Join the Museum of Chinese in America for an unforgettable evening celebrating the generations who have shaped, strengthened, and reimagined the Chinese American story.

This year’s gala, Generation Impact, honors the legacy we inherit, the voices rising today, and the future we are building together. Through powerful storytelling, inspiring performances, and meaningful connection, we will celebrate the creativity, resilience, and cultural impact of Chinese in America across generations.

Together, we will celebrate the stories that move us forward—and the impact that continues to shape our community. Guests are invited to attend in Black-Tie Attire or Heritage Formal.

GALA HONOREES

LEGACY AWARD

Ming-Na Wen

Award-Winning Actress, Producer, and Author

Legendary actress, producer, author, and Asian American icon Ming-Na Wen has spent her career redefining what longevity and influence look like in Hollywood. From her breakout performance in The Joy Luck Club to becoming the iconic voice of Disney’s Mulan, starring on the Emmy Award-winning ER, portraying Agent Melinda May on Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., to bringing her signature strength and fierceness to the role of Dr. Fong in Karate Kid: Legends, and earning a new generation of fans as the fearless Fennec Shand in The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett, Wen has continuously broken barriers while remaining one of the entertainment industry’s most respected and enduring performers. Her career has not only paved the way for greater Asian American representation on screen but has also demonstrated the lasting power of women as leaders of some of the world’s biggest franchises. 

Wen is entering yet another remarkable chapter. This fall, she will publish her debut book, Have You Eaten Yet?: Family Recipes from a Restaurant Daughter, a heartfelt collection of personal stories and family recipes celebrating her Chinese American heritage, her upbringing in her family’s Pittsburgh restaurant, and the traditions that continue to shape her life today. At the same time, she continues to break new ground on screen, joining Disney+’s hit series Percy Jackson and the Olympians as the Greek goddess Hera in its highly anticipated third season, premiering in November 2026. Together, these milestone projects showcase the remarkable breadth of her career, expanding her influence beyond film and television into authorship while continuing to take on major roles in one of the world’s biggest entertainment franchises. Through every chapter of her career, Ming-Na Wen has proven that reinvention is always possible, making her a powerful example of leadership, impact, and continued excellence.

IMPACT AWARD

Awkwafina

Award-Winning Actress, Writer, and Producer

AWKWAFINA is an award-winning actress, writer, and producer from Queens, New York. She grew up with her given name, Nora Lum, and has since used her trademark comedic style and signature flair to become a breakout talent in the entertainment industry. Lum can most recently be seen in an episode of Netflix’s “Black Mirror” titled Hotel Reverie alongside Issa Rae and in Peacock’s “Poker Face” as Maddy Saint Marie in season 2. She will next be seen starring and executive producing the AppleTV series “The Unlikely Cook with Awkwafina”, an unscripted food series where she embarks on a cross-country journey as she explores contemporary Asian American cuisine, starting with her family’s remarkable legacy.

Recently, Lum starred alongside John Cena, in Amazon Studio’s action-comedy “Jackpot” directed by Paul Feig. She starred in the dysfunctional family comedy Hulu film “Quiz Lady” in which she produced and stars alongside Sandra Oh, which just won a 2024 Critics Choice Award for Best Movie Made for Television. She can also be heard in Universal’s “Kung Fu Panda 4” alongside Jack Black and Illumination’s “Migration,” voicing a pigeon alongside a family of ducks voiced by Elizabeth Banks, Keegan-Michael Key, Carol Kane, Danny DeVito, and Kumail Nanjiani.

Past credits include the voice of Scuttle in the live-action remake of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” and seen in the two seasons of her Comedy Central Show, “Awkwafina is Nora From Queens,” which she created and stars in. Lum can be seen in hit films such as, Disney’s “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”, Universal’s “The Bad Guys, Disney’s “Raya and the Last Dragon”, “Jumanji: The Next Level,” and MGM’s “Breaking News in Yuba County”. Lum received glowing reviews for her starring role in the indie darling “The Farewell,” where she won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.

Lum brings an impressive range of talent to everything she does, most famously to Warner Bros’ smash hit “Crazy Rich Asians,” opposite Constance Wu, Michelle Yeoh, Henry Golding, and Ken Jeong in which she starred as Peik Lin. The film opened on August 15, 2018, to rave reviews and four straight weekends of $20+ million at the box office. Lum hosted “Saturday Night Live” that same year as part of the show’s 44th season.

She starred in another Warner Bros feature, “Ocean’s 8,” directed by Gary Ross and alongside an impeccable ensemble cast including Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson, Rihanna and Helena Bonham Carter. Prior to that, she starred in the indie comedy, “Dude,” written and directed by Olivia Milch.

