Burmese donor families will cook and sell Burmese and Asian traditional dishes in the occasion. All the proceeds from this event will be donated for the awarding ceremony. It is reported that there are donors who offer to sponsor the festival and those of who want to cater for the charity, as well. SF chapter currently has already received offers from about 20 food stalls and it is still accepting the contributions.
Citizen of Burma SF chapter fund raising- the list of food items available and donors-is in English and Burmese languages.
The benefactors, volunteers, residents, students and public spirited well-wishers, within their reach, have originally founded the SF chapter of CoBA. In 2010, the volunteers from CoBA cooperated and helped social and religious activities of Burmese community throughout the San Francisco Bay area. On the other hand, they explained and exhorted Burmese families to join and support CoBA’s activities.
For the victims of natural disasters, the donors and volunteers of CoBA participated in organizing fund raising events to help people affected by Geri cyclone and those for who need water, because of heat wave and drought.
A total of over US$ 2400, collected among members only, was able to donate to charity with the help of affairs of SF Bay area. Similarly, it was seen that friends and supporters of CoBA from other area have joined hands in helping social and charity work in their respective area, and campaigned for its movements.
A volunteer of Cobra explained that the first CoBA award along with US$ 7000 prize money was presented by a majority decision to U Kyaw Thu, the leader of Free Funeral Service Society (FFSS Yangon) from Burma in April 2010. Besides, four Burmese nationals selected last were also honoured with US$ 1000 each. In order to maintain such good convention, we will choose CoBA award by popular demands and honour with public donations. Our budget is carefully managed by the accountants and the auditors, and will be presented to the public. Now we are taking the votes and nominations of the public.
It is learnt that CoBA families from various area – within one week, in December 2010 – collected US$ 5 or 10 (as much as they can), and were able to donate US$ 500 each to Thukha Charity clinic led by CoBA award winner, U Kyaw Thu, and to the care-home for HIV/AIDS patients run by Ma Phu Phu Thin, an honourable member of CoBA. Another contribution of US$ 145 each was also made to these organizations.
We would like to invite all of you to join and be proud of being friends of CoBA, which is holding the motto ‘When you die, your mother land should be left behind in prosperity’, an extract from a poem by Burmese prominent national poet Zaw Gyi.