2024 UW Night Market - We Need Your Help!

About the Taiwanese Student Association

The Taiwanese Student Association at UW is a collective group of people dedicated to representing and spreading Taiwanese cultural awareness in the Greater Seattle Area. Each year, the Taiwanese Student Association at UW hosts various social and cultural events to contribute to our main goal of enhancing relationships among students and promoting Taiwan's rich culture and heritage; our annual event is the UW Night Market that is the largest student-led event at UW, this event brings in culture and diversity through the vendors, food, and entertainment, and supports local artisans and restaurants around the Seattle area.

What is the UW Night Market?

The UW Night Market was first started in 2001 back in the HUB Ballroom, it was an event that students in TSA created to resemble the Night Markets in Taiwan that are a common night-life festivity. For many Taiwanese and Taiwanese-Americans, the Night Markets resemble the rich and warm Taiwanese culture and atmosphere where you are greeted with the signature smells of stinky-tofu and popcorn chicken, and surrounded by lots of people sharing food and culture together. For the many attendees that come to the UW Night Market each year (whether it be undergraduate/graduate students or the greater Seattle area), it is an event that brings "home" to Seattle, for people of all ages to come together and experience cuisine from Taiwan as well as other cultures and to experience traditional lion dancing or Taiwanese artists live performances. For the vendors and restaurants that participate in the UW Night Market, it serves as a platform to increase visibility for small businesses allowing them to showcase their products and services to a wider audience, potentially attracting new customers and clients across the Greater Seattle area.

TSA's Core Values

Our organization's goal is to spread Taiwanese culture and enhance diversity through our smaller events and main event, the UW Night Market. Our motto: "Work hard, play hard" represents our organization's dedication and hard work throughout the year in preparation for the Night Market, and the rewarding payoff that the event brings us through the anticipated success that the event brings us. Throughout the year, our officers work hard in planning for the Night Market from start to finish, through fundraising by working long volunteering hours, planning small fundraising events held at booth in Red Square, game and menu planning, sponsor and vendor outreach, and so much more.

Why Your Support Matters

As we prepare for the 2024 UW Night Market which will take place on May 11th, 2024, spanning across the Quad and Red Square at the University of Washington, your support is valuable and greatly appreciated among the Night Market community. Given the large scale of this event with last year's attendance reaching over 6,000, there are significant expenses involved, including equipment rentals, electricity, water, security, and many more. This year we are facing a large increase in equipment rental costs that are difficult for our organization (as a non-profit) to cover. Your contribution ensures the success of this impactful event, allowing us to continue fostering cultural exchange, supporting local businesses, and creating a memorable experience for the diverse community that comes together at the UW Night Market every year. Every donation, no matter the size, plays a crucial role in sustaining the tradition and impact of the UW Night Market. Join us in making this event a continued success, and help us celebrate and share the richness of Taiwanese culture in the Greater Seattle Area.

Thank you for your support,

Taiwanese Student Association (TSA)