AACI RAISES OVER $240,000 DURING BETTER TOGETHER

SAN JOSE, CA – Thanks to the compassion and generosity of more than 350 participants and volunteers, Asian Americans for Community Involvement (AACI)’s annual fundraiser Better Together raised over $240,000 to support health and wellness services in our community.

All proceeds of the event, which took place on Saturday, October 7, 2017 at the Computer History Museum, will benefit AACI programs, serving largely low-income and immigrant individuals from a diverse array of backgrounds.

“I am overwhelmed by the generosity of donors at AACI’s Better Together event. Their contributions allow us to ensure access to the best possible care for anyone who walks through AACI’s doors.The support of all of our sponsors and the dedication of all our volunteers is what made this event such a success,” said Sarita Kohli, AACI President & CEO.

This year, the event put the spotlight on the AACI programs serving youth, and more particularly on Arts & Media Promoting Leadership Initiatives For Youth (AMPLIFY), an after-school alternative activities prevention program that provides a safe space where youth can get in touch with their creative side while also learning leadership skills and healthy decision-making.

As Sarah, an AMPLIFY student, shared on stage with Better Together attendees: “I used to live in Iowa where I was one of the only Asians in school. I was shy, I was lost, I didn’t know I was. I moved to San Jose by myself after my grandma broke her leg. After joining the AMPLIFY program, I became more confident, started to believe in myself and I am now a City Youth Commissioner for the City of San Jose. AMPLIFY helped me find my voice.“

Guests were also entertained with a special performance by UC Berkeley Azaad and two special awards were distributed during the event:

• Dave Cortese, Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors’ President, received the Gordon N. Chan Leadership Award. Dave declared 2011 “the Year of the Child”, making a call to eliminate youth incarceration. By working with youth service providers and the Justice System, he was able to reduce the number of youth sent to Juvenile Hall and other detention facilities.
• John Chiang, California’s State Treasurer, received the People’s Advocate Award. John has continuously fought for consumers’ rights and has made transparency a top priority,believing that sharing information with taxpayers enables them to hold government officials accountable.

The generous sponsors which partnered up with AACI to support this event included: Gordon N. & Anita T. Chan Foundation, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Southwest Airlines, Comcast, NBC Bay Area, Dr. Jeffery Lee & Susan Lew Lee, El Camino Hospital, Glenn & Sherri Osaka, Palo Alto University, Santa Clara Family Health Plan, The Coca-Cola Company, California Bank & Trust, and many more.

For further information or inquiries, please contact Amandine Aubin, Marketing & Communications Associate, at amandine.aubin@aaci.org or (408) 975-2730 x 313.

About Asian Americans for Community Involvement (AACI)
For over 40 years, AACI’s mission has been to improve the health, mental health and well-being of individuals, families and the community. AACI’s services have provided critical support to grow to provide culturally accessible services and is inclusive to all ethnicities, with 40% of AACI clients coming from non-Asian background. AACI’s 175+ staff speak more than 40 languages and dialects and we hold cultural competency as one of the keys to delivering deeply engaged care.