CHICAGO, IL (19 Jan) : Asian American Coalition of Chicago’s 37th Annual Lunar New Year Celebration, will be held Saturday, February 8, 2020 at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare, 9300 West Bryn Mawr Avenue, Rosemont, Illinois. The theme for the 2020 Annual Lunar New Year Celebration is “Advocate. Advance. Achieve”.
This year’s Lunar New Year Gala welcomes The Year of the Rat 4718. Cocktail Reception begins and exhibits and political forum will begin at 4:30 p.m. Opening Ceremonies are at 6:30 p.m. with dinner, entertainment and awards presentation .900 people are expected at the black-tie optional gala.
Tickets are $1000 per table of ten, and are available on a first-funded, first-seated basis. They are being distributed through community outlets as well as directly from the Coalition. For ticket reservations, please contact AsianAmericanCChicago@gmail.com or check the website www.aacchicago.org for check mailing instructions. Tickets will not be sold at the door.
Every year a different Asian community takes turn playing host of Lunar New Year. This year it is the Indian American Community, for the third time hosting the Asian Pacific American community's most important event of the year. The Indian American Community last hosted this event in 2011. An event held on this grand of a scale only once a year, Lunar New Year is the largest annual celebration of its type in the Midwest.
“The Indian American Community is honored to host the Asian American Coalition of Chicago’s 37th Annual Lunar New Year Celebration. We have chosen the theme, “Advocate. Advance. Achieve” to showcase the remarkable accomplishments of Asian Pacific Americans all across our great city,” said Rajinder Singh Mago, 2019-2020 AACC Board President. “We welcome everyone to participate in our event planning process,” he said.
According to the U.S. Census, there are 21.4 million people of Asian descent in America (2017), and the number is growing by 20 percent annually. Illinois has the sixth largest Asian population in the United States. Numerous dignitaries traditionally attend the festivities, including the Asian consular corps, elected and appointed governmental officials, political candidates, top business and corporate leaders, decision-makers and on-air talent at Chicago's major media press outlets, and everyone who considers himself or herself a mover and shaker in and around, or for, the Asian Pacific American national movement.
AWARDS
The Coalition plans to award its prestigious Pan Asian American Ping Tom Memorial Award - its highest award - that evening. The Coalition renamed its Pan Asian Award in 1996 after the late legendary Chicago civic leader Ping Tom. Ping Tom was also one of the original founders of the Asian American Coalition.
The Coalition also plans to award its Grand Asian American Sandra Otaka Memorial Award, that evening. The Grand Asian American Award is periodically presented to a non-Asian Friend of the Asian Community. The Coalition renamed its Grand Asian Award in 2010 after the late Cook County Circuit Court Judge Sandra Otaka.
The Coalition also plans to award its 2020 Exemplary Community Service Awards and its Youth Who Excels Awards that evening.
CELEBRITY PRESENTERS AND PAN ASIAN AMERICAN PING TOM MEMORIAL AWARD
The evening ceremonies will be hosted by the following Celebrity Presenters:
Ravi Baichwal, Weekend News Anchor/Reporter, ABC 7 Chicago TV News
Cate Cauguiran, Reporter, ABC 7 Chicago TV News
Katie Kim, Weekend Morning Anchor/Reporter, WMAQ, NBC 5 Chicago TV News
Marc Rita, Director/Writer/Actor
Also, attorney Darryl Tom, on behalf of The Tom Family, is scheduled to assist in the live presentation of this award.
