Summary of Programs, Participations and Fund Raiser events:
- 2009
- 2008
- 2007
- 2006
- 2005
- 2004
Chinese New Year Banquet: We provided planning, flyers and posters about the event, arranged entertainments and posted the grand prize of a a trip to China for two and several drawing prizes. The entertainments include Minh Tran (Magician) and the Shaolin Warriors (Kung Fu).
God of Fortune Event: If you wish to receive lots of wealth, you must invite the “God of Fortune” to open your New Year. The opening ceremony at the Viejas Casino was toned way down from last years’ performances, Viejas themselves fell upon hard times and , “God of Fortune” in hope of bringing great wealth to them.
ESL Program: This is the continuing class sessions of English as a Second Language (ESL), started at our facility in 2006, a program of the San Diego Community College put on for non-English speaking immigrants. The Chinese Service Center provided the classroom, advertisements about the class and some office supply for their teacher’s use. At present, 15-20 students attend the class daily for 3 hours.
Food Handling & Sanitation Safety Classes: This program is a county wide requirement for all establishments that serves, sells, and handling of food items by its managers and employees and must be certified by passing its test. Q1 & Q2, we have certificated 9 managers and 44 general workers.
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance-VITA:This program is designed to help the low income families with filing their Federal and State income taxes.
Taiwan Trip: The Chinese Service Center & the Chinese School of San Diego organized a 8 days trip to Taiwan covering several cities (Taipai, Tainan, Taitung and etc.). A trip designed for the school students, parents and others the opportunity for an educational experience in Asia.
Consumer Action/Credit Card Fraud & Freeze: Credit card fraud and freezing your credit information, a stipend project by Consumer Action, runs fro February 2 to July 24, 2009. The project entails informing the public about credit frauds, ID thefts, how to best guard your personal information and about freezing your credit information in the event that your personal information has been stolen.
SDG&E CARE Program:This program promoted by SDG&E for the low income users with discounting on their energy bills. We did advertising about the program in the Chinese newspaper, contacting the low income and elderly on limited financial assistance. SDG&E will in turn pay the organizations for enrolling each qualified households.
We Connect event: This project connected with several resources organizations together and held the event at the San Diego Food Bank warehouse. The program offered free tax preparation, job training and employment opportunities, food stamps sign-up, low cost utilizes (energy & telephone) sign-up and much more. Several thousands people attended the event.
We CARE California Week event: The organizers connected with over 70 companies and several resources organizations. The event primary emphasis was to offer job opportunities & employment opportunities (in light of the large pool of unemployed workers in San Diego County), low cost utilities (energy & telephone) sign-up and service centers providing referral. Several thousands people attended the event.
Ellis Island Medals of Honor: On behalf of the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations (NECO), Sally Wong-Avery received the Ellis Island Medals of Honor on May 9th, 2009 in New York.
Senior Center Forum: Presented by a consortium of various seniors and aging organizations, (San Diego Aging & Independence Services), an informational seminar about the aging seniors. Topics included “Brain Fitness for Seniors”, and “Marketing and Branding for Senior Centers.”
Chinese Essay Program: This is an annual event that the Chinese School of SD and Chinese Service Center provides sponsorships and supports. The essay contest hopes to encourage the students with an opportunity to show what they have learn in school and express their feeling and thoughts in Chinese. The contest last year had 40 entrants and 120 people turned out for the award presentation banquet.
Solicitor's Transfer Exam: Sally Wong-Avery and Natasha Wong had both took the Solicitor's Transfer Exam. They are officially listed on the Roll of Solicitors for England and Wales.
Consumer Action/Credit Card Fraud & Freeze: The project entails informing the public about credit frauds, ID thefts, how to best guard your personal information and about freezing your credit information in the event that your personal information has been stolen.
United Way/SAY Financial Literacy Program: A United Way/SAY project that runs from May 2009 – April 2010. The financial literacy project developed to help low income people (ages 13-24) understanding about money management, develops financial stability and independence.
ESL Program: This is a program of the San Diego Community College put on for non-English speaking immigrants. The Chinese Service Center provided the classroom and advertisements about the class and some office supply for their teacher’s use. At present, 24-28 students attend the class daily for 3 hours.
