Every year, our annual gala is a moment when the Gum Moon community comes together to celebrate what’s possible when people show up for one another. This year, over 290 guests filled the room, and together we surpassed our fundraising goal.

We gathered under the theme **“Caribbean Paradise”**, because no matter the challenges, **joy, resilience, and hope** continue to shine in our community.
When you think of the Caribbean, you can’t help but picture sunshine, colorful rhythms, island dreams, relaxation by the sea, and the vibrance of a joyful vacation. That’s the spirit we carried into the room: to celebrate, to dream, and to let Gum Moon’s mission shine as brightly as the Caribbean sun.
Mark your calendar and save the date for next year’s gala on **Saturday, September 12th, 2026**. In the meantime, we wanted to share photos and highlights from the event that inspires us year-round.

Why this gala matters

This event is more than a beautiful luncheon, it’s a powerful reminder that community care is real, and it’s built person by person, table by table, donation by donation.

Your support helps Gum Moon Women’s Residence, the Asian Women’s Resource Center (AWRC), and our Asian Family Support Centers provide essential programs for women and families, especially those navigating crisis, transition, or uncertainty. Because when someone feels safe, supported, and connected, everything changes: stability returns, confidence grows, and new possibilities open.

*Picture Above: Far East Café’s banquet hall was dressed in the Caribbean sun’s shades and offered a festive mood to the guests.*

Our purpose and impact

This year, we celebrated 157 years of Gum Moon’s service to women and families in San Francisco.

Gum Moon was founded in 1868 as the Oriental Home and School. Its original mission was to rescue Chinese girls and women who were sold into slavery and prostitution and provide them with shelter and education.

As the community’s needs evolved, Gum Moon evolved too:

In the late 1800s, the Home became an orphanage for Chinese girls and babies abandoned by families who were too poor to keep them.
It later became a kindergarten for Chinese children who were barred from San Francisco public schools following the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act.
In the 1940s, the organization was renamed Gum Moon, meaning “Golden Door” in Cantonese, a name that reflects opportunity for those who enter.

In 1984, Gum Moon’s Board established the Asian Women’s Resource Center (AWRC). What started with a seed grant and three vocational programs has grown, over 40+ years, into a comprehensive family resource center, with two satellite Asian Family Support Centers in the Richmond and Sunset districts.

Today, across Gum Moon, AWRC, and the Asian Family Support Centers, we serve over 5,500 women and families with a wide range of services, including:

Transitional housing and support services for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking
Comprehensive family support services for families with children ages 0–17

Pictured Above: Behind the scene pictures of the Gum Moon team preparing every details of the event.

The heart of the event: culture, community, connection

What makes this gala so special is how it reflects the community we serve: vibrant, intergenerational, and deeply connected. It’s a place where supporters, families, staff, volunteers, and city leaders come together, not just to celebrate Gum Moon’s legacy, but to invest in the future.

From powerful honoree recognitions to performances that brought the room to life, the evening showcased the spirit that has sustained Gum Moon for generations.

Community Hero Honoree Recognition

Pictured Above: Honorees of the Woman of Excellence Award stand among Gum Moon supporters and city officials. The honorees (left to right) are Pat Nishimoto, Sister of Susan Go, representing Susan, a beloved community leader whose lifetime of service embodied love and inclusion; Carmen Chu, a San Francisco city administrator with over 20 years of public service and a steadfast voice for equity; and, finally, Beverly Ng, a San Francisco Recreation & Parks leader and 20-year APYLP mentor empowering AAPI youth.

Parent Child Interactive Group Performance

Pictured Above: Parent Child Interactive Group participants (children of 2-3 years old) entertained us with a Calypso dance.

City Leader Support

Pictured Above: Rafael Mandelman, President of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Brooke Jenkins, District Attorney of San Francisco. Crystal Liang, API Community and Press Liaison, Office of Mayor Daniel Lurie. Danny Sauter, District 3 Supervisor.

More Performance, Costume Contest, Live Auction, and Raffle

Photos Above: Circus Modern Samba Dancers

Photos Above: Two standout live auction items: A dream getaway for two featuring Alaska Airlines round-trip tickets with $500 spending cash and a six-course private dinner for ten, expertly prepared by Chef Leo Leong of Blue Whale Restaurant at the Chef's Table. These offerings reflect Gum Moon's growing presence, and we hope they inspire future opportunities for corporate sponsorship or fundraising programs in support of Gum Moon.