A Heartfelt Thank You from UCCSFBA

Dear Friends, Supporters, Community Members and the esteemed Members of other Cultural Center,

On behalf of the Uzbek Community Center of San Francisco Bay Area, I am filled with immense gratitude as I reflect on our wonderful Fall Festival 2025, which took place on October 18th in South San Francisco. The joy, connection, and celebration of our culture that we witnessed would not have been possible without each and every one of you.

Our sincere appreciation goes to our primary sponsor, SpeedAir LLC, whose generous support helped make this event a reality. Their commitment to providing affordable flights to Uzbekistan continues to build bridges between our community here and our homeland, allowing families to stay connected across continents.

The flavors of home were brought to life thanks to the newly opened “UZBEGIM” restaurant in San Francisco. Under the thoughtful management of Anvarjon, the restaurant team donated their delicious somas that were enjoyed by all our guests. Such generosity reminds us of the importance of sharing our culinary traditions with the broader Bay Area community.

No Uzbek celebration is complete without sweet treats! Our heartfelt thanks to our talented confectioners Dildora Saksonboeva and Djamilya Hakimovas whose exquisite pastries delighted everyone’s palate. Special recognition also goes to Shoirahon opa for providing the traditional Sumalak, bringing the authentic taste of our seasonal delicacy to the festival.

The seamless flow of our event program was the result of dedicated work by our UCCSFBA volunteers who prepared an engaging scenario and worked cohesively with remarkable synergy. The cultural performances by members of the Uyghur Community and Kazakh Community added beautiful diversity to our celebration, reminding us of the rich tapestry of Central Asian cultures we share.

I extend profound gratitude to our tireless UCCSFBA Board Directors, Salomatkhon Atakhanova, Hilola Begieva, Sara Babamuradova, Shakhzod Takhirov whose behind-the-scenes support ensured everything ran smoothly. Another highlight of the event was the acknowledgment of UCCSFBA Student Scholarship winners and providing Certificates of Appreciation to our Volunteers. And we cannot forget the South San Francisco Library Department staff who graciously made their venue available for our gathering.

Acknowledging Our Exceptional Executive Team

I would like to take a moment to properly acknowledge the extraordinary dedication and leadership demonstrated by our executive team. Their unwavering commitment to excellence has been the cornerstone of not only this event but of our organization’s continued growth and impact in the Bay Area. The extraordinary dedication, professionalism, and passion demonstrated by our executive team not only made the UCCSFBA Fall Festival 2025 our most successful event to date but has elevated our organization’s standing in the broader Bay Area community.

The Heart of Our Community: Our Dedicated Volunteers

As we celebrate the success of our Fall Festival, I want to especially highlight the irreplaceable role our volunteers play in the life of the Uzbek Community Center of San Francisco Bay Area. They are truly the backbone of our organization and the guardians of our cultural heritage in the Bay Area.

Our volunteers are not merely helpers – they are cultural ambassadors who bring the rich traditions, values, and spirit of Uzbekistan to life thousands of miles away from our homeland. With every hour donated, every skill shared, and every smile offered, they create a home away from home for Uzbeks in the Bay Area and introduce our beautiful culture to the wider American community. The intergenerational connections fostered by our volunteers ensure that our youngest community members grow up with a strong sense of their Uzbek identity. Our recent Fall Festival exemplifies how our volunteers transform vision into reality. From conceptualizing the program to coordinating logistics, from decorating the venue with traditional ornaments to greeting guests with warm hospitality, their attention to detail and cultural authenticity made the event not just a gathering but a genuine celebration of Uzbek spirit. As we look to the future, we recognize that the vitality and growth of UCCSFBA depends entirely on the continued dedication of our volunteer community. Their passionate commitment ensures that Uzbek culture remains vibrant and visible in the diverse cultural landscape of the Bay Area.

To everyone who has volunteered their time, talents, and heart to our community center – whether for years or just beginning – please know that your contributions are immeasurable. You are not just preserving our traditions; you are actively creating a living, evolving Uzbek-American cultural legacy that will enrich generations to come.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone who participated, attended, and contributed to making the UCCSFBA Fall Festival 2025 a resounding success. These moments of community and cultural celebration strengthen our bonds and preserve our heritage for generations to come. With Deepest appreciation, Qudrat Rahimhodzhayev