Central Queens Academy Raises Nearly $355,000, Honors Hudson Yang, Jeff Yang, and Arnold & Porter Counsel Bruce D. Saber at 1st Spring Gala

Central Queens Academy Charter School (CQA) - a public, tuition-free, college-preparatory school serving underserved students in one of New York City's most diverse neighborhoods - raised nearly $355,000 and honored Fresh Off the Boat star Hudson Yang, cultural critic and Wall Street Journal columnist Jeff Yang, and distinguished real estate attorney Bruce D. Saber at its first-ever Spring Gala on Wednesday, May 11, 2016.

At the event, CQA celebrated four years of fostering success and creating opportunities for students in fifth through eighth grades. Founded in 2012, CQA is the first public charter school in District 24, New York City's most diverse and overcrowded public school district. More than two-thirds of CQA's 405 students come from immigrant families, and almost 90% are from low-income households.

"CQA is more than a school; it is like an extended family to is students, offering encouragement and guidance as our students shape their dreams," said Gala Chair Xochitl Gonzalez in addressing attendees, reflecting on her own upbringing, and a family who passionately stressed the importance of education.

"My family saw my potential, but it was my teachers and my school community that expanded my sense of personal possibility. I am inspired to see that same potential in our CQA scholars and that same powerful encouragement coming from their families and our faculty and staff. "

The Gala - held at The Vine NYC at the Eventi Hotel in midtown Manhattan - drew close to 250 attendees, who gave a standing ovation to 8th grade student Dennis Quizhpi after his eloquent remarks calling on his younger siblings to follow in his footsteps. "Whatever motivates you, use it to reach your goals," he said.

The Gala Committee additionally included: Angela Ellis, Eve Goldman, Kristin Hokoyama, and Jeff Simmons. At the event, Nelson Louis of the Ong Family Foundation - which previously had committed $600,000 to CQA - announced an additional $400,000 contribution over the next four years, for a total of $1 million in support.

"The Ong Family Foundation enabled us to turn the dream of CQA into a reality by giving us seed funding to open our doors. The Foundation, and Nelson Louis in particular believed in our vision of building a school that would change the picture of academic and life outcomes for immigrant families," said CQA Founder and Executive Director Suyin So. "We deeply thank the ONG Foundation for helping CQA build a solid foundation."

Since its launch, CQA has grown to encompass two locations - one in Elmhurst serving fifth and sixth grade students, and a second in Glendale serving seventh and eighth grade students. CQA hopes to expand to add a high school and lower school in Queens, as well.

Said CQA Co-Founder Rany Ng, "Tonight is a special celebration, where those students I watched file into CQA in 2012, our inaugural 5th grade students, are now 8th graders moving onto high school. I am proud to say that they will be going on to some of the city's top schools like Stuyvesant, Bronx Science, Brooklyn Tech, Dalton and Calhoun. We don't want stop here. We are now in the planning stages to open a high school in the future - so our work does not end for our students in 8th grade, but will continue for the next four years to prepare them for college."

The evening's honorees spoke passionately about the value of education, and of CQA's role in elevating the hopes and dreams of students, many from families new to this country and where English is not spoken at home.

"When my grandparents immigrated from Russia and Poland they sought safety and shelter. But they also had a dream, a dream that their children and grandchildren would live better lives," said honoree Bruce D. Saber, Counsel, Arnold & Porter LLP. "They believed that the only way they could fulfill this dream, the American dream, was to work hard and provide their children the best possible education. This is the dream the parents and grandparents of all of us in this room had; and that many of us now have for our own children."

Mr. Saber has served as CQA's pro bono counsel for the last three years, providing strategic guidance on CQA's growth. His career spans 30 years in law firms and real estate development and investment companies.

Hudson Yang, who stars as protagonist Eddie Huang in the ABC sitcom, Fresh Off the Boat, and his father, Jeff Yang, a veteran journalist, author and cultural critic who founded the pioneering periodical A. Magazine: Inside Asian America, toured one of CQA's schools just prior to the gala, and said they were impressed by the dedication and commitment of the student scholars.

"There is something pretty special coming home to New York City to receive an award like this and especially to do it as a father and son team," said Jeff Yang. "I am truly, truly grateful to be a part of this."

Added his son, Hudson, "This school is way for kids to learn and be happy... CQA helps kids find a direction and find a place they can trust. It's a miracle that it's here and it's really an important organization."