Called classical music’s ‘best kept secret’, all proceeds from the show benefit SF-based childcare organization.
Mark your calendars, SF folks! On January 20th, 2018, a special benefit show by Two Piano Journey will be held at the SF War Memorial & Performing Arts Center. All proceeds will go towards Wu Yee Children’s Services.
Wu Yee Children’s Services was founded in 1977 by San Francisco-based social workers, parents, and teachers who wanted to ensure that everyone had access to childcare. Today, they are the city’s largest provider of childcare services, with 12 centers established across San Francisco. Through subsidies and donations, they offer care to folks who would otherwise be unable to afford it.
San Francisco is known for its diversity and Wu Yee honors this by providing family services that are welcoming to folks from all cultures and backgrounds. Multilingual caseworkers are always available and they emphasize taking care of not only the child, but the family as a whole.
“We strongly believe that parents are their children’s primary teachers and caregivers. We can serve children better by ensuring that the family is also well supported,” says Virginia Cheung, Director of Development and Communications. “Wu Yee means ‘protector of children’ in Cantonese, and protecting every child’s right to be safe, healthy and happy is at the heart of everything we do.“
They offer subsidized family childcare (ages 3 months to 5 years), in-home services, self-sufficiency planning for low-income families, and career pathway programs for young parents. These services have become instrumental in helping families survive and hold down employment in a city where living expenses are skyrocketing.
In sweet serendipity, Michelle Kuo—who played sold out concerts as a child and gave up a professional career as a musician to raise her children—now returns to the stage with one of her sons, Christopher. The two have plans to become the best piano duo in the world. Seeing as they’re already booked into 2019, it looks like they’re well on their way.
“We are excited to be partnering with Two Piano Journey. It’s an incredible opportunity to connect people through the power of music and to benefit children and families,” Cheung tells New Sincerity. “Michelle and Christopher Kuo are the best kept secret in classical music and this is a rare opportunity to see them in the Bay Area.”
For more info on the performance and to buy tickets, go here.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF WU YEE CHILDREN’S SERVICES
Feature image: Courtesy of Wu Yee Children’s Services
