IMPACT
AWARDS
Thank you for celebrating our 35th Anniversary with us!
THE PIERRE | 2 EAST 61ST STREET AT FIFTH AVENUE | NYC
THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 2024
6PM COCKTAIL RECEPTION
7PM DINNER AND PROGRAM
FESTIVE ATTIRE
AAF turns 35 this year! AAF’s 35th Anniversary Impact Awards honors incredible leaders whose achievements have truly reshaped our community. Join us and 450 supporters from the New York area and around the country, including prominent members of the business and creative communities, donors, media, elected officials and our 70+ member organizations.
The event is also an occasion to raise the critical funds needed to support the Asian American Federation’s ongoing work as the strongest leadership organization in New York advocating for better policies, services, and funding to create more justice and opportunity for our growing community of more than 1.5 million Asian New Yorkers.
Sponsorship and Tickets
Can’t attend? Make a Donation!
Can’t attend but still want to support AAF’s work? Please consider making a one-time donation or recurring donation.
Your contribution is 100% tax-deductible.
For more information about AAF’s 35th Anniversary Impact Awards, please email
gala@aafederation.org or call 212-344-5878 x207.
You may also send your payment for sponsorship and/or tickets via regular mail to:
Asian American Federation
120 Wall Street, 9th Floor
New York, NY 10005
Mark your envelope: ATTN: GALA 2024
Nonprofit Organizations / Community Members or Ad Purchases
We have special sponsorship and ticket rates for nonprofit organizations and members of the community.
Ad rates can also be found here.
Honorees
Bing Chen
Bing Chen is an impact founder and investor who has helped to reshape public opinion about AAPI’s by ensuring authentic and affirming representation on and off screen. As the Executive Chairman, CEO, and Co-founder of Gold House, he champions Asia Pacific creators and communities, driving positive change. From Crazy Rich Asians to Parasite to Everything Everywhere All at Once, and this season’s hit series The 3 Body Problem, Gold House has played a major role in the cultural and commercial success of AAPI-led creative projects. Under Bing’s leadership, Gold House has become the go-to resource for studios, networks and streaming platforms seeking authenticity, representation and cultural insights. Bing was a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, a Google Multicultural Champion, Hollywood Reporter Next Gen Leader and Most Influential Agent of Change, to mention a fraction of his many accolades.
Joanne Kwong
Joanne Kwong, president of Pearl River Mart, revitalized the iconic NYC Asian emporium after its 2016 closure, opening new locations citywide. Recognized for her innovative transformation of the joyful shopping institution into a dynamic hub for the AAPI community and a springboard for emerging entrepreneurs and artists, Joanne’s leadership has earned accolades from The Wall Street Journal and New York Magazine. With a law and nonprofit communications background, Joanne holds degrees from Columbia and Duke, serves on various prestigious boards, and was appointed to the U.S. Congressional Commission To Study the Potential Creation of a National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture. Honored by Gold House and Time Out NY, Joanne is a proud Upper West Side resident, wife, and mother to two sons.
Chintan Pandya and Roni Mazumdar
James Beard award-winning Chef Chintan Pandya and innovative restaurateur Roni Mazumdar are stars of the culinary world, transforming New York City’s dining scene with their bold and authentic approach to Indian cuisine. Together they lead Unapologetic Foods, operating award-winning NYC restaurants like Adda Indian Canteen, Dhamaka, the Michelin starred-Semma, Rowdy Rooster, Masalawala & Sons, and the upcoming Kebabwala. In 2023, they expanded their horizons with Naks, a Filipino restaurant. Eater named Chef Pandya and Mazumdar to their New Guards of New York Dining list, and Bloomberg BusinessWeek named the duo as one of the People that Defined Global Business in 2021. Their restaurants are regularly featured on the “best of” and “top ten” lists of prestigious publications such as the New York Times, Food and Wine, Bon Appetit and Esquire among others, and have received multiple James Beard Foundation Award nominations, with Chintan winning “Best Chef New York State.” Mazumdar also supports philanthropy through Accion, City Harvest, and No Kid Hungry, and his restaurants have provided over 125,000 meals to frontline workers during the 2020 pandemic.
Soo Kim
Soo Kim is the Chairman of Bally’s Corporation and has served as an independent Director since 2016. He is the founding partner of investment firm Standard General and is the firm’s Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer. Mr. Kim has been investing in special situations strategies since 1997 starting at Bankers Trust Company, as a Principal at Och-Ziff Capital Management, and a Partner at Cyrus Capital Management. Mr. Kim is currently a Director of Intralot SA (GA:INLOT); a Director of Pursuit (aka Coalition for Queens), Vice Chairman and Director of the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies and Director and former President of the Stuyvesant High School Alumni Association. In addition, Mr. Kim is a former member of the Board of Directors of Greektown Superholdings and Media General, Inc. and the Board of Managers of ALST Casino Holdco.
Glen A. Rae and Ruth Arnould
Glen A. Rae, the Deputy General Counsel for Global Markets & International, and Chief Legal Officer and Ruth Arnould, Managing Director and Associate General Counsel – both of Bank of America – are frequent speakers at industry conferences, and are committed to increasing the pipeline of racially diverse attorneys in the financial services industry. Glen is also a former Chairman of the ISDA Equity Derivatives Committee for North America and of the New York State Bar Association’s derivatives and off-exchange products sub-committee, and Ruth is Co-President of the Futures Industry Association’s Law & Compliance Executive Committee and has chaired the Derivatives and Structured Products Committee of the New York State Bar Association.
Emcees
Cindy Hsu
Cindy Hsu, an Emmy-winning anchor at CBS 2 News NYC since 1993, is dedicated to sharing stories on various topics including children, seniors, education, adoption, animals, and mental health. Her Emmy-nominated adoption story “Bringing Rosie Home” won the New York AP Broadcasters Award. Other Emmy-award winning features include “Smuggled from China,” uncovering the plight of Chinese refugees, and her live coverage of the 1994 snowstorm. Beyond journalism, Cindy engages in community service, advocating for mental health awareness and supporting organizations like the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. She is deeply involved with Asian-American community, serving as a Big Sister, a member of the APEX Advisory Board, and past President for the NY Chapter of the Asian American Journalists Association.
Arthur Chi’en
Arthur Chi’en is the Weekend Anchor for FOX 5 in New York and has been with the station since 2014. A three-time Emmy Award Winner, Chi’en also serves as a versatile general assignment reporter, covering feature, investigative, and political stories, as well as breaking news. Chi’en’s extensive reporting spans topics from the Covid-19 pandemic to cannabis decriminalization. He began his journalism journey at NBC News, eventually transitioning to on-air reporting at New York 1 News before covering national and international events at various stations, including Hurricane Sandy and the Southeast Asia tsunami.
Sponsors
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