2018 Gala Honorees
This year marks the Fund’s 25th anniversary and in celebration of this milestone, two unique awards will be presented during the evening. The awards recognizes individuals who have attained great success in their field while also being a role model for the community.
Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye is the 28th Chief Justice of California and the first Asian American and the second woman to serve as the chief justice of the nation’s largest state judicial system. She has served for more than 20 years on California appellate and trial courts and has been appointed or elevated to higher office by three governors. Among her many accomplishments, Cantil-Sakauye created the first domestic violence court of its kind in 1998. As Chief Justice, she launched the Power of Democracy Civic Learning Initiative, which has a vision to help revitalize democracy and promote access to justice in California.
“Justice is supposed to be justice for all. Access for all. So that means all representative types. All of us bring a unique experience and our views and experience to the table.”
Emerald Yeh is a founding member of the Asian Pacific Fund who advocated for the formation of the Fund as a board member of the United Way of the Bay Area. She has been on the board for 18 years, including five years as board chair leading the successful completion of the Fund’s Endowment Campaign during the Fund’s most formative years. Her leadership helped the Fund to secure $12 million to invest in future grantmaking to the API community. Yeh is a veteran journalist who anchored KRON4 News for nearly two decades. Her conscientious reporting has earned her nine Emmys and a United Press International Award.