Chinese lions helped ring in the Year of the Rooster at Yin Ranch in Vacaville. Sponsored by the Chinese American Association of Solano County (CAASC), the event celebrated the Chinese New Year and raised money for scholarships, 18 of which were handed out this year.

The event, emphasized C.C. Yin, CAASC founder and chair, is about a multitude of things including raising cultural awareness, promoting higher education and giving back to the community.

Congressman John Garamendi, D-Solano, praised Yin and his wife, Regina, for their efforts over the years.

“That is so much a part of what we are and what we celebrate (as Americans),” he said.

Garamendi thanked Yin for reminding everyone about the many contributions Chinese Americans have made. “The values that they bring, the values that they share in the community,” he said.

Congressman Mike Thompson, D-Solano, agreed. Thanking the Yins for their philanthropy, he said: “You are no match. You are absolutely at the top of the charts.” Since the inception of the scholarship program 20 years ago, more than 230 students have received more than $160,000 in scholarships, officials said.

               
A martial artist with the Oakland-based A Team Wushu Kids demonstrates her fighting skills during the CAASC event celebrating the Year of the Rooster. 

 Assemblyman Jim Frazier, D-Solano, also expressed thanks for CAASC’s scholarships, which help lift students up. “It’s been said that it’s easier to build strong children than to fix broken adults,” he emphasized.

Among this years awardees is Sadie Cunning, a Will C. Wood High School senior who won one of two Kaiser Awards. A high achiever, Cunning helped coordinate that morning’s second annual Youth Summit, sponsored by the Vacaville Neighborhood Boys & Girls Club. The event strove to empower youths and help them succeed in all aspects of their lives. The hours-long event was well-attended and successful, she said, beaming as she held onto her much-deserved award.

Sandy Nguyen from Fairfield High School also took home a Kaiser Award.

Rachel Carr, a Vanden High School student, won the James Leung Award.

Other scholarship winners included: McKenzie Barber And Simerpreet Matharu, Solano Community College; Darla Cabababaro and Julianne Mercado, Vallejo High School; Jasmine Dator, Michelle Delgado, Haley Lym, Yocelyn Martinez and Aaron Mendoza, Vanden High; Chelcey Do, Benicia High; Almalina Gomes, Tonia Mokatish and Monica Manglona, Fairfield High; Brenda Ibarra Vazquez, Jesse Bethel High; and Jingjing Wang, Will C. Wood.

Also spliced into the evening were a dinner buffet featuring Chinese delicacies such as char siu and roast pork as well as American cheeseburgers and apple pies compliments of Yin McDonalds, models walking the runway in the latest Chinese fashions including modern cheongsams, martial arts demonstrations by the A Team Wushu Kids, raffles and a silent auction, and more.

The event closed with youths lining up on stage for the traditional delivery of money-stuffed red envelopes. In Chinese culture, the envelopes boast blessings of prosperity. Kids who opened their envelopes Saturday found $2 inside. They also went home with teddy bears.

For more information on the organization, visit www.caasc.net/.

CAASC is awarding 18 students of Solano County This year on February 11, Saturday 2017 at the Chinese New Year Ceremony (Some photo are not available). Here are some of them.
(Names are omitted for Privacy)

A new chapter of Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs Association (APAPA) opened in Solano County on August 1, 2015. for more event pictures - go to https://plus.google.com/photos/112253614778458867573/albums/6179731102868362337 or copy URL to your browser.