What is the Virtual

Dim Sum 5K Race?

While it is important to maintain social distancing parameters during the COVID-19 crisis, we still want to offer people a fun, positive event and the opportunity to make a difference...so we have chosen to convert this event to a virtual 5K!

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The Dim Sum 5K is held by 501(c)(3) nonprofit social services organization, Chinese Mutual Aid Association (CMAA). CMAA’s goal is to make the biggest impact we can right now through our COVID-19 relief efforts, which will be supported by this year’s 5K proceeds. To ensure that every dollar raised goes to those who are most affected, we are not offering t-shirts and bibs this year, but we will be giving participants coupons for dim sum from our longtime partner Furama Restaurant in Uptown and launching a social media campaign to foster positive social connection during this time.

Social distancing does not have to mean social disengagement! We recognize the importance of still feeling connected to one another during this time of physical isolation, so we will be offering group training videos and motivation to stay healthy and active through our Dim Sum 5K Facebook group and through the Strava application (an invitation will be sent upon registration). Runners will also receive virtual badges to display on their social media pages.

People can run this race anywhere you like, even on a treadmill! While you can also run this race anytime, we would love to have folks run from 5/20/20-5/30/20 to foster a feeling of togetherness and connection, with everyone posting around the same time and sharing their experiences. We also encourage runners to wear their own red face masks in solidarity with CMAA and post selfies when they run! We will be posting videos on how to create masks at home.  

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The Dim Sum & Then Some 5K is a fundraiser benefiting Chinese Mutual Aid Association (CMAA). CMAA’s mission is to serve the needs, promote the interests, and enhance the well-being of low-income immigrants and refugees from all countries and generations and foster their participation in U.S. society.  As you can imagine, our low-income client community has been hit especially hard by this crisis, and as a result, our services are even more crucial during this time.

This year’s virtual Dim Sum 5K proceeds will support our COVID-19 emergency relief efforts. CMAA has been supporting clients in combating the economic effects of the crisis, including launching new, emergency services. Proceeds from the 5K would help us to expand our efforts in providing direct financial assistance to low-income families affected by the crisis, assisting them with housing payments, utility costs, food, and any other immediate needs. 

Additionally, through our Community Care Program (CCP), CMAA manages approximately 200 home care aides who continue to assist the elderly and disabled in their homes, providing essential services to this vulnerable population and supporting their health and well-being. 5K proceeds this year would help ensure that these frontline staff have access to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as they put themselves at risk on a daily basis.

Lastly, we have moved the remainder of our in-person services onto virtual platforms. 5K revenue would also help purchase laptops and tablets for our clients, the majority of whom are at or below the poverty line, so that they may continue accessing important services.

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Click here to donate to CMAA's COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund!

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Who is CMAA?

CMAA was officially established as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in Chicago’s northside neighborhood of Uptown in 1981 by local Asian community leaders who were also ethnic Chinese refugees.  Grateful for the assistance they had received as new immigrants themselves, this community came together to help other newly arrived immigrants, leading to the formation of CMAA.

Since then, CMAA has evolved into a pan-immigrant social services agency, serving clients from over 40 countries, including from Africa, Eastern Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East. Our offices currently offer job preparation & placement services, after-school & summer youth programming, teen mentorship programs, adult education English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, in-home elderly care services, immigration & citizenship case assistance, food & housing assistance and more.  CMAA staff members have estimated that the organization provides over 10,000 discrete services each year to approximately 5,000 unique clients.

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To learn more about CMAA, Click HERE!