On February 5, 2025, Tatcha Global Director of Artistry Daniel Martin and ELLE Beauty Director Kathleen Hou hosted a private dinner to celebrate Lunar New Year at Phoenix Palace in Chinatown, NYC. AAPI founders, executives and allies from the beauty, fashion, media and entertainment industries welcomed the Year of the Snake with family-style Cantonese cuisine in a moody, cinematographic setting.
By Ashley Ye | February 25, 2025
The evening featured inspiring remarks from hosts Daniel Martin and Kathleen Hou, alongside Gold House Co-Founder & CEO Bing Chen (representing lead sponsor OpenTable) and Lippe Taylor SVP Yun Yu, highlighting the collective impact of community-driven support.
A standout moment of the night was the red envelope gifting, where each guest received a donation made in their name toward Los Angeles wildfire relief efforts, courtesy of /prompt. Additionally, attendees left with Apex for Youth tote bags filled with AAPI-founded beauty products from Fable & Mane, Glow Recipe, Peach & Lily, Tatcha, and Then I Met You.
With the goal of giving back to the AAPI community, the event, in collaboration with sponsors including OpenTable, Glow Recipe, Tatcha, The Wall Group, and more, raised a whopping $20,000 for Apex. The hosts chose Phoenix Palace specifically as a venue because they were drawn to the founders’ story, as four childhood friends who wanted to give back to their community.
“We wanted to do something really meaningful.” -Daniel Martin, Tatcha Global Director of Artistry
“The year of the Snake is all about shedding, whether it be bad vibes or energy, so we invite you to do that tonight and celebrate being together.” –Kathleen Hou, ELLE Beauty Director
“We wanted to build a place that celebrates our culture, and Chinatown.” –Cory Ng, Phoenix Palace Co-owner
This special gathering raised $20,000 for Apex for Youth, which helps us continue to empower Asian American youth from low-income and immigrant backgrounds to unlock their potential today and a world of possibility tomorrow.
With 1 in 2 Asian American youth living in or near poverty in NYC, our holistic approach is expertly tailored to our youth’s age, racial identity, and socioeconomic status. Apex creates systems of support for youth from elementary school to young adulthood. 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.
Every contribution—big or small—helps empower Asian American youth to reach their full potential. There are many ways to support Apex for Youth and make a lasting impact on the next generation:
Apex for Youth extends heartfelt gratitude to Daniel Martin and Kathleen Hou for their dedication, as well as to lead sponsors OpenTable and /prompt, key sponsors Glow Recipe, Tatcha, and The Wall Group, and generous donors Fable & Mane, Peach & Lily, and Then I Met You. Special thanks also go to Aya Kanai for representing Apex for Youth and Gold House for their continued partnership and commitment to elevating AAPI voices.
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Apex for Youth received the Sweetwater Clifton City Spirit Award at the Knicks Lunar New Year game, honoring our work empowering Asian American youth.
From museum adventures to culinary creations, these family days foster curiosity, community, and connection, empowering Asian American youth and their families to grow and thrive together.
