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SONGS OF COMPASSION CHARITY DINNER

Entertainers joined Buddhist Temple in raising money for abused children and earthquake victims

HACIENDA HEIGHTS—Hsi Lai Temple hosted “The Songs of Compassion Charity Dinner” on October 15, 1999 at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel in downtown Los Angeles to raise money for the USC Center for the Vulnerable Child, the Five Acres Boys & Girls Aid Society and the Taiwanese earthquake victims. The money raised will be used to protect and treat victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse as well as to rebuild the lives and homes of the Taiwanese people. The event was attended by approximately 1500 people and raised over $500,000 since September 1, 1999.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich, who was present at the event, endorsed the charity dinner. Dr. Astrid Heger of USC Center for the Vulnerable Child and Mr. Robert Ketch of Five Acres were each presented with a check of $30,000. Hsi Lai Temple hoped the event would awaken the society’s appreciation for the value of life and heighten the public’s awareness of the abuse suffered by our children.

Sammo Hung, star of CBS Martial Law, and performers from Taiwan provided the night’s entertainment. By sharing the hardship of his childhood, Sammo hoped to convey his concerns for the welfare of our next generation. Ms. Bai Bing Bing, a famous Taiwanese singer and actress whose daughter was kidnapped and brutally murdered two years ago hoped to awaken the public’s awareness to crimes against children by sharing her personal tragedy.

The “Songs of Compassion Charity Dinner” was the first fundraising event by Hsi Lai Temple. It had not only raised a substantial amount of money, but had also opened people’s eyes to the dark side of human nature that is often overlooked or ignored because of guilt or shame. The temple hoped the charity dinner had provided people with a place to go for help when the unthinkable has happened to them or someone they know. “Domestic violence and child abuse cases are harsh realities of our society. We cannot take the position that as long as it is not happening to me, I don’t have to care. We must learn to recognize the problem and accept its existence before we can solve it. Children are the future of the world and we must do everything in our power to protect them from harm,” said temple official.