33rd
INSPIRATION
AWARDS GALA

THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 2025
6:30-9:30 PM
CIPRIANI SOUTH STREET

COUNTDOWN TO GALA

Days

Hours

Minutes

Seconds

ADD TO: GOOGLE CALENDAR | APPLE ICAL | OFFICE 365 | OUTLOOK | YAHOO

When mentorship ignites courage, generational change becomes unstoppable. From our legacy of impact to the dreams we nurture today, we're building a fearless future together.

GALA HONOREES

SUNI LEE

First Hmong American Olympic Gymnast

Suni Lee embodies the fearless spirit of a generation breaking barriers and reaching new heights. As the first Hmong American Olympic gymnast, she has transformed what’s possible for Asian American youth, earning six Olympic medals across the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Games, including historic golds in both individual all-around and team competitions.

Rooted in family support—training on a homemade balance beam her father built—and representing the strength of her community, Suni has become more than an athlete. She’s a powerful voice for mental health advocacy and youth empowerment, showing that with determination and the right support, anything is possible.

From Sports Illustrated’s Female Athlete of the Year to the Asia Game Changer Award, Suni continues to inspire the next generation through her philanthropy and advocacy. Her journey reminds us that when young people are given the opportunity to dream fearlessly, they can achieve the extraordinary.

JOAN SHIGEKAWA

National Medal of Arts Recipient

Joan Shigekawa’s journey embodies the transformative power of resilience across generations. From her childhood incarceration at the Tule Lake Japanese American Confinement Site to becoming one of America’s most influential arts leaders, she has dedicated her life to expanding cultural possibilities for all.

As Acting Chair of the National Endowment for the Arts under President Obama and recipient of the 2021 National Medal of Arts, Joan has fearlessly championed initiatives that reshape how our nation supports and celebrates the arts. Her groundbreaking work at the Rockefeller Foundation and the Nathan Cummings Foundation has created pathways for countless artists and creators.

A founding member of the Center for Asian American Media and emerita advisor to the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center, Joan continues to represent the power of cultural connection. Her legacy reminds us that when we root ourselves in resilience and reach boldly forward, we can transform barriers into bridges for future generations.

ABOUT THE GALA

THROUGH THE YEARS, APEX FOR YOUTH’S INSPIRATION AWARDS GALA HAS BECOME THE PREMIER ASIAN AMERICAN GALA IN THE UNITED STATES.

Last year, with 600 guests in attendance, we collectively raised over $3.1 million — a testament to the power of Apex’s mission. As we head into our 33rd Annual Inspiration Awards Gala, Apex remains committed to ensuring our youth can access the resources, mentorship, and opportunities they need to help them break down the barriers they face.

Join us in building

GENERATION FEARLESS!

Every donation to Apex for Youth helps us unlock a world of possibility for underserved Asian and immigrant youth in NYC and across the nation.

For any questions about this event, please contact development@apexforyouth.org.

OUR IMPACT

Did you know Asian American youth…?

1 IN 2

In NYC, 1 in 2 Asian American youth live in or near poverty

LEAST LIKELY

to seek mental health care. Asian Americans show lowest utilization rates across all racial/ethnic groups

MORE THAN 3 IN 4

of Asian American youth feel less safe than before the pandemic

About Apex for Youth

2,500+

youth served from all 5 boroughs and 11 states around the country

35,300+

hours of youth participation

900+

volunteers supporting youth

Apex for Youth empowers Asian American youth from low-income and immigrant backgrounds to unlock their potential today and a world of possibility tomorrow.

Our holistic approach is expertly tailored to our youth’s age, racial identity and socioeconomic status. Our programs combine impactful mentorship with access to critical resources for our youth and their families that would not have otherwise been available.

Apex creates systems of support for youth from elementary school to young adulthood. Based on shared identities and experiences, we foster transformative relationships with a community of caring adults — from mentors and therapists to athletic coaches and career guides.

Through Apex programs, low-income Asian American youth have the resources and support to break through socioeconomic and racial barriers, creating their own future with a sense of agency, belonging and confidence.

FEATURED PRESENTERS

CONNIE CHUNG

Journalist, Author

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Morbi quis metus ipsum. Morbi ut ligula ac ligula varius pharetra at sed leo. Vestibulum commodo ac sapien at dapibus. Fusce euismod neque at sapien cursus vestibulum. Sed magna turpis, facilisis nec sodales varius, vehicula eget ante. Suspendisse sapien justo, tempus at commodo sit amet, consequat a magna. Fusce neque nisl, luctus in placerat et, consectetur vel odio. Nulla sodales hendrerit turpis at mollis. Phasellus volutpat volutpat libero a dapibus. Quisque scelerisque dignissim metus, non porttitor sapien facilisis nec. Suspendisse facilisis enim quis leo vehicula convallis. In hac habitasse platea dictumst. Sed.

