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When the tsunami tragedy struck Asia last December, some of the City's largest Asian American groups immediately convened to
organize a fundraiser that would finance long-term recovery efforts in South and Southeast Asia. Over the course of several
weeks, Asian Women in Business, Asian Americans for Equality, Asian American Federation of New York, American Fujian
Association of Commerce and Industry, Chinese-American Planning Council, Korean American Counseling Center, Organization of
Chinese Americans, and United CDC coordinated an impressive program of speakers and entertainers to draw city-wide attention.
On February 1, 2005, they held the Asian American Tsunami Relief Fundraising Banquet at the Golden Bridge Restaurant,
which generously donated a sumptuous 10-course Chinese banquet for its 500 guests. MC Arthur Chi'en, reporter for WCBS/Channel 2 news,
ushered in the evening by sharing his moving experience of being in a devastated Sri Lanka in the aftermath of the tsunami.
He then introduced Dr. Roshini Rajapaksa, who had been in Sri Lanka for vacation, but ended up treating survivors instead.
She, along with her parents, marshaled their contacts in the United States to obtain desperately needed medical supplies
Throughout the evening, guests enjoyed performances by singer Kevin So and musician Cooper Madison. Nearly all guests later
participated in a raffle, which included prizes that were generously donated by local businesses. One lucky winner walked away
with two roundtrip tickets to Hong Kong, courtesy of Cathay Pacific Airlines. All proceeds from the evening went to UNICEF's
Tsunami Water and Sanitation Fund.
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