Join us for a celebration as we mark ASIAN, Inc.'s 53rd anniversary Gala: "Faster, Higher, Stronger — TOGETHER." Inspired by the timeless motto of the Olympic Games, our gala promises an unforgettable evening of unity, resilience, and achievements.

SPEICAL GUESTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Masters of Ceremonies

Anchor, NBC Bay Area News

Audrey Asistio

Audrey Asistio anchors weekdays on NBC Bay Area News at 4:30. She joined NBC Bay Area in November 2021, co-anchored the weekend edition of NBC Bay Area News at 5, 6, and 11 p.m., and reported during the week. Audrey joined NBC Bay Area from NBC10 Boston, where she anchored the 4, 5:30, and 7 p.m. weekday shows. She also covered the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea, and the Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, where she was able to showcase cultural and inspiring stories.

Special Projects Producer, NBC Bay Area

Christine Ni

Christine Chun-I Ni has been working in broadcast television for 25 years. She is currently the special projects producer at NBC Bay Area. She was a line producer in general news for years before turning to long-form story-telling. In her current role, she is a jack of all trades, doing everything – including field producing sports events and breaking news, producing the on-going series, “Race in America: the Conversation” and covering the Olympics for NBC.

Keynote Speaker

Actor: Warrior, The Man in the High Castle, Tulsa King

Rich Ting

Actor Rich Ting was born in Los Angeles, California and is a 4th generation Asian American. Ting is most well - known for playing the iconic character 'Bolo' in the HBO Max drama series Warrior , a television series inspired by the writings and work of Bruce Lee and is unforgettable on Amazon's Season 4 of the critically - acclaimed The Man in the High Castle as 'Captain Iijima', a driven, ambitious young detective in the Japanese Kempeitai.

The Menu

SALAD

Roasted Beet Salad (GF)

ENTREE: a choice of

Duck à l'Orange Breast

Surf & Turf Grilled Filet Mignon

Saffron Risotto [Vegetarian]

DESSERT

Molten Chocolate Cake

Awardees

Harold T. Yee

Lifetime Achievement Award

Alex Chiu

Immediate Past President,

Coalition for Economic Equity

After working at large international law firms, Mr. Chiu started his own firm in 2003. With his extensive knowledge and experience and his focus on the needs of his clients, Alex is committed to providing counseling-oriented legal services of the highest personal quality both quickly and efficiently, while fulfilling his client’s objectives. His exceptional depth and breadth of experience and knowledge enables him to provide comprehensive advice and expertise in serving the interests of his clients.

Community Advocate of the Year

Hudson Liao

Founder and Executive Director, Asians Are Strong

Mr. Liao founded Asians Are Strong during the peak of hate crimes against Asians in 2021. He is dedicated to fighting racism by promoting physical safety within the community. Through community events and safety workshops, Asians Are Strong mobilizes the community to raise awareness and foster action. Additionally, Asians Are Strong is a valued partner in delivering self-defense classes for our first advocacy project, Stop the Hate.

Community Reinvestment Champion of the Year

Trina Villanueva

Senior Manager, CRA and Community Affairs Officer, First Citizens Bank

During Ms. Villanueva’s time at Union Bank and her current role as Senior Manager, CRA and Community Affairs Officer at Silicon Valley Bank (acquired by First Citizens Bank), she has been a steadfast supporter of ASIAN, Inc., providing grant support and ongoing collaboration.

Minority Enterprise of the Year

Evergreen Electric Group Inc.

Lawrence Lau, President

Mr. Lau's journey with our San José MBDA Business Center began a decade ago when he sought assistance to obtain certifications necessary for bidding on various opportunities. With our support, he successfully acquired the certifications, enabling him to compete for contracts. Evergreen Electric Group Inc. continues to work closely with our Business Center and currently has more than 30 ongoing projects.

Special Guest Olympians

Olympic Badminton Twins

Annie and Kerry Xu

Twin sisters Kerry and Annie Xu, started playing badminton at age eight, traveling to international tournaments. After stepping away to focus on their accounting studies at UC Berkeley, they returned to the sport post-college, driven by their Olympic dream. They earned silver at the Pan American Games and now train daily at Bay Badminton Club. The sisters aim not only for Olympic success but also to promote badminton in the U.S.

Olympic Women's Water Polo

Jenna Flynn

A 2023 NCAA Champion, Jenna made her Olympic debut at the 2024 Paris Games, earning a spot on the World Aquatics Media All-Star Team with 13 goals. As a top scorer in multiple international tournaments, including the 2023 Pan American Games, she excelled at Stanford with 60 goals and 19 assists during their championship season. Originally from San Jose, CA, she enjoys spending time with family, and exploring new coffee shops.

Entertainment

Juliette Leong

Juliette Leong, an 8-year-old violin prodigy, artist, and entrepreneur, has performed at Carnegie Hall and won over 20 international competitions. A self-taught art prodigy, her paintings have sold for over $17,000 and been featured on national magazine covers. Juliette has captivated audiences at over 50 sold-out events, including performances at Times Square and the Oakland Coliseum. She is also the founder of Kids Teach University, a platform where kids inspire and teach each other to discover their talents.

Lion Dance ME

Based in San Francisco's Chinatown, Lion Dance ME specializes in traditional Chinese lion dance, music, and entertainment. From its beginnings as a high school club, Lion Dance ME has grown to offer programs in schools across the city. Featured on America's Got Talent and making history with the first female Western Lion King title, Lion Dance ME continues to preserve the cultural art of dragon and lion dance through youth programs throughout San Francisco.

World Oyama Karate

World Oyama Karate offers training for those seeking to build both physical and mental strength while achieving their full potential. Their dynamic performances have been showcased across the Bay Area, including at Oracle Park and the Japantown Cherry Blossom Festival.