American Buddhist Confederation Lunar New Year Gala 2025
New York City | February 14, 2025
On the eve of the Lantern Festival, the 2025 American Buddhist Confederation Lunar New Year Gala brought together more than 1,500 Buddhist leaders, entrepreneurs, and community members for an evening of cultural celebration, unity, and compassion-driven service.
More than a festive gathering, the event became a profound demonstration of compassion in action—raising awareness and resources to support causes including education, healthcare, and autism inclusion. Through prayer blessings, lantern-lighting, charity auctions, and community donations, the Federation reaffirmed its commitment to philanthropy and service within the Chinese-American community.
A Performance of Transformation and Inclusion
One of the evening’s most moving highlights was a Bian Lian (Face Changing) performance by Sean Xu, a 17-year-old junior at The Hun School of Princeton and founder of Love Without Borders USA. Accompanied by seven folklife dancers—including children on the autism spectrum—Sean’s performance became a visual metaphor for transformation and a heartfelt tribute to love, identity, and inclusion.
“This performance was about more than culture,” Sean said. “It was about giving visibility and dignity to every child on that stage.”
He added, “By combining the dancers’ flowing flags with the dynamic shifts of face changing, we turned a small stage into a larger world—making the moment more vivid, more powerful, and more emotionally resonant for the audience.”
A New Partnership for Youth Empowerment
The event also marked the beginning of a promising collaboration between Sean and the American Buddhist Confederation. Inspired by the Federation’s long-standing volunteer programs and successful grassroots fundraising strategies, Sean shared his aspirations to apply similar models to enhance youth-led initiatives through Love Without Borders USA.
“These are lessons I could never learn in school,” Sean reflected. “The Buddhist approach to giving is not only practical, it’s deeply inspiring. It’s not just about fundraising—it’s about building relationships, trust, and long-term impact. Tonight, I had the opportunity to meet potential sponsors, which is vital. Fundraising is the foundation of Love Without Borders. With the right support, we can scale our efforts and reach more families with autistic children who truly need help.”
In support of his vision, the Confederation pledged mentorship and future opportunities, and introduced Sean to the Director of its Youth Development Division. This connection opens new pathways for Sean and his team to grow, learn, and deepen their service to the autism community.
Faith, Family, and Hope
The performance touched many in the audience on a deeply personal level. Ms. Zhang, the mother of one of the autistic performers, shared:
“Buddhism has taught me patience—and young people like Sean give me hope. Tonight, I didn’t feel like just a spectator. I felt seen. I felt our children were cherished.”
The evening concluded with a message of encouragement from the Confederation’s president:
“Only charity guided by faith will endure. And only compassion, when put into action, will be remembered. Sean and his team are showing us what the next generation is capable of.”
During this event, AAA raised $3,200 in donations and thoughtfully purchased 100 signed copies of autism author Ellen Sabin’s book to gift to the families in attendance. This gesture conveyed our deep care for every individual with autism and our support for their families. The walk was not just about moving forward physically, but also about connecting hearts. Through our actions, we demonstrated that love and support know no boundaries.
The preparation for the event began early at 7 a.m., filled with excitement and anticipation. With warm smiles and hearts full of enthusiasm, students Xu Shenyao and Liu Xinchen from the Hun School of Princeton, New Jersey, and Xiaoyue Yang from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Virginia donned adorable mascot costumes to greet families arriving at Princeton Junction. Buses, filled with eager volunteers and families, headed towards Pier 16 in New York, all united by a common mission: to make a meaningful impact on the autism community.
At the same time, Alan Su, Simon Su, Krishn Maystry, and Andy Granados from John F. Kennedy High School in New York, set off from Long Island to the event venue. When they arrived, they found students Fu Yuqi from Pine Crest School in Florida, Yang Yifan from New York University, and Chen Xinzhu from Columbia University already hard at work. They hoisted the Princeton Autism Awareness Alliance flag, inflated balloons, and carefully arranged snacks and gifts, eagerly awaiting the arrival of families from New Jersey.
Despite the heavy rain in New York, spirits remained high. The venue buzzed with energy, and every volunteer was eager to make a difference. Some even dressed as the children’s beloved Kamen Riders, taking photos and interacting with the kids. The rain only added a special touch to the day, as it could not dampen the volunteers’ passion. The love and care we shared shone brightly, rain or shine.
The event also featured a special guest, children’s author Ellen Sabin, who hosted a heartwarming reading session with her book The Autism Acceptance Book: Being a Friend to Someone with Autism. Ellen shared that everyone should learn to respect differences between people, and through this book, she hopes to help children understand the challenges faced by individuals on the autism spectrum. She encouraged them to put themselves in others’ shoes and treat others as they would like to be treated. Her words deeply inspired all the attendees, helping us gain a deeper understanding of the power of compassion and inclusion.
In addition to the reading session, the Princeton Autism Awareness Alliance also sponsored a captivating lion dance performance. In the AAPI community, lions are seen as symbols of protection and prosperity. Through this vibrant performance, we aimed to convey messages of hope and goodwill to all participants, while also helping to build stronger bonds in our diverse community. This cultural showcase not only energized the crowd but also allowed everyone to experience the beauty and strength of unity in diversity. Through this event, we’d be sending a powerful message of hope and good wishes to all the loved ones who participate. This could inspire them to weave an even tighter bond within our beautifully diverse community.
Diana, a mother of five from New Jersey, has an 11-year-old daughter on the autism spectrum. This was her second time participating in an event organized by the Princeton Autism Awareness Alliance. Having just moved to the state this year, Diana was deeply touched by her first experience with the alliance’s autism event. Through the event, she met families in similar situations, who became not only her friends but also warm and understanding supporters. Because of this, she did not hesitate to sign up for the charity walk and worked alongside volunteers to post flyers and raise funds in the community. She said emotionally, “As Ellen Sabin mentioned, I hope people will look at my child with fairness and without prejudice. I hope all children with autism will never be overlooked. I am committed to raising awareness and understanding of autism in the community—this will be my lifelong mission.”
The Princeton Autism Awareness Alliance’s contributions were also recognized and praised by Andra, the organizer of the Autism Speaks New York charity walk. He expressed his gratitude for the alliance’s significant impact on the community and looked forward to working together again next year. He said, “Through our joint efforts, we can create a more just world and improve the lives of everyone on the spectrum.”
