"Isn't it a wonderful program?" rhetorically asked Dr. Joseph Young, smiling as Smith and the other clients of Opportunities for the Retarded, Inc. (ORI) went through their 10 a.m. music lesson at Helemano Plantation. "It's such a worthy cause and it's the reason why I agreed to be an honorary co-chairperson for this annual fund-raiser."

Eric Subert joked he had no choice but to accept this year's role as event chairperson.

"I couldn't say no to her," Subert said, referring to Susanna Cheung, who founded ORI back in 1980. "She's very persuasive and she won't take no for an answer."

Lady Ivy Wu also couldn't say no to Cheung.

"I am honored to be this year's co-honorary chairperson," said Wu in a released statement. "Having served on a number of charities in China and Hong Kong, I wholeheartedly share and indeed admire the vision and aspiration that Susanna Cheung has. And I am pleased to have the opportunity to play a part in this year's fund-raiser."

In the early days of the fledgling organization, it was Cheung's grit and steely determination that helped forge a solid relationship between Helemano Plantation and Schofield Barracks soldiers.

And 25 years later, Cheung continues to use her unrelenting persuasion. This time, however, the spunky founder has convinced Air Force Reserve units from McConnell Airforce Base in Wichita, Kan., Maxwell in Montgomery, Ala., and Peterson in Colorado Springs, Colo., to help her build an elder center on the property.

"Each unit will be here for a month," Cheung said. "They'll build my center and I'll feed them. That's the deal."

Another deal Cheung made was with Subert, making him responsible for this year's — as he has been in the past five years — decor for the annual fund-raiser at the Hilton Hawaiian's Coral Ballroom.

"In the past, we've had an underwater theme and we even had a pirates theme one year," recalled Subert, owner of Ti Leaf Productions, which helps stage corporate and non-profit organization events. "This year, it's simply going to be elegance since it's the organization's silver anniversary."

Scheduled for Fri., Dec. 9 at Hilton Hawaiian Village's Coral Ballroom, this milestone celebration/fund-raiser will benefit ORI programs, which help developmentally challenged individuals gain social and workforce skills, as well as provide them with housing.

"It (ORI) helps these people integrate into mainstream society," said Dr. Young, a retired family dentist. "As far as I know, this is the only program of its kind in the islands."

Lady Ivy Wu will fly in from Hong Kong to attend this year's event.

"It's helped me a lot," the 53 year old said. "I've been here since 1988 and I love it."

And so do the other ORI clients, who continued dancing and singing, preparing for the upcoming ball.

"If I had to grade myself, I would give myself an A," said Cheung of the organization's performance the past 24 years. "This has been my dream and it's one that I invite people to share with me."