Food Handling & Sanitation Safety Classes: This program is a county wide requirement for all establishments that serves, sells, and handling of food items by its managers (8 hour class) and employees(3 hour class) and must be certified by passing its test.
SDG&E CARE Program): This program promoted by SDG&E for the low income users with discounting on their energy bills. We did advertising about the program in the Chinese newspaper, contacting the low income and elderly on limited financial assistance.
Taiwan Typhoon Disaster: Notice informing the students and their parents of the unfortunate typhoon disaster that happened in Southern Taiwan, on August 8th, 2009. Through various people and organizations we had collected $8664.00 and donated to TECO in LA on October 14, 2009.
Cantonese Opera Charity Benefit Gala : An event held at the Chinese Community Church as a fundraiser for the Lin Wah Music Center. The Lin Wah Music Center perform Cantonese Opera. The Chinese Service Center and the Chinese School of San Diego was partially instrumental in helping to promote and contributed towards their fund drive.
CISANI-Chinese Immigration Service Agencies Network International: This conference is the 30th anniversary held in New York City. A conference organized to exchange ideas about social service issues, the changing demographics and social concerns.
International Student Educational Festival Week : This event was held by the international students at National University and they invited us to participate with a booth to hand out information of our organization. This event was attended by over 100 foreign students from several countries (i.e. China, India, Mexico and Europe).
American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) This conference was held in San Diego. Attendance numbered in the thousands;
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance-VITA : This program is designed to help the low income families with filing their Federal and State income taxes.
Chinese New Year Banquet:Celebrating the year of the “Rat,” this is the main fund raiser for the Chinese Service Center of San Diego. Partnering with four Chinese organizations, CSC provided planning, flyers and posters about the event, arranged entertainment and posted the grand prize of a trip to China for two and several drawing prizes. With over 500 people, the entertainment included acrobatics, a “Happy Chef” show, and candelabra contortionist performance from the Xing-Jian dancing studio.
God of Fortune Event: The “God of Fortune” opens Chinese New Year to bestow wealth and fortune upon everyone. CSC coordinated the opening ceremony for Chinese New Year at the Viejas Casino. The God of Fortune is accompanied by his followers and performed his blessing for the Casino by throwing good luck candies and gold coins to Viejas patrons.
Senior Appreciation Luncheon: The Chinese Service Center hosted a Chinese New Year luncheon at a local Chinese restaurant for the local Chinese seniors. This also served as an opportunity to inform the seniors about CSC programs available such as the AT&T telephone low cost lifeline program.
Chinese New Year Food & Cultural Faire :The Chinese Service Center shared a booth with SDG&E promoting low income electricity discounts and the AT&T telephone lifeline program.
Ching Ming:Ching Ming is a major Chinese cultural event where one pays respect to their ancestors. Along with Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association(CCBA), the Chinese Service Center provides sponsorship and support.
ESL Program:English as a Second Language (ESL), started at our facility in 2006, as a program of the San Diego Community College for non-English speaking immigrants.
Food Handling & Sanitation Safety Classes :A San Diego county wide requirement for all food establishments serving and handling food items, the Chinese Service Center charges a nominal fee for the class and exam. We are the only Chinese provider approved by the San Diego County Health Department.
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA):Working in conjunction with the IRS and SAY San Diego, this free IRS program is designed to help the low income families file their Federal and State income taxes. We are the only Asian organization in San Diego offering this service.
Good Manners Book:Written by Chinese Service Center President, Ms. Sally Wong-Avery, the “Good Manners Book” lays out generations of Chinese etiquette in hopes of reviving a conscious practice of good manners taught to all Chinese children.
Consumer Action/AT&T Lifeline Program:The AT&T program provides for low telephone rates called “lifeline” for income qualifiers.
SDG&E CARE Program:A program by SDG&E specifically for the low income families provides discounts on their energy bills. Chinese Service Center provided outreach – advertising, contacting the low income and elderly Chinese.
Cessna Pilot Center:Chinese Service Center provided translators and interpreters for mainland Chinese visitors wishing to send student pilots to the San Diego Flight Training school.
