HOME SERVICES GIVE VOLUNTEER EVENTS BLOG CONTACT ANNUAL BENEFIT GALA Thank you for joining our annual ACRS Virtual Gala on Saturday, October 2. The gala is our largest fundraiser that brings lifesaving services to over 30,000 people ACRS serves each year, and we appreciate every single person who supported and participated in our event. Together, we’ve raised over 92% of our $325,000 goal so far! Let’s keep the momentum going. Our silent auction and giving link are open until Saturday, October 9, so there’s still time to make make a gift, peruse our spectacular auction packages, and share the video of our ACRS Virtual Gala with friends and family and tell them why you support ACRS. 2021 ACRS VIRTUAL BENEFIT GALA WATCH THE SHOW – If you missed our gala, you can watch the video of our show. Our show included interviews and cooking demos by Chef Melissa Miranda of Musang and Chef Varin Keokitvon, a keynote speech by Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland, and musical performances by singer-songwriter Alex Ritchie. BID ON OUR SILENT AUCTION – You can still browse and bid on the spectacular packages in our silent auction at acrs.org/2021auction. Our silent auction closes at 7 pm Saturday, October 9, so you have extra time peruse the items and share the auction link with family and friends. REGISTER – To bid or donate online, you’ll need to first create an account. This video tutorial explains how. DONATE – Once you register, you can make a gift to support vital life-saving services and programs. Our giving link will be open until Saturday, October 9. KEYNOTE SPEAKER Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) is the first African-American to represent Washington state at the federal level, and one of the first Korean-American women elected to Congress in its 230-year history. Strickland was born in Seoul, South Korea, to an African-American World War II and Korean War veteran, who met her mother while stationed there. When she joined Congress, Strickland arrived at her swearing-in ceremony wearing “hanbok,” traditional Korean clothing, which she said, “symbolizes my heritage and honors my mother, but also serves as a larger testament to the importance of diversity in our nation, state, and the People’s House.” Before she was elected to Congress, Strickland served as Tacoma’s mayor from 2010 to 2017, where she led efforts to raise the minimum wage and pass paid sick leave, implemented a city-wide Environmental Action Plan, launched an award-winning summer jobs program for high school students, and raised the high school graduation rate in Tacoma from 55% to 89%. EMCEE Ty Tufono-Chaussee is the longest-serving as well as the first Pacific Islander chair of CAPAA (Washington State Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs). She founded and hosts “Da Coconut Wireless Mix Show,” the only radio show featuring classic and current music of Pacific Islander artists from around the world. In addition to her work preserving and uplifting Pacific Islander culture and communities, she is a strong voice for domestic violence victims and has advocated for A&PI prison programs to educate and reform offenders through cultural reconnection and acceptance. She currently chairs the City of Lynnwood Ethics Commission and is part of the C3 Snohomish County Communities of Color Coalition. AUCTIONEER Ron Hippe is a veteran Seattle actor, musician, singer-songwriter, improviser, emcee, and auctioneer. He has appeared on Broadway in New York City in the Pulitzer Prize-winning play The Kentucky Cycle and has performed locally in productions with the Intiman, ACT, and Seattle Rep theatres. When he’s not auctioneering, Ron performs comedy improvisation with Seattle’s TheatreSports (Unexpected Productions) and has worked with improv companies around the globe. FEATURED SPEAKER CHEFS ACRS welcomes the return of our Culinary Journey series, where we partner with leading chefs to showcase their culinary talents and hear their stories of food and healing. In celebration of ACRS, Melissa and Varin have designed a customized Gala meal-kit and dessert inspired by memories of their family, community and culture. Melissa Miranda is the chef and owner of Musang, the nationally acclaimed community-focused restaurant serving Filipinx-inspired food on Seattle’s Beacon Hill. She attended culinary school and worked in kitchens in Florence, Italy, before cooking for two years in New York City. After returning to Seattle, she worked as a sous chef at Bar Del Corso while developing Musang through a series of successful pop-ups throughout the city. Four months after Musang opened in January 2020 to rave reviews, the pandemic hit. Miranda made the difficult decision to close the dine-in restaurant and transform it into a community kitchen to feed those in need. Musang has since opened for dining and continues to provide meals for the community while raising relief for those affected by the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. Pre-Order Chef Miranda’s custom four-course ACRS meal kit here. Sold Out! Varin Keokitvon is a Laos-born refugee and immigrant chef recognized with culinary awards in the U.S. and abroad. His desserts have been described as “culinary artistry” and incorporates his strong cultural heritage with flavors such as tamarind, mango and jasmine. As a student, he realized he wanted to teach and mentor young people, especially those struggling to find their way. Keokitvon became the head chef and instructor at Seattle-based FareStart, a culinary job training and placement program for homeless and disadvantaged individuals, and later opened Heartwood Provisions in Pioneer Square. He is currently the lead instructor at Seattle Culinary Academy at Seattle Central College, where he mentors the next generation of young chefs. He is also deeply involved as a volunteer peer mentor at The Service Board (TSB), an outreach program for at-risk high school students. Pre-order Chef Keokitvon’s specialty toasted rice ice cream here. Sold Out! SILENT AUCTION ACRS’ Silent Auction features something for everyone that you won’t find anywhere else. Whether you’re looking for hard-to-find Kraken or Seahawks tickets, or exclusive theatre shows and family experiences, browse and bid on our auction packages here. All auction packages will close on Saturday, October 9 at 7PM PST. 2021 GALA COMMITTEE Chair: Jacky-Vy Chau Members: Amy HyunAh Pak, Gloria Shin, Clara Doctolero, Eunjoo Yoo, Juliana Wong, Lucy Purcell, Monisha Singh, Leni Phan, Harold Taniguchi, and Soe Naing Interested in Being an Event Sponsor? Contact maryanng@acrs.org for more information. 3639 Martin Luther King Jr. Way S Seattle, WA 98144 (206) 695-7600 (206) 695-7606 info@acrs.org FOLLOW US ON: About Us Notice of Privacy Practices Methods of Payment Rental Newsroom Careers Blog Stay in Touch! Sign up to receive news and invitations. A Nonprofit Partner of © 2016 ASIAN COUNSELING AND REFERRAL SERVICE. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.