9/24/2010 – PRINCETON AREA: Celebrate Chuseok with the Korean Community Center of Greater Princeton

The Korean Community Center of Greater Princeton (KCCP) will hold its fourth annual Korean Chuseok Fundraising Gala on Saturday, Oct. 2, at Rider University in Lawrence.

This year’s gala theme — “Take Part, Take Pride, Persist” — will showcase the Korean-American experience in the greater Princeton area,

The keynote speaker, Dr. Hesung Chun Koh of East Rock Institute, will discuss the impact of Korean-Americans in America today.

The gala will honor Rider University and its president, Dr. Mordechai Rozanski, for their outstanding support of KCCP over the years. KCCP member Helen Lee will be honored for outstanding volunteerism.

Since its founding in 2007, KCCP’s vision has been to build a community center to share Korean- American cultural heritage and resources with future generations of Korean- Americans and the broader community at large. However, in order to better engage and empower KKCP members and the community towards this goal, the annual Chuseok fundraising gala has become a big part of KCCP’s fundraising effort. This year’s gala will once again become an opportunity for local Korean-Americans and their friends to celebrate the spirit of volunteerism and working together for our community.

Chuseok is Korea’s annual harvest celebration and major national holiday. Like America’s Thanksgiving Day, it is an occasion for family, friends, feasts and homecoming traditions.

KCCP gala co-chair Alice Yi hopes to take this year’s gala guests to an unforgettable street fair in Korea, bustling with food and atmosphere. During cocktail hour, an Americanized-version of street stalls will be temporarily installed at Rider University and serve Korea’s quintessential culinary delights. There will also be a favorite Korean-American pastime — the sing-along — with world-class Korean- American musicians leading the singing. And there will be a silent auction and raffle.

For more information about the gala, visit www.kccpchuseokaala.com or contact gala co-chair Alice Yi at 609-915-4795 or Alicyi@aol.com

On Saturday, Sept. 25, from noon to 4 p.m. at Princeton Korean Presbyterian Church, located at the First Presbyterian Church of Plainsboro, at 500 Plainsboro Road, the 15th annual Korean Culture Fest for families with adopted Korean children will offer highlights of Korean culture and lifestyle, including foods, films, sing-alongs, traditional dances, traditional costumes, Tae-Kwon-Do, and more.

Admission is free. For more information, call J.P. Ryoo at 609-919-1344 or Samuel Oh at 609-799-3400.