MOONSTAR PRESENTS OLD SHANGHAI GALA

MOONSTAR OLD SHANGHAI STARLIGHT GALA CHARITY BALL

by Gerrye Wong   June 13, 2026

Great news is that Moonstar Charitable Foundation is presenting 2026 Old Shanghai Starlight Gala June 27. Building on the momentum of their past galas, Moonstar Charitable Organization proudly presents the 2026 Old Shanghai Starlight Gala coming up June 27 — an elegant evening inspired by the glamour and romance of 1920s–40s Shanghai where  Guests will step into a world where East meets West — where qipaos shimmer, jazz lingers in the air, lanterns glow beneath a starlit sky, and timeless style comes alive.

The evening will feature curated culinary and beverage experiences, captivating performances, and immersive cultural moments designed to transport guests to another era. More than a celebration, this gala fuels their mission to combat food insecurity across the San Francisco Bay Area. Through the event’s  Fund-the-Need moment and community partnerships, guests will directly support programs serving underserved families, seniors, and children. CEO Moonstar Daisy Li miraculously serves delicious  meals to various organizations throughout San Francisco and its suburbs with modern kitchens and a professional kitchen crew to serve thousands of meals to senior organizations and non profit groups daily.

Moonstar CEO Daisy Li joins in the fun with 2025 supporters

Let’s all join in for a night of beauty, culture, and purpose — where history inspires generosity, and every star shines for a cause. I’ll be there in the spirit of fun, culture, and fundraising for a good cause that our seniors will reap the benefits. Daisy Li, CEO of Moonstar miraculously serves meals to over 20 non profit kitchens bringing tasty food from her Moonstar warehouse site featuring separate kitchens for different ethnic foods manned by  crew of chefs.   Proceeds from the Old Shanghai Gala will make it possible for Moonstar to continue supplying meals at a below market price to non profit and senior centers.   So let’s all come and support this fine cause, and have a rip roaring fun time  pretending you are in Shanghai’s social scene of its heyday in the 1930s.

Grant Avenue Follies to perform

EVENT OVERVIEW

• Moonstar Charitable Organization’s third annual fundraising gala.
• Theme: Old Shanghai Starlight Gala, inspired by the elegance, culture, resilience, and diversity of 1920s–1940s Shanghai.
• Guests will experience an immersive evening of live entertainment, cultural performances, culinary experiences, casino games, raffles, auctions, and community storytelling.
• Expected attendance: More than 400 community leaders, supporters, business partners, nonprofit organizations, and local residents.
• Proceeds support Moonstar Charitable Organization’s mission of providing multicultural meals and community support programs throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.

2025 supporters raved about 2025 event for charity and fun too.

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

• Live musical performances by Alice Lui, Eva Tam, and Katherine Ho.
• Performance by the Grant Avenue Follies.

Martin  Yan will give food demonstrations

• Meet-and-greet and book signing opportunities with celebrity chef Martin Yan and Emmy Award-winning journalist and author Dion Lim.
• Live artwork created during the event by artist Jayden Ng.
• Traditional calligraphy demonstrations by Jeff Chiu.
• Prime rib dinner buffet and multicultural culinary offerings.
• Night market-inspired food experiences.
• Casino-style gaming including blackjack, roulette, craps, casino war, and Texas Hold’em.
• Exclusive live auction and silent auction experiences.
• High Roller Raffle and Pick-Your-Fortune Raffle.
• Dancing and entertainment throughout the evening.

SPECIAL GUESTS

• Chef Martin Yan – Internationally recognized culinary icon, television personality, and cookbook author.
• Dion Lim – Emmy Award-winning journalist, ABC7 News reporter, and author of Amplify! My Fight for Asian America.

     Dion Lim will meet and greet to show off her new book AMPLIFY

• Katherine Ho – Singer-songwriter and actress.
• Alice Lui – Vocalist and performer.
• Eva Tam – Vocalist and performer.
• Grant Avenue Follies – Historic Asian American performing arts group.
• Jayden Ng – Live artist.
• Jeff Chiu – Calligrapher.

ABOUT MOONSTAR CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION

• Moonstar Charitable Organization (MCO) is a Bay Area-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2019 and fully launched in 2023.
• Mission: To inspire, create, and promote multicultural meals, programs, and support to underserved communities throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.
• Headquartered at Moonstar Kitchen in South San Francisco.
• Built upon the legacy of the former Moonstar Buffet, a beloved Bay Area institution that served generations of families for more than three decades.

IMPACT & COMMUNITY WORK

• Prepared and distributed 88,840 meals in 2024.
• Currently serves nearly 2,000 meals weekly through a network of nonprofit and community partners.
• Works with organizations serving seniors, low-income families, veterans, unhoused individuals, children, and people with disabilities.
• Produces meals at approximately $1 per meal, maximizing donor impact.
• Holiday meal programs have served more than 11,000 individuals through family meal distributions and community partnerships.
• Collaborates with nearly 20 nonprofit partners throughout the Bay Area.

Location

The Alexandria San Carlos
835 Industrial Rd.
San Carlos, CA 94070

Date & Time

Saturday 6/27/2026, 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Moonstar Charitable Organization 501(c)(3) Non-profit organization

405 S. Canal St. South San Francisco, CA 94080