CONNIE CHUNG

Journalist, Author

HOST COMMITTEE

ALLISTER CHAN

BIG DRAGONS JUNIOR HOST COMMITTEE

BD WONG

DAVID HENRY HWANG

DOUBLE HAPPINESS BRIDAL

JEAN BROWNHILL

JENNIFER PROSEK

JENNIFER SAESUE

JIAJIA FEI

JULIA CHIANG

MICHAEL LI

MICHELLE LEE

ROBERT LEE

ROY KIM

RUSS CHONG

SOPHIE YU

STEPHEN CHANG

TI-HUA CHANG

VIVIAN TU

WEN ZHOU

PAST HONOREES

CONSTANCE WU

Actress

OCEAN VUONG

Author, Poet

SIMON KIM

Proprietor of Gracious Hospitality Management

EILEEN GU

Freestyle Skier, 2-time Olympic gold medalist

AMANDA NGUYEN

Founder/CEO, RISE

AWKWAFINA

Actress

DANIEL DAE KIM

Actor, Director, Producer

JON M. CHU

Filmaker

GEMMA CHAN

Actress and Producer

KENNETH LIN

Chief Executive Officer and Founder

OLIVIA MUNN

Actress

HUMBERTO LEON & CAROL LIM

American Fashion Designers

JHENÉ AIKO

Singer and Songwriter

JOHN C. JAY

Designer, President / Executive Creative Director

ALEX CHUNG

GIPHY, Co-founder & CEO

BING CHEN

Creator & Entrepreneur

CHLOE KIM

Snowboarder, 2-time Olympic gold medalist

CONNIE CHUNG

Journalist

DHIVYA SURYADEVARA

General Motors, Chief Financial officer

HAYDEN SZETO

Actor

JAMES CHANG

C. P. Advanced Imaging, PLLC – Founder

JASON WANG

Xi’an Famous Foods, President/CEO

JULIE YOO

Fanatics, SVP Global Head of M&A

KATHY HIRATA CHIN

Partner, Crowell & Moring LLP

KRISTA MARIE YU

Actress

MARCUS LOO

Clinical Professor of Urology, Weill Cornell Medical College

MITCHELL E. HARRIS

BNY Mellon, CEO, Investment Management

NATASHA JEN

Pentagram, Partner, Graphic Designer

NATHANIEL RU

Sweetgreen, Co-Founder

PATRCIA SHIN RÖCKENWAGNER

STX Entertainment, Chief Communications Officer 2017

SHAN-LYN MA

Zola, CEO & Co-Founder

VICTORIA HSU

J.T. Tai & Co. Foundation, Trustee

YIE-HSIN HUNG

President and CEO, State Street Global Advisors

APL.DE.AP

The Black Eyed Peas, Rapper, singer and record producer

HUDSON YANG

Actor, Fresh Off the Boat

NORMAN C.T.LIU

President & CEO, Nordic Aviation Capital

EVA CHEN

Vice President of Fashion at Meta

GREGORY YEP

Executive Vice President and Chief Technical and Research Officer, CJ Cheiljedang

RONNIE C. CHAN

Hang Lung Properties Limited, Chairman

GRACE PARK

Actress, Hawaii Five-O

MING CHEN HSU

J.T. Tai & Co. Foundation Trustee, Former Commissioner, US Federal Maritime Commission

ANDREW YANG

Venture for America, Founder & CEO

LEA SALONGA

Broadway Actor & Singer

STEVEN CHO

Kings Peak Asset Management LP

ALEXANDER TSUI, DMD

Apex cofounder, Dentist

AASIF MANDVI

Actor

BEN & EMILY HUH

Cheezburger, Founders

CHAD TROUTWINE

Freakonomics Producer; Co-founder & CEO, Veritas Prep

GWYNNE CHOW TUAN

Fundraiser

ALINA CHO

CNN, Correspondent

DAPHNE KWOK

Vice President Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Asian American & Pacific Islander Audience Strategy, AARP

PADMA LAKSHMI

Top Chef, Cookbook author & host

ANITA LO

Chef, Annisa Restaurant

BILL IMADA

Co-Founder, Chairman and Chief Connectivity Officer, IW Group

KAREN WONG

Cofounder and Chief Creative Officer, Guilty By Association

DAVID CHANG

Momofuku Restaurants, Owner & Chef

KAM MAK

Illustrator

PHILLIP LIM

3.1 Phillip Lim, Designer

JOHN CHUN YAH LIU

NY State Senator

VIVIAN LEE

NY1 News, Reporter and Anchor

GEORGIA LEE

Red Doors, Independent Film Director

IRENE TSE

Tse Capital Management

AIYOUNG CHOI

Community Activist

CHRISTINE CHEN

Executive Director, APIAVote

JANICE MIN

Former Editor-in-Chief, Hollywood Reporter

JOYCE CHANG

Chair of Global Research, JPMorgan

ALAN MURAOKA

Actor, Sesame Street

TI-HUA CHANG

Broadcast Journalist

DORIS LING-COHAN

New York State Supreme Court Justice

JEANNIE PARK

Former Executive Editor, People Magazine

B.D.WONG

Tony Award-winning Actor

DAVID HENRY HWANG

Tony Award-winning Playwright

BENNY AGBAYANI

Professional Baseball Player

MING TSAI

Blue Ginger Restaurant, Chef

CINDY HSU

WCBS-TV, Reporter and Anchor

JUJU CHANG

WABC-TV, Correspondent

FEATURED SPONSORS

BECOME A SPONSOR.
BE A CHAMPION FOR ASIAN AMERICAN YOUTH.

TITLE

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Morbi quis metus ipsum. Morbi ut ligula ac ligula varius pharetra at sed leo. Vestibulum commodo ac sapien at dapibus. Fusce euismod neque.