SAN FRANCISCO - The Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation (AIISF) will kick off a year-long celebration of the 100th anniversary of the U.S. Immigration Station on Angel Island at its annual fundraising dinner on Friday, September 18, 2009 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Hotel Intercontinental San Francisco.
The featured speaker will be Representative Lynn Woolsey, who has represented Marin and Sonoma counties for 18 years in the U.S. Congress. Rep. Woolsey has supported the restoration efforts at the Immigration Station, a National Historic Landmark, for many years. Her sponsorship of AIISF’s requests for funding has brought $2.35 million towards the $15 million authorized in the Angel Island Hospital Restoration Act of 2000. Rep. Woolsey will speak about the role this historic site can play in the vital discussion of public issues such as immigration, global trade, and peace among nations.
The evening program will also highlight the importance of recovering personal stories of former immigrants and their descendants. Short videos, produced by filmmaker Jeffrey Chin, will showcase the lives of Robert Hong, who immigrated from China in 1936, and Nick Friesen, who emigrated from Russia in 1929. Both Mr. Hong and Mr. Friesen attended the Grand Reopening of the Immigration Station last February, accompanied by their sons and daughters and grandchildren.
AIISF continues to gather personal accounts of immigrants who passed through the Immigration Station between 1910 and 1940. Over one million immigrants from over 80 countries entered the U.S. through Angel Island. Since the overwhelming majority of immigrants came from Asia and the Pacific, the Immigration Station is becoming known as a national symbol of Pacific immigration.
“We are excited about this program,” said AIISF Executive Director Eddie Wong. “What better way to kick off a year of activities to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Immigration Station than to bring leaders such as Rep. Woolsey together with our family of supporters.”
AIISF Board members include Molly Coye, Henry Der, Rodney Fong, President Buck Gee, Treasurer Michael Hardeman, Ming Hsu, Kathy Lim Ko, VP Jeff Lee, DDS, Ken Lee, Kelvin Quan, Howard Ting, Katherine Toy Kathy Owyang Turner and Gerrye Wong. The centennial kick off will take place on January 21, 2010 and several major events are planned throughout the year to commemorate the history of the Angel Island Immigration Station which processed all immigrants coming through San Francisco from 1910-1940.
Tickets for the annual dinner may be purchased at www.aiisf.org. For more information, call (415) 262-4429.