China’s Earthquake Disaster Meeting:Following the 7.9 earthquake that occurred in Sichuan (Chengdu region), Chinese Service Center and Mr. David Du organized a meeting at the Golden City Restaurant to rally the San Diego Chinese community and organizations to collect donations for the earthquake victims. With all local media in attendance, the collections totaled over $100,000. With assurance that 100% of all donations would go directly for food, medicine, and tents, the collected donations were brought to the Chinese Embassy in Los Angeles, with the money earmarked directly for the victims needs.
San Diego Asian American Repertory Theatre (SDAART): AART is San Diego’s contemporary Asian American theater company. The AART group practiced and rehearsed for their up-coming theatrical production of “The Joy Luck Club” at the Center.
California First 5 Program:Chinese Service Center provided consultation and advice for the Chinese baby kits that are provided to first time parents.
SDG&E Energy Green Meeting Program:Covering different methods of reducing the present energy usage in the Southern California, the presenters were the major southern California utilities: PG&E, Southern Edison and Sempra Energy (SDG&E). Several service organizations attended to promote and provide feed back on effective and ineffective methods to introduce the program.
Collective Multi-Cultural Theatre:The Collective Multicultural Theatre group rehearsed in our Center for their production of “Besito Pa Ti.”
Renter/Homeowner Assistance Program:California State program that returns a portion of the property taxes assessed on a homeowner or indirectly for renters on the rents paid. The Chinese Service Center helps seniors complete and file the appropriate forms.
Chinese Immigration Service Agencies Network International (CISANI):An annual conference for the last 29 years, CISANI serves as a venue for Chinese social service agencies from around the world to exchange ideas about social service issues, the changing demographics and social concerns. Members included representatives from international cities from Hong Kong, New York, Chicago, Toronto and Vancouver. Twenty (20) members from 10 cities attended this conference. This year the conference was held in Houston, Texas. The 30th anniversary in 2009 will be held in New York City.
Exempt Organizations Tax Seminar:A free seminar was presented by Federal, State and local tax agencies to discuss tax related issues concerning non-profit organizations, property tax exemptions, Sales & Use Taxes, and developments in charity law.
San Diego Asian Film Festival (SDAFF):An annual event, now in its 9th year, screened several hundred Asian artist produced films. About 30 films were shown during the Festival week. The Chinese Service Center of San Diego sponsored the film, “The Killing of a Chinese Cookie.”
SDG&E Energy Safety Program:In joint partnership with SDG&E, the Chinese Service Center helped to promote SDG&E light bulb (incandescent low energy florescence bulb) exchange program. During this one day event, the Center also promoted energy discounts for low income qualifying families.
Chinese New Year Banquet:Our main fund raiser, the Chinese Service Center partners with four other organizations to celebrate Chinese New Year. The San Diego community celebrates with food and entertainment of acrobats, Changing Faces performers, Chinese minority groups’ costumes, and customs from the Imperial Chinese dynasty era.
Bone Marrow:This event was sponsored by the Chinese Service Center in collaboration with the Asians for Miracle Marrow Matches (A3M). We provided translators in helping to recruit minorities, targeting Asians to participate in the bone marrow matching program. With Chinese at 1% and Asians overall at less than 6%, Asian minorities are under represented in bone marrow matching programs.
Ching Ming:A celebration of nature’s emergence from the long winter solstice where Chinese pay respects to their ancestors and clean grave sites.
English as a Second Language Program:English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, started at our facility in 2006. This program of the San Diego Community College is specifically for non-English speaking immigrants.
God of Fortune Event:We coordinated the God of Fortune opening ceremony at the Viejas Casino with the offering of a whole roasted pig and incense to welcome the “God of Fortune.”
Food Handling & Sanitation Safety Classes:This program is a San Diego county wide requirement for all restaurant workers. All managers and employees must be certified by passing the San Diego County exam. We are the only San Diego County approved Chinese instructor.
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance-VITA:This program is designed to help the low income families with filing their Federal and State income taxes returns. CSC helps low income clients file tax returns to claim the Earned Income Tax Credit. Working in conjunction with SAY San Diego and the University of San Diego School of Law, we are the only Chinese organization offering VITA assistance in San Diego.
