Thank you for an unforgettable night—Together, we raised over $2.3M to support communities nationwide!

Thank you for joining us for an incredible evening celebrating the Power of Jeong(정) at our 23rd Annual Gala. Together, we raised over $2.3 million to support Korean American communities nationwide!

“Jeong is not passive—it is an active force. It drives us to be bold, courageous, and unwavering in our commitment to step up and accelerate our impact.”

Kyung B. Yoon, KACF President & CEO

The evening recognized 4 extraordinary individuals, whose achievements exemplify the our values of generosity, leadership, and service:

Honoree: Margarette Lee

Margarette Lee, Principal & CEO of Youngwoo & Associates, introduced by actress Han Hyo-joo, shared her experience as a pioneering Asian American woman in real estate and the role of community in overcoming adversity.

Honoree: Sebastian Seung

Computational neuroscientist Sebastian Seung, introduced by former World Bank President Jim Yong Kim, shared insights on the profound meaning found in even the smallest connections—drawing from his groundbreaking work mapping the intricate neural networks of a fruit fly brain.

Trailblazer Award: Junghyun "JP" & Ellia Park

Celebrated restaurateurs Junghyun 'JP' and Ellia Park, introduced by Joe Bae (2022 KACF Annual Gala Honoree), received the Trailblazer Award underscoring that success is never achieved alone and highlighting the importance of believing in and uplifting one another.

Grantee Partner: Connie Chung Joe (Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Southern California)

Connie Chung Joe, CEO of Asian Americans Advancing Justice–Southern California (KACF grantee partner), spoke about the growing urgency for philanthropy and highlighted KACF’s leadership in driving a movement that inspires deeper commitments to giving.

This year's Gala was co-chaired by Greg Lee, Josephine Shin, and Jumee Song. A live auction featured exclusive experiences generously donated by HiMedi; Junghyun "JP" & Ellia Park/NA:EUN Hospitality; Sebastian Seung, June Huh, and Hye Young Yoo; Margarette Lee, Ik-Joong Kang, and Han Hyo-joo; and So-Chung Shinn. The program was emceed by Juju Chang of ABC News’ Nightline and CeFaan Kim of WABC-TV. The evening concluded with a special performance by Korean American singer-songwriter Eric Nam.

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Photographers: Andre Maier, Laos Fois

PHOTO GALLERY

If you were unable to join us at our gala or missed the opportunity to give during the event, it's not too late to make a contribution.

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