Arthritis Foundation 2020 Chinese New Year Dinner

Arthritis Foundation Staff and Board of Directors 2020, (back) Darby Schwartz, William Gallivan, MD, Juli ASkew, Bob Price, Timothy M. Spiegel, MD, MPH, (front) Karen Gallivan, RN, Amye Leong, MBA Chair, Mary Ellen Kullman, MPH

By Bonnie Carroll

Gung Hay Fat Choy “Wishing you Prosperity and Health” was the word during the Arthritis Foundation Central Coast 2020 Chinese New Year Dinner at China Pavilion Restaurant in Santa Barbara to benefit kids with arthritis and the Arthritis Foundation. “The Chinese New Year Dinner is the official kick-off for the Arthritis Foundation’ Central Coast Taste of the Town to be held this year on September 13.

Co-Chairs for the dinner included Timothy M. Spiegel, MD, MPH & Mary Ellen Kullman, MPH, William Gallivan, MD & Karen Gallivan, RN, Amye Leong, MBA & Bob Price Msc. Juli Askew, new Development Manager for Arthritis Foundation Central Coast welcomed guests as they arrived at the door with the assistance from Darby Schwartz, Arthritis Foundation Interim Senior Executive Director.

2020 Leadership Board members included Amye Leong, MBA Chair, Karen Anderson, RN, Deborah Deneault, William Gallivan, MD, Julianna Mailis, Miriam Parsa, MD, Douglas Tucker, L. Mae Chandler, DPM, Thomas D. Ferro, MD, Susan Lemon, DO, John Muller, PT, Pam Tanase, and C.J. Ward. Sponsors for the event included Calabasas Country Club, Enterprise Fish Company, Karen Gallivan, RN, Santa Barbara Natural History Museum, Wine Cask, John O’Neill, Beverly Jackson, China Pavilion, Peter Chen, Foley Family Wines, Moxi Museum, Westerlt Orchids, Arthritis Foundation.

Amye Leong, MBA, board member lead the “Gung Hay Fat Choy” toast featuring Hooch (Chinese moonshine) served in delicate keepsake glasses. Red, an an auspicious and popular color in the Chinese culture symbolizing luck, happiness and joy was the recommended color of the evening and the majority of attendees arrived at the China Pavilion for the feast wearing their best red couture. Auction sponsors included orchids, a foursome of golf at Calabasas Country Club, cookies of your choice baked and delivered by Karen Gallivan, night out for the performance of American in Paris and dinner at the Wine Cask, tickets to area museums with Enterprise Fish Co. lunch and dinner with legendary author and historian Beverley Jackson.

China Pavilion Chef Peter Chen and his staff skillfully prepared and served the traditional ten-course dinner that included chicken or vegetable pot stickers, Asian style honey-roasted crispy duck with five spices, steamed whole fish with ginger & scallion sauce, lotus root vegetable dish, orange peel chicken, spicy ginger beef, Singapore noodles with veggies, shrimp with pecans and sliced Cara oranges, almond cookies & fortune cookies for dessert. Foley 2016 Santa Rita Hills Chardonnay and Firestone 2016 Chairman Series Merlot was served with dinner.

This year the Walk to Cure Arthritis will be held on May 16 at Meadow Park in San Luis Obispo and on Saturday June 6 at Chase Palm Park in Santa Barbara (Contact Central Coast Office for details 805-563-4685) or visit: www.walktocurearthritis.org/SantaBarbara. The 2020 Connoisseurs’ Circle Dinner will be held at the Hilton Santa Barbara Resort on September 11, and the Taste of the Town at Riviera Park will be held Sunday, September 13.

According to the mission statement of the Arthritis Foundation “The Arthritis Foundation is boldly pursuing a cure for America’s #1 cause of disability, while championing the fight against arthritis with life-changing resources, science, advocacy and community connections.”