China Trip:An annual trip organized by CSC covering the 3 major cities of Beijing, Xi’an and Shanghai. This trip is designed for school students, parents and others as an introduction to China.
Safety and Health Fair:A Safety and Health fair hosted by County Supervisor Ron Roberts, the Asian Business Association and Kaiser Permanente. Free bicycle helmets were distributed o children. A bike rodeo, operated by SafeMoves, had a simulated traffic street where children could ride their bicycles and learn to observe proper traffic signs. Free health books written in Korean, Chinese and Vietnamese were also distributed.
Chinese Essay Program:Presented by the House of China, the Essay Program is open to all students attending Chinese schools in San Diego County. This is an annual event where CSC provides sponsorship and support. The Essay Program encourages students to demonstrate what they have learned in school and express their thoughts and feelings in Chinese.
SDG&E CARE Program:A San Diego Gas & Electric program offering discounts on energy bills to low income households. We advertise and promote this program to the Chinese in San Diego.
Renter/Homeowner Assistance Program:California State program that returns a portion of the property taxes assessed on a homeowner or indirectly to renters on paid rent.
NBC / KNSD China Olympic Promotion:In conjunction with local television news channel NBC and several Chinese community organizations(House of China, the San Diego Historical Museum, Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association, and the Chinese School of San Diego), CSC planned an event to promote the summer Olympic games hosted by China in 2008 for potential advertisers.
Lin Wah Music Center:Lin Wah is a social organization of Chinese seniors who gather to socialize and play Chinese musical instruments.
Fire Awareness Program: Working with four other Chinese organizations, CSC organized and sponsored a post-disaster awareness educational seminar. Presented in English, translated into Mandarin & Cantonese, CSC opened this program to everyone in the community to educate them about related issues of preparedness, insurance, tax issues, and construction.
Chinese New Year Banquet:Our main fund raiser, the Chinese Service Center partners with four other organizations to celebrate Chinese New Year. CSC provided event planning, advertisements, and the entertainment. The San Diego community celebrated with food and entertainment of martial arts and Chinese singers.
Chinese New Year Gala:CSC was one among many sponsors helping to promote the Chinese New Year Gala. This year’s event was many performers from our local community, such as the San Diego Youth Symphony orchestra, performed with a Chinese dance troupe.
Bone Marrow: CSC sponsored and coordinated this event with the Asians for Miracle Marrow Matches (A3M). The Chinese Service Center and A3M operated a booth at the " 2006 Chinese New Year Food & Cultural Faire, " where we provided translators in recruiting minorities and especially Asians to participate in the bone marrow matching programs. At less than 6%, minorities are under represented in this program. CSC signed up 55 participants during the two day event.
Ching Ming:Ching Ming is a celebration of nature’s emergence from the long winter solstice. Chinese believe in paying respects to their ancestors and keeping their ancestor’s grave sites clean. This is a major Chinese cultural holiday sponsored and supported by CSC.
Nutritional Seminar: Sponsored by the CSC, Ms. Lily Wu, a licensed Chinese nutritionist, presented an informational lecture on healthy food choices to students, parents, and teachers. She stressed the importance of a diet drawing from the basic five food groups –grain, vegetable, meat, fruits, and dairy. She also emphasized the importance of physical activity. Her presentation was conducted in both Mandarin and English.
Dragon Boat Picnic: One of four major cultural festivals observed by Chinese, the Chinese Service Centers supported and helped coordinate this event. This festival is celebrated with dragon boat races and specially prepared Chinese dumplings. According to Chinese legend, the dumplings were thrown into the lake to discourage fish from eating the body of the poet Chu Yuan who drowned in 277 B.C. Approximately 150 people attended this event.
English as a Second Language Program:English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, started at our facility in September, 2006. It is a daily program of the San Diego Community College specifically for non-English speaking immigrants. Students are predominantly restaurant workers from surrounding businesses. This class is free to the public.