In 2016, Lum made her feature film debut in the comedy “Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising,” with Seth Rogen, Zac Efron and Rose Byrne and was heard as the voice of Quail in the animated adventure “Storks.”

She currently resides in Los Angeles.

CHAMPION AWARD

Baayork Lee

Director, National Asian Artists Project, and Tony Award-Winning Author, Director, Choreographer, Actress, Dancer, and Singer

Baayork Lee has performed in a dozen original Broadway shows. She created the role of Connie in A Chorus Line while continuing the legacy of Michael Bennett directing companies around the world, most recently Antonio Banderas company in Spain. She has directed King and I, South Pacific, Cinderella (R&H), Porgy and Bess, Carmen Jones, Jesus Christ Superstar, Barnum, Gypsy, Cats, Beauty and the Beast, West Side Story and others. She also directed the 2021 Wicked in Concert for PBS.

Her choreography credits include: Miss Saigon, Mack and Mabel and for Arena Stage in Washington, DC, Animal Crackers, South Pacific (Helen Hayes nomination 2021), Coconuts and Camelot, Westside Story (PLO) and Kansas City Starlight.

Lee founded National Asian Artists Project( NAAP) a 501 (c) 3 Nonprofit. Her vision includes educating, cultivating, and stimulating audiences and artists of Asian descent through the many outreach programs the company offers.

She has been the recipient of numerous awards for her work, including the Isabelle Stevenson, Paul Robeson Award from Actors Equity Association, the Asian Woman Warrior Award for Lifetime Achievement from Columbia College, Asian Pacific American Heritage Association Achievement In Arts Award, the Dynamic Achiever Award from OCA Westchester. Chen Dance Center Artist Award, Arena Stage American Artist Award, and Actors Fund for Outstanding Contribution to the World of Dance. 2024 CMP AccomplisHERS – Honoring Women’s Career Achievements.

GALA PERFORMANCE

Chloe Flower

Pianist. Composer. Cultural Icon

Chloe Flower is one of the most talked-about pianists in the world today, captivating new generations of listeners and reshaping the classical music landscape. A true multi-hyphenate, she fuses her love of couture with virtuosic performance, creating a signature style that the industry has never seen or heard and redefining what it means to be a classical artist in the modern era. By age twelve, Chloe was studying at the Manhattan School of Music, later continuing her education at the prestigious Royal Academy of Music. As an Official Steinway Artist, she has become a global musical force, gracing iconic stages from Madison Square Garden to her recent sold-out debut at Royal Albert Hall. Her genre-defying performances have included a show-stopping GRAMMY® moment with Cardi B, a powerful appearance on Saturday Night Live with Lil Baby, and featured performances at the 2023 Golden Globes and the Kennedy Center Honors. Most recently, she performed as a soloist with The National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C., and the Seattle Symphony Orchestra. Chloe’s versatility extends beyond the stage. She has co-produced and composed for artists such as Céline Dion, Johnny Mathis, 2 Chainz, Swae Lee, NAS, Babyface and Deepak Chopra. Her scoring credits include Misty Copeland’s documentary, A Ballerina’s Tale, multiple projects for Kevin Hart including NBC’s Hart to Heart, and Paramount+’s On the Come Up. She has also composed original music for and performed in campaigns by Volvo, Krug Champagne, Estée Lauder and more. But Chloe’s greatest passion lies in using her platform for purpose. She has been a passionate advocate for anti-human trafficking efforts since 2006 and has championed music education and the empowerment of women in music. Chloe has established multiple scholarships for young female composers and conductors at leading institutions (including the Royal Academy of Music, Brooklyn Music School, and Manhattan School of Music) in an effort to help bring equality to the classical music space. Chloe currently serves on the advisory board of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime’s Blue Heart Campaign, the leadership council of Apex For Youth, and is a board member of The Liberace Foundation, The Boulanger Initiative, and the Manhattan School of Music.

GALA EMCEE

Richard Lui

Anchor & Journalist, NBC News/MSNBC

Richard Lui is an award-winning journalist with over 30 years of experience across media, technology, and business. He is the first and longest-serving AAPI male news anchor on national television, currently broadcasting for MSNBC and NBC News, and previously for CNN Worldwide. As a documentary filmmaker, he recently released the Oscar-qualifying films Sky Blossom (2021) and UNCONDITIONAL (2023), which were honored with an unprecedented series of premieres at the White House, U.S. Congress, United Nations, and European Parliament, along with nationwide distribution through Universal Pictures and AMC Theatres. Before entering journalism, Lui spent 15 years in business, launching six brands across three tech cycles and patenting a fintech model with Citibank Singapore. He has served on the boards of fintech and AI companies, as well as nonprofit organizations including the Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation and Freedom United. He is a fellow of the National Association of Corporate Directors, one of 200 U.S. Department of State Traveling Speakers, a Senior Fellow at the German Marshall Fund, and an ambassador for organizations focused on gender equality and combating human trafficking. Lui is the bestselling, award-winning author of Enough About Me: The Unexpected Power of Selflessness (HarperCollins Zondervan), and the author of the Inclusion@Work risk reports presented at Davos, SXSW, CES, and Cannes Lions. He is widely recognized as an authority on inclusion and the care economy, and serves as an ambassador for the Elizabeth Dole Foundation’s Hidden Heroes campaign, AARP, and the Alzheimer’s Association.

