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PORTRAITS OF ASIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY
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THE SEVENTH ANNUAL ASIAN HERITAGE AWARDS USS MIDWAY-
THE EVENT TO BE PROUD OF
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| The trip to San Diego from Washington for Navy Capt. Cynthia Macri last weekend was full of surprises.
A little more than half-way there, an elderly man on her flight took ill and collapsed. A physician, Macri attended the man as best she could, then asked the captain of the flight to divert the plane to Omaha, so the man could be taken to the hospital.
Later, Saturday evening, her name was called to receive the Seventh Annual Asian Heritage Award for Military Service, presented by Congresswoman Susan Davis of San Diego, a champion of veterans affairs, who beforehand praised the military for their sacrifices beyond the call of duty.
“That’s what I do,” Macri, the daughter of a renowned plant geneticist and a World War II Japanese relocation camp internee, told the audience of some 500 in attendance aboard the USS Midway. “I am not an extrovert by any means. I just do my job.”
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| Macri was among 15 men and women of Asian descent honored for their achievements and community service as part of the Seventh Annual Asian Heritage Awards.
Dr. Lilly Cheng, who followed Macri, in accepting the Humanitarian Outreach Award for her 40 years of global work on cross-cultural communication and speech pathology, told the audience that “speech-language communication” is a human right. That award was presented by Navy Rear Admiral Ron MacLaren, who said, “I am honored to be able to give back to my (Korean) roots and to honor those who have achieved so much.” The U.S. Navy was among the major sponsors of the Awards. Other major sponsors included the Avery-Tsui Foundation, Ford Motor Company Fund, Barona Resort and Casino and Phamatech of San Diego.
Added MacLaren: “The important thing about events like these is to show how diverse our Navy community is.”
Indeed, the night was as diverse as any could be – from five-month-old Rhys Dann, half Thai and half Welsh, who came in a tux, with his parents, to show support for grandma Rosalynn Carmen, co-founder of the Awards, to octogenarian and retired chief boatswain’s mate Richard Kong, who, proudly in uniform, rendered the Pledge of Allegiance. Before that, a Junior Navy ROTC color guard comprised of Asian American high school students from Troy High School in Fullerton, California, presented the colors.
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The theme of the event was set at the opening by the One Dream Children’s Choir of San Diego, led by Darleen Herriman, a teacher at Francis Parker School. The 65 youngsters, all dressed in ethnic attire and representing the event’s theme of inclusiveness, sang “One World,” a musical composition written by Chinese composer Wang Lee Hom.
The message resonated throughout the night, even to the end, when Tom Hom, who received the final honor for Special Recognition, told the current generation of Asian Americans that they need to “reach outside the box and embrace all cultures.”
While ethnic enclaves like Chinatown in San Francisco are important for the older generation, said Hom, “second and third generations” have to embrace the greater community. “By blending the ancient wisdom of Asia with the dynamic culture of America, you can make a new and wonderful contribution,” he said.
A large part of the audience had come to honor Hom, 83, who received the major award for breaking ground more than a generation ago as the first Asian American in San Diego to hold public office. Hom was elected to the San Diego City Council and later became only the third member of the California Assembly. In presenting him the honor, San Diego County Supervisor Ron Roberts, honorary co-chair of the event, called Hom a “beloved friend and an inspiration to generations of Asian Americans.” Roberts also cited many of Hom’s accomplishments, including his involvement in downtown development and helping to expand the city’s role as a professional sports town, with the addition of a stadium in Mission Valley that housed the San Diego Padres and San Diego Chargers,
While Hom is a third generation Asian American, several of the honorees came to this country as immigrants and included David Du (Business Enterprise), who escaped from Vietnam to head several companies in San Diego; Michelle Nguyen (Legal Affairs), who, herself, escaped the fall of Saigon; Dr. Charles Liu (Health and Medicine), who was born in Taiwan and reared in Thailand, and Giovanna Pang-Garcia, who left her native Hong Kong when she was 16 years old to pursue the American Dream and found it. By the age of 40, she had founded a multi-million-dollar computer company, sold it and wrote the book “Why Chinese Women Are Not Broke,” which earned her the Seventh Annual Asian Heritage Award for Art and Literature.
