LUCKY RED / Lit Up the Lucky Red

Many distinguished guests gather together to celebrate the Year of the Dragon

To celebrate the hopeful and joyful Year of the Dragon, on the night of the first day of the Lunar New Year, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame ignited a fervent and festive "Lucky Red" especially for this event. The Beijing Changier Education Foundation is the silver sponsor for the "Pamdaor 2024 Lunar New Year Gala" held by the American Chinese United Association at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Emma Chen-Banas, the UN representative and Chief Executive Officer of the Beijing Changier Education Foundation and Honorary Chairperson of the Massachusetts branch of the American Chinese United Association, represented the foundation at the gala.

The Hall of Fame venue lit up with lucky red

The "Pamdaor 2024 Lunar New Year Gala" at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, hosted by the American Chinese United Association (ACUA for short)) and co-organized by the renowned Angel Dance Company that enjoys widespread popularity across America, attracted more than 400 enthusiastic local and international attendees from the New England area. Approximately 200 performers and staff, as well as over 80 volunteers, traveled from local areas, Connecticut, Boston, and New York to present a magnificent and unforgettable spectacle to the audience through their hard work and dedication.

Spectacular scene onsite

Chairman Xie Feng of the ACUA, along with Yang Hui, Co-Chairman of the ACUA and President of Louisiana branch, Chen Xueli, President of the Chinese American Federation (Greater Washington), Wendy Zhang, Secretary General, Chen Shaogong, President of the International Hua-Yan Buddhist Federation, Liu Dong, Vice President of Louisiana branch, Chen Changlin, Lily and Shi Dingkai from the Chinese American Federation (New York), and other distinguished guests attended the evening gala in person.

Over 50 key figures from the Senate and the House of Representatives, local municipal governments and related institutions in Massachusetts accepted invitations and attended the evening gala, significantly enhancing the festive atmosphere of the celebration. Main guests include:

Angelo Puppolo, Chairman of the Massachusetts House Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs, Senators Jake Oliveira and Adam Gomez, Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, Easthampton Mayor Nicole LaChapelle, City Council Chairman Homar Gomez, Representatives Aaron Saunders, Brian Ashe, Shirley Arriaga, and Carlos Gonzalez, Rosemary A. Saccomani, Register of Probate and Family Court officer, former Senator Eric Lesser, Saatvik Ahluwalia, Vice Chair of the Asian American Commission, Springfield City Councilors Maria Perez, Kateri Walsh, Jose Delgado, Susan Kacoyannakis, and Gladys Oyola-Lopez, Springfield School Committee Chair LaTonia Monroe Naylor, Ann Ferriter, Director of the Language Acquisition in Springfield, Lisa Andoscia, Director of Intergovernmental Relations, Emma Chen-Banas, United Nations representative and CEO of the Beijing Changier Education Foundation, Honorary President of the ACUA of Massachusetts, and Paul Lambert, Springfield Symphony Orchestra President, among others.

From left to right: Counselor Lin Haian, Domenic Sarno, Mayor of Springfield, Xie Feng, President of the ACUA, and Emma Chen-Banas, UN representative and CEO of the Beijing Changier Education Foundation, and Honorary Chairperson of the Massachusetts branch of the ACUA

Springfield City Council Representatives

Xie Feng, President of the ACUA (fourth from left), and some branch presidents

This Lunar New Year Gala received commendations from government authorities at all levels.

State Government Commendation Order

The mayor's document declaring the Lunar New Year as a government statutory holiday

Chairman Xie Feng stated during the Lunar New Year Gala that the successful organization of this event marks the unity and cultural confidence of the Chinese community. Such celebration activities not only allow Chinese expatriates to feel the warmth of their hometown but also further deepen the understanding and experience of non-Chinese ethnic groups towards Chinese traditional culture.

Sun Li, CEO of Pamdaor, the title sponsor of this year's Lunar New Year Gala, and Eddie Chen, CEO of Kirin Hot Pot, the title sponsor of last year's Lunar New Year Gala, also delivered speeches and extended their holiday greetings at the gala.

Xie Feng (left), President of the ACUA, presented an award to Domenic Sarno (center), Mayor of Springfield

Counsel Lin Hai'an presented an award to Angelo Puppolo, Chairman of the Massachusetts House Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs

Emma Chen-Banas (third from the left), the UN representative and CEO of the Beijing Changier Education Foundation and Honorary Chairperson of the Massachusetts branch of the ACUA, presented an award to the City Council

At the Gala, Angelo Puppolo, Chair of the Massachusetts House Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs, Domenic Sarno, Mayor of Springfield, City Council, and Xie Feng, Chairman of the ACUA, were respectively awarded with the Annual Leadership Award, Outstanding Contribution to Society Award, Outstanding Contribution to the Chinese American Community Award, and Community Volunteer Contribution Award by the ACUA, in recognition of their contributions and exemplary leadership. They have long supported the Chinese community and encouraged multiculturalism.

Angel Dance Principal Ke Ke and student representatives received the Outstanding Contribution to Society Award presented by the state government

Group photo of the awardees

THE GALA / Spectacular Lunar New Year Gala

Cultural Heritage, Brilliant Performances

Garden Event

Banquet

The participation of artists and professional groups propelled the artistic atmosphere of the evening to a climax, as the eagerly anticipated performance began. A dragon dance started the show. This symbol of strength, wisdom, and good fortune, brought the best blessings for the new year. From the traditional art of Face-changing in Sichuan Opera to Beijing Opera, the splendid performances with surprises coming one after another great entertained the audiences. The World Championship gold medalist Angel Dance Company who gave outstanding performance at the NBA event in Boston, added highlights to the evening.

Highlights of the program

Angel Dance Company's program

Group photo of Angel Dance performing students

The dance "Field of Hopes" and "Murals from the Silk Road "

The song "Nomadic Time"; Chinese zither music "Blissful Waters"

Bement Youth Orchestra's performance, the unforgettable gala drew to a close

Audiences from Massachusetts and the surrounding areas also visited the world-renowned basketball temple — known as the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (commonly referred to as the "NBA Hall of Fame") — where they took photos with life-size standees of Yao Ming, who was honored with an induction into the Hall of Fame in 2016, creating unforgettable memories.

Media coverage

22News paid close attention to the Lunar New Year Gala held at the Basketball Hall of Fame and made prompt report in the evening news on the night of the gala. At the same time, the Masslive Media also provided simultaneous coverage of our event.

-https://www.wwlp.com/news/local-news/western-massachusetts-chinese-community-celebrates-lunar-new-year/

-https://www.masslive.com/westernmass/2024/02/springfield-celebrates-chinese-culture-with-lunar-new-year-gala.html

The "Pamdaor·2024 Lunar New Year Gala" concluded successfully at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, leaving the audiences with fond memories. This event will inspire and motivate overseas Chinese, promoting their further integration and development within American society.

The significance of the Lunar New Year is not only the beginning of the year, but also the starting point of hope and dreams. Chinese people in US shall join hands and contribute to the harmony and prosperity of the community in the new year, as well as to the preservation and promotion of the essence of traditional culture.