 

GALA SPONSORS

Imperial Sponsor

Imperial Tables

Patricia Pei & James Chang

Randy & Art Yuen

Anonymous

Pearl Tables

Alexander & Irene Chu

Lucy & Victor Kan

Stephen T. Limpe

Joe & Lily Wong

Patron Tables

Katherine Yang & Raymond Chan

Robert Chen, The Chen Group at Morgan Stanley

Community Tables

Ling Chow, Gilbert Liu & Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP

Mitchell & Jackie Harris

William & May Louie

Law Firm of Cesar de Castro, P.C., Rany Ng and Edward & Joyce Wu

Andrew Yuan & Seven Gu

Legacy Supporters

Remington Tonar

Chester P. Lee

Athletic Partner

 

GALA CHAIR

Jessica Wang

HOST COMMITTEE

Danielle Chang

Allister Chan

Stephanie Chan

Christine Chiu

Russell Chong

Ling Chow

Chloe Flower

Archie Kao

Ly Le

David Lu

Bach Mai

Amanda Nguyen

Rosemarie Shomstein

Minyi Su

Lewis Tan

Conray Tseng

Panney Wei

Karen Wong

Faith Xue

AUCTION LOT NO.1

The Ultimate Champagne Insider Experience

with Piper-Heidsieck & Rare Champagne

Step into the world of Rare Champagne through a journey created for true collectors, connoisseurs, and lovers of exceptional access.

This once-in-a-lifetime experience begins in Paris, where one winning couple will enjoy a night at a luxury boutique hotel, with personalized recommendations and VIP assistance to make the most of their time in the city. From there, the experience continues to Champagne, France, for an intimate immersion into one of the region’s most celebrated Maisons.

In Reims, guests will stay for two nights at the private Résidence Eisenhower, an extraordinary address steeped in history and rarely accessible to the public. Once the residence of General Dwight D. Eisenhower during a pivotal chapter at the end of World War II, the property offers a setting where history, hospitality, and Champagne come together in a way that feels deeply personal and impossible to recreate.

During the stay, guests will be welcomed into the world of Rare Champagne with a private cellar tour, vineyard visits, and educational tastings that reveal the craftsmanship, terroirs, blending, and aging behind one of Champagne’s most exclusive houses. The experience includes an exclusive tasting of current releases and rare library vintages, along with the opportunity to meet members of the winemaking team.

The journey continues through gastronomy and culture, with a Michelin-starred chef dinner paired with Rare Champagne, either in a private dining room at the Maison or at one of Reims’ iconic dining destinations. Guests will also enjoy a private Champagne-paired lunch and a curated visit through historic Reims, including Reims Cathedral and key cultural landmarks.

To commemorate the experience, the winning couple will receive one Magnum of Rare Champagne Millésime 2012, or a back vintage selected by the Maison.

This is more than a Champagne trip. It is privileged access into the history, vision, and artistry of Rare Champagne, created for those who understand that the most meaningful luxuries are rarely available, deeply personal, and impossible to repeat.

Insider’s Info

This experience is for one winning couple. Dates to be mutually agreed upon and subject to availability. International airfare is not included. Paris hotel accommodation, Champagne accommodations, transportation within Champagne, meals, tastings, and activities are included as specified. Winery representatives and winemaking team participation are subject to availability. Blackout dates may apply during harvest and major industry events.

AUCTION LOT NO.2

Friar’s Head

An Exclusive Experience at One of Golf’s Most Private and Coveted Destinations

MOCA PRESIDENT

Michael Lee

MOCA TRUSTEE

Eric T. Lee

Stephen Limpe

Randy Yuen

Tao Tan

Robert Chen

June Jee

Lucy Kan

Jennifer 8. Lee

Emily Y. Yueh

Patricia Pei

Minyi Su

Oscar Wong

MOCA ADVISORY BOARD

Pei Pei Cheng de Castro

Blaise Chow

Ling Chow

Bernice Chu

Matthew Chua

Roy I. Delbyck

Diana Eng

Maya Ho

James Jian Hu

Vic Lee

Jessica Wang​

Koda Wang

Sophie Yu