Special Olympics East Asia Hosts Gala Dinner & Auction

Editor’s note: The following is a guest post by Kevin Lee, Senior Manager of Marketing and Communications for Special Olympics East Asia.

The Special Olympics 2011 East Asia Gala Dinner, sponsored by Coca-Cola, Paul & Shark and Salvatore Ferragamo was held 27 November in Shanghai. Honored guests included Special Olympics Chairman & CEO Tim Shriver, Special Olympics Global Ambassadors Yao Ming and Yang Lan, Chairman of Special Olympics China Madam Wang Naikun and Special Olympics athlete leaders Zhao Zeng and Zhang Xinhui.

A highlight of the evening was an auction to benefit Special Olympics China and East Asia, which featured many unique items, including a bottle of wine from the recently-created Yao Family Winery in Napa Valley and a customized Paul & Shark jacket for Yao. The auction, a major success for Special Olympics China and East Asia, raised more than $450,000. Ms. Zhao Zeng who currently works at Papa John’s Pizza hosted dignitaries and celebrities at the head table while Ms. Zhang Xinhui served as master of ceremony.