Other winners included Jonathan Ton, Education; Kathy David, Entrepreneurship; Cecil Magpuri, Innovation and Technology; Lani Lutar, Government; Aurora Cudal, Media and Film; the Confucius Institute at SDSU, Cultural Preservation, Felix Fan, Performing Arts; Margaret Iwanaga-Penrose, Community Service, and Holly Fujie, who tied in the category of Legal Affairs. The only other tie occurred in 2006, in Education. The Community Service honor was presented by Sally Wong-Avery, who chaired the event and sponsored the category through her Avery-Tsui Foundation. Other sponsors included Cox Communications, The Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association, DDH Enterprise Inc., United Parcel Service, Julia Cheng Wealth Management and Gingi.
Honorees in each category were selected by votes cast through an on-line ballot, emails and the newspaper ASIA, The Journal of Culture & Commerce, co-sponsor of the Awards and Show.
Habitat for Humanity International was also awarded the first ever Social Responsibility Award for demonstrating diversity, social awareness and global and environmental concern. The award was presented by Damrong Kraikruan, consul general for Thailand, who told the audience that Habitat’s “concern for the environment runs through everything they do, just as it does in my country.” Habitat has built or rehabilitated more than 75,000 homes serving 350,000 people throughout Asia, including Thailand.
The ceremony was also attended by Chung-chen Kung, director general of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles, who welcomed those in attendance after being introduced by Wong-Avery at the beginning of the program.
The program was emceed by award-winning television news personalities Marcella Lee and Robert Santos., who kept everything moving at a brisk clip, ending on time, an accomplishment almost unheard of at an awards banquet.
Leonard Novarro, vice president of The Asian Heritage Society and co-founder of the Awards, cited not only the variety of ethnicities of attendees and award recipients, but also the wide range of age.
“This event affirms what the Asian Heritage Society is all about – leadership, legacy and inclusiveness,” he said.
Added Carmen: “Using achievement as a guideline and honoring people like Tom Hom and all our honorees, as we did tonight, offers everyone a beacon of hope.”
The ceremony included entertainment by Japanese pop star Masumi, the Thai Classical Ballet and the Silk Road Dancers from San Diego, whil Amy Chanphavong, Miss Asian America, welcomed guests and assisted on stage.
On deck, during the reception, Kenneth Nguyen, a local designer and hair stylist, showed off some of his avant garde fashions of snappy cocktail dresses made from trash bags, as he put it –“good for the environment.” Naruwan Taiko, a traditional drum group, called guests to dinner.
The Seventh Annual Asian Heritage Awards was produced by The Asian Heritage Society.
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ASIA MEDIA INC'S LIBRARY
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ASIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY MESSAGE BOARD
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ASIA in The CITY From A to Z
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Highlight of 2010 Asian Heritage Awards
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GOVERNOR ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER
The Golden State is honored to host events that promote diversity, and the Asian and Pacific Islander community of California is an important part of our vibrant culture. I salute you for using this occasion to embrace the traditions that make our state strong.
You have established a sound reputation for service and achievement, and your pledge to promoting leadership serves as an inspiration to all. Moreover, your dedication to bringing together community members for a celebration of shared heritage is commendable. By reinforcing your unity and commitment to your customs, your exemplify the many ways this great state benefits from the diversity of its residents.
I wish you a memorable event and every future success.
Sincerely Arnold Schwarzenegger
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Jerry Sanders, MAYOR
...I acknowledge and commend your work to recognize the outstanding Asian American who seek to serve their communities. The City of San Diego greatly benefits from the rich culture, contributions, heritage, and diversity of the Asian and Pacific Islander communities.
Please accept my best wishes for a memorable event and continued success in your future endeavors.
Sincerely,
Jerry Sanders, Mayor
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Dear Len and Roz,
I had lots of Chinese community leaders who really liked the event.
People like David Du, Shane Chang, Wendy Meng, Peter Chu, Stanley Ting, Billy Sung, James Hom, Jack Meng, Jack Fu, Murray Lee, William Liao, just to name a few who let me know that they really think that this is a great event.
The Taiwan director General office also wrote to me saying that that was a very magnificent event.
I think that it is really important to honor great people like Tom Hom's caribou and makes the Award a very classy and distinguished award that has a unique identity and image in itself. So, who ever received the Award from the Asian Heritage Award will be deemed to have received a very distinguished award and not just one that anyone can obtain.
What you and Roz have done is really great for the community. I think you know that. It is always good to be reminded of all the good that you have done.
Thanks for all your support and hard work. We all treasured that.
