Asia Society to Honor the L.A. Dodgers, Michael Chow and other Luminaries

Asia Society Southern California Gala

Los Angeles, CA, March 20, 2019 – Asia Society Southern California will honor Los Angeles icons, the Dodgers and Michael Chow, and other powerhouses in sports, the arts and real estate, at the 2019 Annual Gala Dinner on Sunday, April 7, at the Skirball Cultural Center.

Like Asia Society’s signature U.S.-China Entertainment Summit, the Annual Gala is one of the premier Asia-related events in L.A., attended by business, arts, media and civic leaders from across the region, the U.S. and Asia. We are delighted to be celebrating game changers in a number of fields. Our 2019 honorees are:

  • LOS ANGELES DODGERS – President and CEO Stan Kasten will represent this storied franchise, a pioneer in inclusion, from breaking the race barrier with Jackie Robinson to building the strongest trans-Pacific ties in U.S. sports by recruiting and nurturing Asian players.
  • MICHAEL CHOW – Artist and “Mr. Chow” restaurateur, who has enriched L.A.’s cultural life by fusing art, architecture, design and cuisine into a participatory theater.
  • GOODWIN GAW – An innovative global real estate investor, who got his start by re-imagining Hollywood’s Roosevelt Hotel and who remains active in L.A. property as well as sports, as a member of the L.A. Football Club’s ownership team.
  • CHRISTIE'S – The world’s oldest auction house supports philanthropy through arts sales and will be represented by Marc Porter, Chairman, Americas. He oversaw last year’s sale of the Peggy and David Rockefeller Collection, which raised more than $800 million for charity.
  • MAIA and ALEX SHIBUTANI – Double 2018 Olympic Bronze-medalist ice dancers, who have become global role models for athletes, Asian Americans and young adults.
  • KATELYN OHASHI – UCLA gymnast, who is admired widely for her athletic artistry, her advocacy for women and inclusion, and her life lesson in balancing ambition and fulfillment.

Underscoring the theme of talented young Asian Americans, the Gala will be emceed by Tiffany Chu, the lead in Justin Chon’s new film, Ms. Purple, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, and the evening will feature a performance by Katherine Ho, who sang the Chinese-language rendition of Coldplay’s “Yellow” in the hit film Crazy Rich Asians.

For information on tickets and sponsorship opportunities, please click here.

The Gala will be held at the Skirball Cultural Center on Sunday, April 7, from 5:30 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. PDT. An invitation-only VIP Reception will be held at the Jeffrey Deitch gallery on Saturday, April 6.

For information on media coverage and media partnerships, please contact Anjali Sharan at (213) 788-4712 or asharan@asiasociety.org

About Asia Society Southern California

Asia Society Southern California is the Los Angeles branch of the leading nonpartisan nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening relationships and forging understanding among the people of Asia and the United States. Founded in 1956 by John D. Rockefeller 3rd, Asia Society is based in New York and has centers in Hong Kong, Houston, Los Angeles, Manila, Mumbai, San Francisco, Seoul, Shanghai, Sydney, Tokyo, Washington, DC, Zurich – and soon, in Melbourne. https://asiasociety.org/southern-california