The Asian American Federation is New York’s leading organization fighting for policies, services, and funding that empower Asian New Yorkers who have historically faced economic and social challenges.

On June 3 at 6:00 PM at The Pierre in New York City, join us for an unforgettable evening of celebration, inspiration, and impact. Come together with 350 of our friends and supporters from New York and beyond, including respected business and creative leaders, generous donors, media, elected officials, and organizations in our 70+ member network.

Enjoy an elegant cocktail reception, dinner, and awards ceremony honoring remarkable leaders who have shaped our community for the better.

May 14, 2025: Deadline for inclusion in the e-journal, website, and social media.

Can’t attend but still want to make a difference?

Consider a one-time or recurring donation—your contribution is 100% tax-deductible and directly supports AAF’s vital work for New York's vulnerable communities.

Nonprofits / Community Members or Ad Purchases

We have special sponsorship and ticket rates for nonprofit organizations and members of the community. Ad rates can also be found under the donation options. For more information, contact gala@aafederation.org or call 212-344-5878 x227.

Honorees

Evelyn Yang is a mom, author, and advocate, married to former 2020 presidential candidate Andrew Yang. They live in NYC with their two sons. Born in Queens to Taiwanese immigrants, Evelyn graduated from Columbia University with a B.A. in Economics and worked in marketing and brand management. As an autism mom, she serves on the board of KultureCity, promoting autism acceptance and disability awareness. In 2022, she was arrested protesting the Chinatown Megajail and remains an outspoken AAPI community advocate. A passionate survivor-advocate, Evelyn went public about being assaulted by her OBGYN, prompting hundreds of women to come forward and leading to the doctor’s federal prosecution. She supports legislation like the Child Victims Act and Adult Survivors Act, and recently led the passage of New York’s Gender Motivated Violence Act, used by hundreds of survivors. She authored A Kids Book About Sexual Abuse, part of a book series on Oprah’s list of favorite things. All royalties are donated to RAINN.

With over 20 years of experience leading strategic initiatives that drive business and community outcomes and improve prosperity for all, Michelle A. Henry has dedicated her career to connecting low-income communities and communities of color to quality jobs, business growth opportunities, and more economically secure futures. As the Region Executive for Community Engagement in Corporate Responsibility at JPMorganChase and a professional whose career began in the nonprofit sector, Michelle brings an inclusive perspective to how the voices and perceptions of nonprofits leaders and the communities they serve are reflected through JPMorgan Chase’s work. She was recently elected to the board of directors of Coro New York, where is an alum of the Leadership New York program. Michelle has also held board roles at Nonprofit New York and the Center for Community Alternatives.

Jimmy Chen is the founder and CEO of Propel, an app used by over 5 million low-income households to manage their government benefits. Propel has over 500,000 five-star reviews and has been recognized by the White House. Propel’s investors include Andreessen Horowitz, Kleiner Perkins, JPMorganChase, Kevin Durant, and Serena Williams.

In addition to his work at Propel, Jimmy serves on the boards of Share Our Strength, a national anti-hunger nonprofit, and TechNYC, a nonprofit coalition focused on the technology industry in New York. Jimmy holds a B.S. in Symbolic Systems from Stanford University, where he was an inaugural winner of the President’s Award for the Advancement of the Common Good in 2022.

Manish Sapra, MD, is executive director of the behavioral health service line at Northwell Health. He oversees strategic clinical program development and physician management for all mental health and substance use disorder programs at Northwell. He interacts with site leaders to drive quality improvement and standardize care with a special interest looking at technology’s role in mental health, including the use of artificial intelligence and supporting mental health of health care workers.

Dr. Sapra is the immediate past president of the American Association for Psychiatric Administration and Leadership, a fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and an active member of the Group for Advancement of Psychiatry, a leading psychiatric think tank.

Emcees

Cindy Hsu, an Emmy-winning anchor at CBS 2 News NYC since 1993, and now anchor of CBS New York at Noon, is dedicated to sharing stories on various topics including children, seniors, education, adoption, animals, and mental health. Her Emmy-nominated adoption story “Bringing Rosie Home” won the New York AP Broadcasters Award. Other Emmy-award winning features include “Smuggled from China,” uncovering the plight of Chinese refugees, and her live coverage of the 1994 snowstorm. Beyond journalism, Cindy engages in community service, advocating for mental health awareness and supporting organizations like the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. She is deeply involved with Asian-American community, serving as a Big Sister, a member of the APEX Advisory Board, and past President for the NY Chapter of the Asian American Journalists Association.

Arthur Chi’en is the Weekend Anchor for FOX 5 in New York and has been with the station since 2014. A three-time Emmy Award Winner, Chi’en also serves as a versatile general assignment reporter, covering feature, investigative, and political stories, as well as breaking news. Chi’en’s extensive reporting spans topics from the Covid-19 pandemic to cannabis decriminalization. He began his journalism journey at NBC News, eventually transitioning to on-air reporting at New York 1 News before covering national and international events at various stations, including Hurricane Sandy and the Southeast Asia tsunami.

2025 Asian American Federation Impact Awards