Chinese Essay Program:Presented by the House of China, the Essay Program is open to all students from several Chinese schools in San Diego County. This is an annual event where the Chinese Service Center of San Diego and Chinese School of San Diego provide sponsorship and support. The Essay Program encourages students to demonstrate what they have learned in school and express their thoughts and feelings in Chinese. This year’s essay theme was, “The Person I Admire the Most.” The contest had 43 entrants, and 102 people attended the award presentation banquet..
Food Handling & Sanitation Safety Classes:This program is a county wide requirement for all San Diego restaurants. All managers and employees must pass the San Diego County exam. We are the only San Diego County approved Chinese instructor.
China Trip:CSC organized a 9-day trip to China covering 3 major cities of Beijing, Xi’an and Shanghai. This trip is designed for the school students, parents and others as an introduction to China. Participants tour and learn about the Forbidden City, Terracotta Warriors, the Great Wall, Ming Tombs, Chinese manufacturing, and taste authentic Chinese food.
Chinese Immigration Service Agencies Network International (CISANI):The 26th annual worldwide networking conference for the Chinese social service agencies. This conference enables each agency to exchange ideas about social service issues, the changing demographics and social concerns specific to the Chinese. Members included representatives from the cities of Hong Kong, Toronto, New York, Houston, Seattle, and Vancouver.
Filial Piety Conference: CSC hosted this international conference in November, 2006. Speakers from all over the world, including from China, U.S., Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, South Africa, Australia, Canada and others, gathered to discuss the concerns of the world’s aging population. The main keynote speakers were Dr. David Ho, noted AIDS researcher & TIME Magazine’s Man of the Year, and Dr. Joseph Wong, noted Canadian doctor who established several Yee Hong Geriatric Care centers in Canada. The conference was a huge success with 600 people in attendance.
Bone Marrow (2/12-13/2005): This event was sponsored by the Chinese Service Center and coordinated with the Asians for Miracle Marrow Matches (A3M). The Chinese Service Center and A3M presented and operated a stall/tent at the "2005 Chinese New Year Food & Cultural Faire". The center provided help in seeking out minorities and especially Asians to participate in the bone marrow matching programs, minorities are very well under represented in this program. We managed to sign up 44 participants during the two day event. 3,000 to 4,000 people attended the fair.
Chinese New Year Banquet (1/22/2005): This event is a fund raiser for the Chinese Service Center along with 5 other organizations. We provided planning, flyers and posters about the event, arranged entertainments and posted drawing prizes for a trip to China for two. Also, a bus was provided for about 40 seniors to attend the event. 640 people attended the banquet. We managed to raise $1,800 from the event.
Dragon Boat Event (4/23/2005): A one day event where the Chinese Service Center sponsored the Chinese School teachers, students and their parents to learn about this cultural event. We provided manpower, food/drinks/towels and transportations to the event (2 buses). About 3,000 people attended the event.
Moon Fest Faire (9/17-18/2005): A Chinese cultural event, moon cakes, customs and history was presented in partnership with the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association (CCBA). We helped to print up posters, drawing tickets and participated in the planning sessions. We sponsored a stall/tent for the Asians Bone Marrow Match organization (A3M) and provided translators and manpower to help with soliciting participants. Thousands attended the event and we managed to recruit 30 new donors.
CISANI (Chinese Immigration Service Agencies Network International) Toronto, Canada (11/2-4/2005): A conference, held yearly for the last 25 years, we have been a participating organization for over 20 years. A conference held that exchanged ideas and held discussions about social service issues, the changing demographics and social concerns. Members included representatives from international cities from Hong Kong, Toronto and Vancouver. Sixty (60) members from 20 cities were in attendance.
Hepatitis B and Liver Cancer Prevention workshop (10/23/2004): This workshop was held at the CCBA Senior Garden, coordinated the event with the Asian Pacific Health Center. For the 1 day event, we were able to register and screen 40 people. Blood samples were taken and the results were mailed to the individual homes. Distributed brochures and collected pre-survey about hepatitis and liver cancer, informational lecture provided by their doctor and post-survey questionnaires were then collected. We provided refreshments and food, helped with answering and interpreting the registration forms. Prior to the actual event, we made announcement flyers and posters that were hung at various Asian business establishments. We used our center for managing their appointments before the day of the event. 100 people attended.

