2026 Gala

Save the Date! Friday, October 2, 2026!

For details, please email gala@asianinc.org or call (415) 928-5910 x168.

Event Details

WHEN

Friday, October 2, 2026

4:30PM

Business Showcase

Cocktail Reception with LionDanceME photobooth and Yi Yan Society live calligraphy and painting

7:00 PM

Dinner Program and Awards

WHERE

The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco

600 Stockton Street, San Francisco, CA 94108

ATTIRE

Gala Wear in Emerald Green | Business Wear

2026 Menu

STARTER

Spring Pea Salad

ENTREE: a choice of

Beef Tenderloin and Lobster (surf and turf)

Miso Black Cod

Roasted Artichoke (vegetarian)

DESSERT

Garden Panna Cotta

2025 Highlights

2026 Program

Master of Ceremony

Dion Lim

Founder, Dion Lim Media

Spokesperson & Chief Strategist, Asian American Voices

Dion Lim is an Emmy Award-winning journalist, author, keynote speaker and founder of Dion Lim Media, known for uncovering overlooked human stories and bringing them into the spotlight. After two decades in journalism, she now uses storytelling to elevate communities and drive meaningful conversations and action. As spokesperson and chief strategist for Asian American Voices, she helps advance initiatives that expand visibility, influence and opportunity for Asian American communities.

Entertainment

LionDanceME

Lion & Dragon Dance

LionDanceME is a premier San Francisco-based lion and dragon dance organization dedicated to modernizing traditional Chinese cultural arts.

2026 Honorees

Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi

Speaker Emerita
Harold T. Yee Lifetime Achievement Award

Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi has been a key ally of the AAPI community and longtime champion.

Ashley Abenoja-Bocek

Citi, VP, Community Relations Market Manager
Community Reinvestment Champion of the Year

Ashley Bocek is Community Relations Market Manager at Citi. A dedicated community leader, Ashley serves on the boards of the Fresno Area Hispanic Foundation and State Center Community College Foundation, chairs the local advisory board for Junior Achievement of Northern California, and supports small business development and cultural nonprofits through volunteer leadership.

Outside of work, Ashley enjoys spending time with her husband Nathan, their two children and two dogs, and loves traveling, sports, food, and dance.

Norman Lau

LionDanceME
Entrepreneurial Champion of the Year

Norman Lau, founder of Lion Dance Me and this year’s Entrepreneurial Champion of the Year, has redefined cultural preservation through innovation. Since founding the organization in 2013, he has grown it from a small student group into a thriving movement spanning seven SFUSD high schools and more than 700 performances annually. Through resilience, vision, and an unwavering commitment to empowering the next generation, Norman continues to honor tradition while building a powerful legacy of culture and community.