Asian Pacific Fund 2024 Gala
On Saturday, October 19th, the Asian Pacific Fund (APF) hosted our sold-out 2024 Gala at The Conservatory at One Sansome.
With the theme of Celebrating the Power of Community, our community turned out in full force, raising $500,000 in a remarkable display of support for APF’s work to uplift Bay Area Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPIs). These generous contributions will help us continue our work of mobilizing resources and amplifying voices to drive positive change and create an inclusive, thriving society.
The evening kicked off with an electrifying opening performance by San Jose Taiko, whose powerful drumming energized the crowd and set the celebratory tone for the night. Their rhythmic artistry and cultural pride reminded us of the rich heritage that connects and strengthens our AANHPI community.
Twelve-time Emmy Award-winning NBC Bay Area anchor, journalist, and APF Board Member Raj Mathai was once again our charismatic master of ceremonies. His dynamic energy set the tone for the evening as he guided us through the night’s events, offering thoughtful insights into APF’s mission and impact.
APF President and Executive Director Carolyn Wang Kong shared in her remarks, “A community foundation is only as strong as the community it supports—and the community that supports it.”
She reflected on APF’s transformative work in 2024, from publishing our first op-ed and advocating for language access legislation to securing our first county contract and distributing new grants. Carolyn spoke about APF’s new mission and values and called on everyone to help amplify voices, invest in our future, and leverage networks to strengthen the safety net for our community, addressing critical issues like economic security, mental health, and language access.
The dinner, curated and introduced by award-winning chef, entrepreneur, and TV personality Kathy Fang, was a culinary delight. Chef Fang, in collaboration with Chef John Silva of Culinary Eye, served a menu inspired by her Asian heritage and personal culinary journey. The meal featured dishes with Asian and global influences, transporting guests with nostalgic flavors and innovative twists.
Another highlight of the evening was the live auction featuring four exclusive packages; 100% of the auction proceeds support APF’s initiatives for the AANHPI community. Our gratitude goes out to Curtis Chin, Kathy Fang, the San Francisco 49ers, the Donum Estate, Four Kings, Betty Louie, and actress and filmmaker Joan Chen for their generous support and for providing these remarkable auction packages. A special thanks to APF Board Members Rupal Hollenbeck and Raj Mathai, founding board member Emerald Yeh, and APF Advisory Council member Shirley Chen Lee for making these extraordinary packages possible.
During our Fund-A-Need, we shared powerful videos showcasing the incredible, life-changing work of two APF nonprofit affiliates, South Bay Youth Changemakers (SBYC Mental Health Spotlight Video) and the Center for Empowering Refugees and Immigrants (CERI Mental Health Spotlight Video), tackling mental health, one of APF’s top priorities. Directed by Kevin Wong and filmed by Seng Chen, these stories emphasized the importance of breaking the stigma around mental health and highlighted community-based solutions that address mental well-being in the AANHPI community.
We are deeply grateful to our auctioneers, Richard and Pely Pio Roda, and the Pio Roda Group for expertly leading the auction and Fund-A-Need, inspiring generosity and engagement throughout the evening. Thank you to Mister Jiu’s for providing an exciting sweep prize to cap off the Fund-A-Need.
Our special guest, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and professor Viet Thanh Nguyen, joined Raj Mathai on stage for an engaging fireside chat. Viet shared insights into his literary work, the importance of AANHPI representation, and the power of storytelling as a means of refusing silence and asserting the strength of our community.
The evening concluded with the introduction of APF’s new awards series, celebrating the diverse and impactful ways individuals and institutions advance our mission. We proudly honored the recipients of our inaugural Community Champion Awards, recognizing their outstanding leadership in philanthropy and advocacy:
Viet Thanh Nguyen, Community Power Champion
Bank of America, Community Impact Champion (Represented by Gioia McCarthy, President, Bank of America, San Francisco)
Ishiyama Foundation, Community Legacy Champion (Represented by Nelson Ishiyama, President, Ishiyama Corporation)
We are truly grateful to all our friends, partners, supporters, volunteers, and other members of our community for showing up and making the 2024 Gala an unforgettable celebration. Your generosity and steadfast commitment ensure that APF can continue our work of uplifting the Bay Area AANHPI community.
Thank you to our talented photographers, Linda Tran and Joyce Xi, for beautifully capturing the unforgettable moments of the evening. And thank you to our videographer Steve Kaye – the 2024 Gala highlights video is coming soon!
THANK YOU TO OUR GALA SPONSORS
Champion Level Sponsor
Partner Level Sponsors
Supporter Level Sponsors
With Additional Support From
Official Media Sponsor
For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Gurpreet Tung, APF Director of Development, at gurpreet@asianpacificfund.org.