Written by: Emily Chao & Helen Gu, FCSN Voices Senior Youth Reporters
Graphics by: Kaitlyn Huynh, FCSN Voices Senior Graphic Artist

On November 5, 2023, FCSN held its annual “Expand Our Dream” gala at the Grand Dynasty Seafood Restaurant, the second in-person Gala since the COVID pandemic. This event, bringing together hundreds of supporters, volunteers, board members, and staff, was a night filled with hope and gratitude, helping to foster connections among the community. Along with recognizing the achievements of individuals and the community as a whole, FCSN also shared with its supporters their visions for the future. As Albert Wang, a co-founder and board member, said, the annual gala is “a great gathering of our supporters, volunteers, board members, staff — it’s like a big party where everyone gets to meet [each other].”

With numbers of special needs children on the rise and increasing needs from local families, the focus of this year’s gala was fundraising for the construction of the new Osgood Center, set to open its doors in mid 2024. During the gala, FCSN co-chair Jim Chiao provided an update on the Osgood Center construction, showcasing a video of the renovation project. The new center, located in Fremont, will provide vital space and service to the many families still in need of FCSN’s programs. Jacqueline Yu, one of the event co-chairs, who has been part of the FCSN community since 2000, expressed her excitement for the new center, stating, “It’s really big, it’s going to help a lot of families.” Wang emphasized that due to inflation, FCSN’s construction costs almost doubled, so the fundraising from the gala would be vital to the success of the project. “I think [today] will be the chance for us to share the status for the construction, for the new building; we still need the support from the community,” Wang shared.

From humble beginnings of a dozen families to expanding to serve more than 1,100 families and 500 clients with a variety of programs and services, FCSN has grown enormously since its founding. Through her son, who has special needs and is part of the FCSN community, Yu has felt firsthand the support from the FCSN centers as well as how the organization has changed over the years. “I think it was more of a family support in the beginning, and now there are a lot more programs for special needs children,” she says gratefully. As the organization impacts more people around the community and we move out of the pandemic, the galas have also begun operating on larger scales. For this year, the location was a challenge for the event team to pick as a larger venue was needed to accommodate for a greater number of guests. Peter Chan, one of the event co-chairs, said that last year’s gala was crowded since Pearl Bay Restaurant was too small for the hundreds of attendees; thus, leading to this year’s choice of the Grand Dynasty Seafood Restaurant.

While fundraising is a central goal for the gala, with multiple opportunities throughout the event to donate through raffle tickets, donation matching, and more, FCSN also wanted to foster a sense of community and solidarity. Albert Wang specially recognized two volunteers that were essential to the success of the centers and FCSN as a whole. Tracy Chiao, a real estate agent and daughter of FCSN’s co-chair, Jim Chiao, helped acquire the Osgood Building, obtaining the 18,000-square-foot property for a good price. Along with that, Stanley Woo helped in the construction of all three of FCSN’s centers, while also serving as FCSN board member for many years. Later on, the City Council came to recognize FCSN’s efforts, applauding the organization for its accomplishments. Towards the end of the event, Daniel Rachlin, organizer of FCSN Toastmasters, gave a touching story about his son’s autism. He concluded that “without optimism, we have nothing,” listing many things he and his family are grateful for.

In addition to touching stories, the gala also had talented musicians to celebrate progress and enliven the mood. The night featured a thrilling performance by award-winning instrumentalist Chi-Ling Wu, who played “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran and “Canon in D” by Pachelbel. Wu, a two-time presidential award winner, plays nine instruments and regularly performs for hospitals and senior residential centers. Later on in the event, the talented band, Dream Achievers, played “Moon Represents My Heart” and “The Impossible Dream,” touching the hearts of the hundreds of audience members present. The co-presidents of FCSN also did an acapella duet to celebrate FCSN’s journey. The music, connecting all the guests, supporters, and sponsors present in the room, was a testament to the strong and widespread community FCSN has. Yvette, a participant at the gala, put it into her own words: “[My favorite part of FCSN is] the people, the friends I’ve made, the support from other parents, also all the education opportunities, the seminars, the webinars they organize,” she expressed. “I am grateful for all the opportunities, and the friendships.”

At the end of the night, after meeting fundraising goals, FCSN announced the raffle winners, giving out prizes donated by generous members. These prizes included Apple Watches, iPhones, and even plane tickets. The night closed with hopes of a prosperous new year ahead and a successful opening of the new center that would benefit hundreds of families in the years and decades to come. Jason Hwan, FCSN’s co-president and a co-founder, expressed his gratitude for the community: “FCSN serves as a wonderful platform to give me the opportunity to support [families in need],” he said. “No matter of money, time, or effort, this is the greatest part that I can do for FCSN.”