Keep in touch. Sally Wong-Avery
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Dear Asian Heritage Awards Nominees, Supporters and Friends,
Thank you for participating in the 7th Annual Asian Heritage Awards event aboard the USS Midway last Saturday July 10th, 2010. Your presence was a vivid recognition of the achievement of the Asian professionals, educators, business leaders, entrepreneurs and artists in the community.
Deeply moving was the moment of silence as the words that extol the contribution of these wonderful members were scrolled down the large screens in the gala room.
We honor these men, women
and organizations
who have dedicated their lives
for the betterment of humanity
and community.
We honor their work and integrity,
their embrace of cultural differences,
their accomplishments and
achievements and their
inspiration to others.
By promoting harmony
and understanding,
and empowering
others to follow in their pursuit of
worthwhile endeavors,
we honor their contributions
and their legacy.
The greater community of Legacy and Legends will keep enlarging year after year.
Thanks for for being great leaders and models in the community, along with Len Novarro, Rosalynn Carmen, the Asian Heritage Society Board members and the Asian Heritage Awards Committee members.
Binh Tran
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…And I will add that you, Roz, and your entire team did an OUTSTANDING job with the AHA this year. The general feedback that I received from my Navy participants was that the event venue was awesome, the entertainment was fantastic, the food was delicious, and the program went smoothly. They all had a great time. RDML (Rear Admiral) MacLaren told me he enjoyed every aspect of it. Capt Macri was overjoyed with winning the award. Our media team is putting the finishing touches on a Navy story. I will forward you the link when it gets released.
Lets talk some more next week.
Rgds (Cmdr. Sam Delgado)
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Dear All:
The AHA event last night was an outstanding success thanks to Len and Roz's inspiration and leadership as well as all the key organizers' remarkable dedication, organization, talents, and hard work.
The concept of the Asian Heritage Awards and the legacy celebration marked the core meaning of this event. The program was professionally and artfully orchestrated with top-notch quality, the logistics seamlessly taken care of with elegance and attention to the minute details, and the attendance was absolutely impressive.
Sally's recommendation to honor Tom Hom was an exceptional idea as he is truly an icon in the Asian-American community in San Diego.
My hat is off to you all! With much appreciation,
Kim-Thoa
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Dear Len and Roz,
The awards banquet once again celebrated the achievements of Asian/Pacific Islanders in grand fashion. It is wonderful to see growth each year in every area. It was my first time at the USS Midway for the awards and the venue lent itself to a number of spectacular images because of the settings. The models added a interesting flair and the taiko drummers provided a wonderful element of energy and excitement to the beginning of the event… Before you jump ahead in thinking ahead to next year, you both should relish in what you accomplished in last night's festivities and feel very proud of how the event came off in recognizing the all the distinguished nominees. Tom Hom's recognition really illustrated well his contributions to the SD community and he really shined in his acceptance speech.
A special congratulations to you for Governor Schwartzenegger's recognition of your contributions to the SD community!
Congratulations! Jaye Van Kirk, M.A.
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Hi Len & Roz..
Thank you for putting on such a great event. Yes, my family, all 40 of us, had a wonderful time. Thanks again, Len & Roz.
Tom (Hom) |
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Len and Roz,
Many, many thanks for a wonderful event! You certainly surpassed everyone's expectations, especially ours, for a meaningful evening of honoring so many well-deserving individuals. Thank you from all of the Homs for honoring Dad! We are still talking about the many accolades expressed and about the inspirational ceremony.
Best, Gayle (Hom)
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Dear Len and Roslyn,
You've gone a long way in showcasing the talents of Asians in various fields of endeavor and in fostering pride on what they do in the pursuit of their career and in serving the community. Congratulations!
Thank you very much for the highly successful awards ceremonies. Things are getting better every year! I'm glad I was a part of it last night. It was a great honor.
Aurora (Cudal) |
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Len and Rosalynn,
On Behalf of all of us at The Leadership House, Absolute WOW! What a thoroughly fantastic experience we all had at the AHS event. From front to finish, it was top class! Take care and again thanks for a great evening with a marvelous group of people.
Jerry Matt, The Leadership House
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Congratulations on another successful event. It has grown so much from the first one that we attended. Robert and I salute you both for your continued support of our communities. We had a great time.
Roxanne M. Girard |
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Bravo to you all, especially the vision of Len and Roz… and the passionate Board, Awards Committee, and supporters.
Otto W. K. Lee, Ed.D.
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Len and Roz,Congratulations on such a successful, fun-filled evening. My husband was so glad he went and will return next year. The venue, timing and programming was impressive.
Karen Lim |
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