Lunar New Year Hero Brandon Tsay
US Congressperson Judy Chu
Philanthropists Walter & Shirley Wang
Actor Daniel Wu
President Emeritus Stewart Kwoh
Monterey Park Lunar New Year Family Survivor Kristenne Reidy
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 21, 2023
LOS ANGELES, CA —Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California (AJSOCAL) announces the honorees for the 40th Anniversary Gala: 40Forward, which takes place on October 12, 2023 at the Vibiana in Downtown Los Angeles. The following individuals have been selected as honorees for Ruby Hero Awards–established for AJSOCAL’s landmark year–for outstanding leadership, advocacy, and dedication to the empowerment and progress of the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) civil rights movement:
- Brandon Tsay, Monterey Park Lunar New Year Hero and the 2023 Joseph Ileto Courage Award Recipient. Tsay exemplified utmost bravery as the hero who disarmed the Lunar New Year mass shooter at his family’s ballroom studio in Alhambra, CA. Tsay is also being named by AJSOCAL as the 2023 Joseph Ileto Courage Award which recognizes individuals for exceptional courage and resilience in the face of adversity. His direct bystander intervention saved dozens of lives. Tsay’s instinctive reaction to stop an act of violence is an inspiration to AAPIs and allies throughout the country to pursue bystander intervention training as a means of safely preventing incidents of hate from escalating.
- Tsay will be presented with both awards (Ruby Hero & Ileto Courage) by celebrated actor, director and producer, Daniel Wu. Daniel’s advocacy in the AAPI community has been notable over the past few years. His bold voice and firm action helped strengthen the AAPI movement during the COVID-19 pandemic as incidents of hate and violence against Asian Americans surged. Wu was honored with AJSOCAL’s Ruby Hero Award in April to recognize his leadership and inspirational work in promoting the richness and complexity of AAPI communities
- U.S. Representative Judy Chu. In tandem with AJSOCAL’s 40 years, Rep. Chu has been a trailblazer for Asian Americans for nearly four decades. She has made history as the first Chinese American woman elected to Congress. For the past 12 years, she has served as the Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific Caucus, or CAPAC, where she is an instrumental leader in fighting the recent rise in anti-Asian hate. Formerly a City Councilmember and Mayor of Monterey Park, Rep. Chu’s response after the Lunar New Year shooting elevated her hometown’s tragedy to national attention and reaffirmed the strong need for additional federal gun safety prevention measures. Throughout her public career service, Rep. Chu has always fought to improve public safety and the well-being of Angelenos, Californians, and Americans alike.
- Rep. Chu will be presented the award by Kristenne Reidy, a family member of a victim in the Lunar New Year shooting. Reidy has been an active voice in the aftermath of the Monterey Park tragedy and has used her experience to demonstrate restorative justice and recognition for the lives lost to gun violence. Reidy is a distinguished voice for the San Gabriel Valley community and has stood alongside Rep. Chu as speakers for social justice at AJSOCAL events and beyond.
- Walter and Shirley Wang – Walter & Shirley Wang Foundation. Walter Wang is the CEO and chairman of North America’s largest plastic pipe manufacturer, JM Eagle. Mr. Wang has been a leading supporter of efforts to bring clean water to communities in developing countries around the world. Shirley Wang is the founder and CEO of Plastpro Inc., the first fully automated fiberglass door manufacturing plant in the world. In 2022, CIO Views listed Mrs. Wang among the year’s most admired women business leaders.
- Walter and Shirley Wang’s global philanthropy has exceeded $40 million which spans major funding to education, medical relief and research, drug abuse prevention, award winning public service announcement documentaries, and infrastructure-building in eight African countries providing water for over ½ million people. The Wangs have made significant contributions to AJSOCAL through the Walter & Shirley Wang Anti-Asian Hate Project, a 5-year multi-million dollar investment to fight against Asian hate. Their donations to AJSOCAL have funded multiple staffing positions including 10 pro bono lawyers dedicated to aiding abused women and combating anti-Asian discrimination. Their exceptional generosity and advocacy have helped pave the way for a brighter and more equitable future.
- The Wangs will be presented the award by AJSOCAL’s President Emeritus, Stewart Kwoh. Kwoh is the founder of AJSOCAL and Co-Executive Director of the Asian American Education Project. As a champion for civil rights, Kwoh has worked closely with the Wangs to further legal and civil rights endeavors. Kwoh’s work spans years of intense litigation, spearheading landmark legal services such as providing counsel for the Vincent Chin murder and leading the groundbreaking federal civil rights law suit, Bureerong v. Uvawas, fighting against modern day slavery for trafficked Thai garment workers.
The 40th Anniversary Gala will center around the theme: 40FORWARD. The gala serves as a testament to the forward momentum of the social justice movement,
“For AJSOCAL’s landmark year, we are proud to recognize these leaders for the demonstrated characteristics that are essential to the future strength of the AAPI movement. Brandon Tsay’s bravery; Rep. Judy Chu’s voice in the halls of power, and Shirley & Walter Wangs unwavering commitment to our cause,” said Connie Chung Joe, CEO of AJSOCAL. “They serve as inspiration for each and every one of us over the next 40 years in the pursuit of a more just and equitable society.”
The 40th Anniversary Gala: 40FORWARD will be held on October 12 at the Vibiana in Downtown Los Angeles. It will be an evening of reflection and celebration, bringing together leaders, activists, and supporters from all walks of life. The gala celebration will be the culmination of a year long calendar of activities that gathered members of the community and AJSOCAL supporters through a variety of private and public events. To learn more about our 40th year and events, visit www.ajsocal.org/40forward-moments-to-movement.
For further information about the 40th Anniversary Gala and ticketing details, please visit www.ajsocal.org/40forward-anniversary-gala or contact Janelle Hu at jhu@ajsocal.org.
Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California (AJSOCAL) Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California (AJSOCAL) is the nation’s largest legal and civil rights organization for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs).
Founded in 1983 as the Asian Pacific American Legal Center, Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California serves more than 15,000 individuals and organizations every year. Through direct services, impact litigation, policy advocacy, leadership development, and capacity building, Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California focuses on the most vulnerable members of AAPI communities while also building a strong voice for civil rights and social justice. Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California is based in downtown Los Angeles, with satellite offices in Orange County and Sacramento.
Title Sponsors
Bank of America
Ruby Sponsors
Bird Marella
Chung Intervivos Trust
Comcast | NBCU | Telemundo
LA County Supervisor, Hilda Solis
Jamison
Nielsen
Panda Restaurant Group
Plum Spring Foundation
Southern California Gas Company
UPS
Wells Fargo
The Walt Disney Company | ABC7
Flame Sponsors
Walzer Melcher & Yoda LLP
Co-Chairs
The Capital Group Companies
The Cabanilla Family
Southern California Edison
GRoW @ Annenberg
JPMorgan Chase
Pacific American Fish Company, Inc.
Red Boat Fish Sauce
U.S. Bank
LA Mag | Pasadena Mag
Cadillac
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Media Contact:
Liza Ameen, lameen@ajsocal.org, 213.241.0258
