AdopSource’s 2nd Annual Fundraising Event
Written by: Margie Andreason
The glittery gold bodies and dramatic eyes of the lion costumes darted through the audience to signal the beginning of AdopSource’s 2nd Annual Fundraising Event. About 100 supporters were brought together on Friday, May 29th, 2009 at the Wilder Center in St. Paul, MN to celebrate both Asian Heritage Month and AdopSource’s accomplishments over the past year. AdopSource was able to raise $4,700 with its silent auction and registration, and was awarded a Target grant of $7,500 for the event.
Paula O'Loughlin, AdopSource board member, emceed the program and started off by leading the audience in enthusiastic applause for Eric Dollerschell-Petry, for his jazz music performance and for the Ha family’s Lion Dance show. Many children were ecstatic at the opportunity to pose in pictures with the lion costumes afterwards.
Three members of the Ragamala Music and Dance Theater performed a piece influenced by the traditional Indian Bharatanatyam dance, but with a contemporary twist. The dance company is known for pushing beyond the boundaries of cultural specific dance while maintaining its authenticity. Two of the dancers were Asian adoptees themselves, from India and Korea. The upbeat music and graceful yet powerful movements proved to be great entertainment.
A vast array of Asian dishes including Soba salad and sweet coconut rice kept people coming back for seconds and thirds. Attendees were able to browse through the rows of auction items which included Guthrie tickets and tour, digital camera, and Trader Joe’s and Peace Coffee gift baskets. A lucky few left with door prizes including gift certificates for Haagen-Dazs, Mirror of Korea, and Panera Bread.
It was a special treat to have nationally known comedian, Amy Anderson as our key note speaker for the fundraiser. Her quirky personality and ability to connect with the adoptees in the audience had us teary eyed one moment and bursting with laughter the next. For Amy it was exciting for her to be back in Minnesota where she grew up. Amy shared how she got started in comedy at a very young age by memorizing the Smothers Brothers’ lines and sneaking her brother’s Eddie Murphy albums and then getting in trouble at school for trying out the jokes on schoolmates. She was a natural at being the class clown. Now as a professional comedian and writer, Amy’s identity as a Korean adoptee has been called into the spotlight. Questions starting popping up in her email from adoptive parents asking her really serious questions about racism to questions like “How did you learn to love kimchi?” Amy has found herself in a role representing the adoptee community.
Amy’s key note message was loud and clear –“I’m proud of being a part of the adoptee community, but I’m just one piece.” She pointed out her strong belief that as adoptees, we needed to represent ourselves. That we may have similar threads that unite us but it is not the only thing that defines who we are. “We are the same, but different,” said Amy and she encouraged the adoptees in the crowd to revel in the differences and embrace our unique experiences. Her words resonated with Pat Gingles, a Korean adoptee, who commented “Her speech was good. I can take a couple of her points away about how to think of my experience as an adoptee.”
The annual fundraiser was lastly a good time to reflect on AdopSource’s work over the past year and to appreciate all the amazing support from its volunteers and members. The all volunteer-led organization was able to successfully host a book reading, dinner and dialogue, small group discussion, and a dream workshop. AdopSource has plans to continue to provide awareness, resources and space for the Asian adoptee community - for all of us who are the same, but different.
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“This was my first time at an AdopSource event. I really liked the key note speaker and dancers”
- Amy Johnson, Korean Adoptee
“The performances were great!”
- Sara Spiess, Korean Adoptee
Very well run fundraiser! I, coming from a fundraising organization myself, was very impressed!
-James Dollerschell-Petry, spouse of Korean Adoptee |
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