The Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence (ATASK), operating New England's only multilingual emergency shelter, advocacy services, and outreach and education programs for Asian families, hosted its 14th annual benefit, the Silk Road Gala, on Saturday, November 3 and raised more than $450,000. This year's theme celebrates the Diversity of Asia.

ATASK has served as a model in Massachusetts, throughout the United States, and internationally; bridging the gap across cultures, languages and generations. It is a private, non-profit organization whose mission is to eliminate family violence and to strengthen Asian families and communities by providing linguistic and culturally appropriate direct services to families to help them achieve productive, self-sufficient, and violence-free lives. Funds raised at the Silk Road Gala will aid the programs and operations of ATASK that serve, support, educate and advocate for over 300 clients annually.

ATASK is a leader among domestic violence agencies. In April 2007, ATASK was successful in working with Massachusetts state legislators in approving language in the state budget to ensure immigrants receive the services they need. Other program achievements include the expansion of our Multicultural Immigrant Coalition Against Violence from an original target of 6 to 17 members, WAVE Teen Dating Violence Curriculum popularity increasing from Boston Public Schools to other schools and sites, and the Lowell site increased its capacity with additional staff and space to accommodate the needs of our clients in that area.

Swanee Hunt, Ambassador, Professor, philanthropist, and author, received the Leadership in Advocacy Award. Hunt is a former US Ambassador to Austria. She is a professor as well as the founding director of the Women and Public Policy Program at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government and the President of Hunt Alternatives, a foundation that has committed more than $60 million to providing social change at local, national, and global levels. Her memoir, Half Life of a Zealot, was published in October 2006.

The Mistress of Ceremonies was Janet Wu from WCVB-TV, Channel 5. Wu has been the NewsCenter 5 State House reporter for WCVB-TV since January 1983. She is a key member of WCVB's political unit. She was a member of the team honored in 2001 and 2005 with the coveted Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Political Journalism.

This year's Gala co-chairs are Bill Hunt, President and CEO of State Street Global Advisors and Yuko Hunt, Preceptor at Harvard University's East Asian Languages and Civilizations Department. Long-term supporters include Honorary Chairs, Mayor Thomas M. Menino and Angela Menino, Atsuko Toko Fish, current Chair of the ATASK Board and Lawrence K. Fish, Chairman of Citizens Financial Group and RBS America.

This year marks the 14th annual gala celebrating Asian cultures with food, performers, and artisans from Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam.
 
About the Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence

The Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence, Inc. is a private, non-profit organization whose mission is to eliminate family violence and to strengthen Asian families and communities.

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