APAC Annual Dinner & Awards Ceremony
and Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Celebration
APAC’s signature event is our Annual Dinner and Awards Ceremony celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. This spectacular dinner and awards ceremony is one of the premier events in the San Diego Asian American Community, as community leaders, business executives, nonprofits, and elected officials come together to recognize significant leaders in our community who influence change and champion civic engagement.
We recognize rising stars and seasoned community figures with awards, as well as provide scholarships to deserving students. We will also be celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.
Mark your calendar for our 13th Annual Dinner and Awards Ceremony on May 10, 2025!
APAC’s Annual Dinner and Awards Ceremony will recognize individuals and organizations who have made a difference in our community through civic engagement; support APAC’s civic and economic empowerment initiatives and leadership development programs; select 2 recipients of the Tom Hom Scholarship; and celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.
Click on the image below to register for the event!
If paying by check, please make it payable to APAC and mail to:
APAC San Diego
PO Box 261243
San Diego, CA 92196
Click here for the Facebook event page
APAC Gala & Award Dinner 2025 Honorees:
1. Excellence in Civic Leadership and Volunteerism Award – Presented to Donna Lee
This award is given to an individual who is an outstanding civic engagement volunteer and leader that goes above and beyond to serve their community through leadership, initiative, and advocacy. They help organize events, mobilize residents, educate the public, and collaborate with government and nonprofits to drive positive change.
2. Outstanding Organization Award – Presented to Vietnamese American Youth Alliance
This award is given to an organization which actively supports the mission of the Asian Pacific American Coalition and its greater efforts to advance civic engagement in the Asian & Pacific Islander communities.
3. Rising Star Award – Presented to Emily Wong
This award is given to a young man or woman between the ages of 16 and 24 years old who takes an active role in advancing API civic engagement in San Diego and demonstrates the capability for future community leadership.
4. Lifetime Achievement Award – Presented to Sally WongAvery
This award is given by APAC to a community leader who has demonstrated an extraordinary personal commitment to his/her organization in the Asian community and has thus enabled the group to excel in fulfilling its mission and goals. It also recognizes the best in community spirit and encourages others to improve their communities through volunteer service, and civic participation.
5. Tom Hom Civic Engagement Scholarship
Presented to the following four winners: Aiyiana Tiger-Mantanona, Katie Nguyen, Phong Tran, & Jie Yu
The Tom Hom Civic Engagement Scholarship is awarded to a full-time student enrolled in a San Diego County college, of API (Asian or Pacific Islander) descent, and has demonstrated volunteerism, work, or other activity related to civic engagement.
6. Special Commendation – Presented to Jantima Danford
Special Commendation for outstanding service as one of APAC’s longest-serving Board Members, helping build a foundation of APAC that strengthened San Diego’s Asian Pacific American community.
Click here for the registration link!
Sponsor the 13th Annual Dinner & Awards Ceremony! Click here for the sponsorship form!
APAC Awards Gala Sponsors (interested in sponsoring our 2025 event – click here)
2025 SPONSORS
SILVER SPONSORS
Sally WongAvery and Natasha Wong
Bronze Sponsors
Partial list of elected officials who will be attending the APAC 13th Annual Dinner & Awards Ceremony
- District Attorney Summer Stephan
- Former City Attorney Mara Elliott
- City Attorney Heather Ferbert
- San Diego City Council President Joe LaCava
- San Diego City Council President Pro Tem Kent Lee
- D3 Councilmember Stephen Whitburn
- D4 Councilmember Henry Foster III
- San Diego County Assessor Jordan Marks
- D 76 State Assemblymember Darshana Patel
- County Board of Supervisor Jim Desmond
- County Board of Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe
- National City Mayor Ron Morrison
- D3 National City Councilmember Ditas Yamane
- San Marcos Mayor Rebecca Jones
- D4 San Marcos Council Member Ed Musgrove
- Chula Vista Mayor John McCann
2025 APAC 13th Annual Dinner & Awards Ceremony Table Hosts, Community Partners, and Friends – Partial List
- Alliance for Quality Education/Mitz Lee
- America’s Thai Chamber San Diego
- APAC Summer Interns
- Chinese School of San Diego
- Lions Clubs International
- Donna Lee
- Element Law Firm
- Filipino Chamber of Commerce Greater San Diego
- House of China
- House of Taiwan
- Japanese American Citizens League
- Jasmine Seafood Restaurant
- Kanaka Davis Trust Group/Dr. Gil Ontai
- Lao American Coalition
- Lao American Organization of San Diego
- Mira Mesa Community Champions
- Mira Mesa Senior Center
- Mary Soriano & Kenya Benitez
- NaFFAA San Diego/Inland Empire/Imperial County
- Paradise Valley Hospital
- San Diego Pan Pacific Law Enforcement Association (PANPAC)
- Silayan Filipina National Organization
- Sycuan Casino
- Tom Hom Scholarship Recipients & Family
- Vietnamese American Youth Alliance
- Vietnamese Community of San Diego
- Vulcan Materials Company