Holiday Generosity Supports a Spectacular Cause
How a group of young students got to see the 2007 Chinese New Year Spectacular
By Conan Milner/Epoch Times Chicago Staff
Mar 05, 2007
FIELD TRIP: Young students from Pontiac, Michigan got to go to Chicago to see the 2007 Chinese New Year Spectacular due to the generous sponsorship of several individuals. Ien Mason/ Epoch Times
What do you do when a stranger offers you a $500 gift? Barbara Robinson, a Falun Gong practitioner from Pontiac, Michigan, was faced with such an issue when a customer offered her the money last December during her shift at a local Wendy's. Mark Miller, a business owner from Bloomfield Hills (an affluent suburb of Detroit) said he wanted Robinson to help him.
"I know that you're a nice person and you treat me well whenever I come to Wendy's," said Robinson, remembering what Miller had told her. "I want you to help me give money to poor people at Christmas."
At first Robinson was a little uneasy about accepting such a sum and was concerned about how to spend it appropriately. When she shared her quandary with fellow practitioner Charlie Lu, he suggested taking poor children to Chicago to see the 2007 Chinese New Year Spectacular.
"Barbara didn't want to take it, but later on the General Manager insisted. Then she asked me what to do with it. I told her to take some children and go to Chicago and see the show," explained Lu
Barbara Robinson, who brought a group of underprivileged African-american children from Michigan to Chicago to see the Chinese New Year Spectacular. (Ien Mason/Epoch Times)
The show, which recreates the myths and legends of ancient China through traditional music and dance, was something that Robinson had dreamed of seeing ever since she watched a DVD of last year's performance. This special production would be in 30 cities worldwide, but would only be in Chicago (the closest venue to Robinson) for one day.
Robinson informed Miller of her plans to spend his gift and he was delighted with her decision. Once she knew how she would spend this money, Robinson wanted to share it with as many children as possible.
"She recruited many kids, several from throughout the Pontiac school district," said Lu, noting that the district primarily served a low-income, African American community.
Many of these children already had an interest in dance. So Robinson believed, not only would the students benefit from seeing a professional ensemble, they would also be exposed to an ancient culture that they would otherwise not have the opportunity to witness.
"I thought it was a good idea to get black Americans to see something like this because it's so different from what they usually [encounter]," observed Robinson.
But Lu soon realized that the $500 gift, although generous, was not nearly enough to pay for tickets and travel expenses for the now 18 individuals that Robinson wished to bring to Chicago. However, instead of choosing to leave some children behind, Lu thought of a way to deliver this unique production to more students.
"We decided to do a fund raising for her," said Lu. Approaching some contacts he had in the non-profit Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce (APACC), Lu explained his plan. Although it was a bit unconventional for this group of business people to organize such an affair, they coordinated an effort with Lu to share Robinson's story with their members and appeal to them for sponsorship.
In addition to APACC members, Lu also sent out a press release to attract media attention for Robinson's trip, opening the circle for opportunity even greater.
Lu mentioned that Japanese, Chinese and Korean businessmen were inspired by Robinson's mission to take these young dance students to Chicago to experience traditional Chinese culture. "One of the sponsors had seen the show before and was amazed by it,' explained Lu, "and others were just moved by Barbara's story."
With the money they were given, Robinson was able to offer this Chinese New Year field trip to 27 individuals. The group included children ranging in age from 4 to 14, along with a few parents to act as chaperones.
As children and parents from Robinson's group gathered together in the lobby of Chicago's Auditorium Theater after the show, they talked about the performance they just saw. Everyone seemed to have a favorite part.
"I loved it," said 8-year-old Alphonso enthusiastically on Saturday night, as his friend chimed in, "I like the part with the guys guarding the gates of heaven."
"One little boy said that he liked the man with the tattoos," remembers Robinson, referring to Yue Fei, the celebrated 12th century Chinese figure portrayed in the performance. Through music and dance, performers enacted the legendary story of a mother tattooing four Chinese characters on her son's back which read "serve the country loyally." Yue Fei then went on to become one of Chinese history's most famous generals.
Now back in Pontiac, Robinson says that the group was impressed overall with the performance and some even wished to return for next year's show.
