Public Service & Community Involvement

Each year ABAW participates in the Asian Counseling and Referral Service (ACRS) Walk For Rice. ​The Walk For Rice is a fundraiser for ACRS specifically benefiting ACRS's food bank, one of the largest in King County. Walk For Rice is a 2.5 mile walk or run that people of all ages are able to participate in. This community event is continually growing each year, attracting more and more participants to raise awareness for the ACRS Food Bank. The ACRS food bank provides rice and other culturally-appropriate foods to help support Asian and Pacific Islander people in need within our local community.

2023 Walk For Rice: On Saturday, June 17, 2023, ABAW, the Filipino Lawyers of Washington (FLOW), and the Vietnamese American Bar Association of Washington (VABAW) teamed up for the first time ever to form TEAM FAV in support of the ACRS annual Walk For Rice fundraiser. The 2023 Walk for Rice was held at Jefferson Park on Beacon Hill in Seattle. As a team, our organizations were able to come together and raise over $7,500, which more than doubled its goal of $3,000. After the event, ABAW and FLOW member, Eric de los Santos, graciously hosted everyone at his home for a post-walk BBQ!

2015 Walk For Rice: On Saturday, June 27, 2015, ACRS hosted its 25th annual Walk For Rice fundraiser. Many families and organizations, including ABAW gathered to take part in this fun event. Past ABAW President Jeff Liang chaired the 2015 Walk For Rice committee and is serving on the ACRS board. Funds raised provide direct assistance to more than 5,600 families in our community that visit the ACRS Food Bank each year. Over 2,500 participants gathered in Seattle's Seward park to watch live martial arts, taiko drums, traditional Chinese lion dances and Seattle's Chinese Drill Team perform before the event. Please view ABAW's team video, below.