(Letter from THE ASIAN AMERICAN HERITAGE COUNCIL OF NJ, INC. )

Dear Community Leaders & Friends,

The Asian American Heritage Council of NJ, Inc. and the Filipino Heritage Council of NJ, Inc. will jointly celebrate the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.  Both organizations are state non-profit groups with a mission to celebrate their rich culture and heritage.  This commitment to our heritage calls us to lend a hand to our brothers and sisters in China who have suffered greatly in the past weeks due to the devastating earthquakes. This earthquake registered a magnitude of 8.0 with a death toll of 67,000 which is expected to rise to approximately 80,000 in the future. Not only are the deaths staggering, but millions more Chinese lives have been left homeless, scared, and running from the threat of aftershocks that could last for another two to three months. This tragedy calls for us to come together and truly help those in need.

Both organizations coalesced to have its First Asian Pacific American Cultural Heritage Parade and Festival.  The joint celebrations will feature a Grand Parade with participation by Asian Americans in the tri-state area.  All will showcase their ethnic attires from their country of origin with many traditional Asian performances through music and dance, exhibits, games and many more.  Other activities will include a food fair, health fair, children's fair, and Asian Cuisines will also be featured. Also, in light of those tragic events in China, this parade will have a special dedication to all the lives lost and affected in Sichuan, China. This gathering will be a great chance for all of us to band together and give our support to the millions of people affected and left homeless by the earthquakes, and to pay our respects to those who lost their lives. That is why we will be having a large sale during the parade of various items including food and numerous other goods, where all the proceeds will go to help the victims in China. We will also be welcoming all donations so that we can raise as many funds as possible to help those in need. The First Asian Pacific American Cultural Heritage Parade and Festival will be held on Sunday, June 1, 2008. The parade and festival will run from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM.

The parade will be graced by our First Grand Parade Ambassador of Goodwill and Culture, 1st2nd Mortgage Company and tentatively our First Honorary Grand Marshal, the Honorable Jon S. Corzine, Governor of the State of New Jersey. The New Jersey politicians as well as our Asian American elected and appointed officials will be joining the parade to be headed by the Governor of the State of New Jersey , the Honorable Jon S. Corzine (invited).

The GRAND PARADE starts at 11:00 AM at the corner of Washington Avenue and Clinton Avenue in Bergenfield, NJ Bergen County. The Grand Parade will end at the National Guard Armory, 1799 Teaneck Road, Teaneck, New Jersey.

We cordially invite you to witness this historic Grand Parade and Festival. Our Asian elected and appointed officials, the New Jersey elected officials as well as dignitaries from Asian countries will be joining us on this first Grand Parade.

The Grand Parade and the Street Fair & Festival will not happen without the support of our generous Corporate Sponsors like Western Union, PSE&G, Northwest Airlines, Garden State Travel and many more signing up to support the event as the event is getting closer. Please remember to keep those in China in your heart and realize that all donations and funds raised will go to help those who need to rebuild homes and have food to eat, and to rebuild the lives that were so cruelly taken away.

Sincerely,

Vicki Chen

Honorary Chair of the Board

THE ASIAN AMERICAN HERITAGE COUNCIL OF NJ, INC.