Photo caption: From left to right, Marge Young, Ruby Luke, Rep. Cindy Ryu and Bettie Luke. Photo credit: Tony Au / Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience.
On Saturday, March 23rd, hundreds of festively clad supporters of Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience filled the second-floor halls of the Seattle Sheraton Hotel. The occasion? The museum’s 2013 dinner and auction — a dynamic fundraiser fueling and recognizing the museum as a rare, national and local treasure worth investing in. Bolstered by an inspiring talk from performer and Hapa mixed-race advocate Kip Fulbeck, powerful performances by YouthCAN poets and a momentous live auction, the museum raised about $315,000. The International District-based cultural institution and Smithsonian affiliate has long been recognized as a unique national model with strong local ties and community-informed programming. Recently, the museum was also designated as a National Park Service affiliated area, deeming it a rich, cultural resource highlighting the issues and stories of a fast-growing Asian and Pacific Islander population.
To view more auction photos, please visit www.flickr.com/photos/wingluke/.