The Asian American Coalition of Chicago's 24th Annual Lunar New Year Celebration, "Roar With the Boar 2007/4705," will be on Saturday, March 3, 2007 at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare, 9300 West Bryn Mawr Avenue in Rosemont, Illinois. Cocktails, open music and exhibit displays begin at 5:30 p.m.; opening ceremonies are at 6:30 p.m., with dinner show including entertainment and an awards ceremony following, until approximately 9:45 p.m. Over 1,100 people are expected.
Every year a different Asian community takes turn playing host of the Lunar New Year gala. This year it is the Chinese American Community, which has thrice before (1984, 1991 and 1999) held the gavel for the Asian Pacific American community's most important event of the year.
The Coalition announced its roster of celebrity presenters, recipients of its 2007 Pan Asian, Grand Asian and Community Service Awards. Celebrity presenters are:
* Ravi Baichwal, Weekend Anchor/Reporter, ABC 7 News;Linda Yu will host the presentation of the prestigious PAN ASIAN AMERICAN PING TOM MEMORIAL AWARD at ceremonies that evening.
The Hon. George Van Dusen, Mayor of the Village of Skokie (since 1999), has been named the 2007 recipient of the Coalition's GRAND ASIAN AWARD. This award is periodically presented to someone of non-Asian descent, who has made significant contributions to the Asian Pacific American community.
The 2007 Community Service Award Recipients are selected one each from Chinese American, Filipino American, Indian American, Indonesian American, Japanese American, Korean American, Pakistani American, Thai American, and Vietnamese American Communities.
The 2007 Youth Who Excels honorees include one each from Chinese American, Filipino American, Indian American, Indonesian American, Korean American, Palistani american, Thai American, and Vietnamese American communities.