Cipriani Wall Street in New York. Photo by Lia Chang
On May 11th, the Korean American Community Foundation (KACF) held its annual gala at Cipriani Wall Street to celebrate its 20th anniversary, with ABC’s Juju Chang emceeing the evening’s festivities.
ABC’s Juju Chang emceed the 2022 KACF Gala at Cipriani Wall Street in New York on May 11, 2022. Photo by Lia Chang
The sold-out event brought together nearly 900 Korean American leaders and community partners and raised a record-breaking $4 million.
Cipriani Wall Street in New York. Photo by Lia Chang
KACF President Kyung Yoon also revealed the Foundation’s plans to scale its impact nationally.
KACF President Kyung Yoon speaks at the 2022 KACF Gala at Cipriani Wall Street in New York on May 11, 2022. Photo by Lia Chang
“We could not have done this work without you, our supporters,” said Kyung Yoon. She added, “I also want to thank our nonprofit grantee partners – the heroes and backbone of our community, making a difference in the lives of struggling individuals and families, and serving them with compassion, empathy and deep understanding.”
Cipriani Wall Street in New York. Photo by Lia Chang
The event also honored three individuals for their achievements in elevating the Korean American community: Joseph Y. Bae, Co-CEO of KKR (Honoree); Lee Jung-jae, Actor and star of Squid Game (Honoree); and Michelle Zauner, bestselling author of ‘Crying in H Mart’ and head of the Grammy-nominated band, Japanese Breakfast (Trailblazer Award).
2022 KACF Award recipients Joe Bae, Michelle Zauner and Lee Jung-jae attend the 2022 KACF Gala at Cipriani Wall Street in New York on May 11, 2022. Photo by Lia Chang
Highlights of the evening included:
Michelle Zauner received the Trailblazer Award and described the “profound and healing in stories that show our community in all its complexity.”
2022 KACF Trailblazer Award recipient Michelle Zauner in a design by Claudia Li. Photo by Lia Chang
Michelle Zauner is best known as a singer and guitarist who creates dream, shoe gaze-inspired indie pop under the name Japanese Breakfast. She won acclaim from major music outlets around the world for releases like Psychopomp (2016) and Soft Sounds from Another Planet (2017). Her most recent album, Jubilee (2021), earned two GRAMMY nominations for Best New Artist and Best Alternative Music Album.
2022 KACF Trailblazer Award recipient Michelle Zauner in a design by Claudia Li. Photo by Lia Chang
Her first book, Crying in H Mart, a New York Times Best Seller, is an unflinching, powerful memoir about growing up Korean-American, losing her mother, and forging her own identity. She’s currently adapting her memoir for the screen for MGM’s Orion Pictures.
2022 KACF Trailblazer Award recipient Michelle Zauner in a design by Claudia Li. Photo by Lia Chang
2022 KACF Trailblazer Award recipient Michelle Zauner in a design by Claudia Li. Photo by Lia Chang
KACF President Kyung Yoon, 2022 KACF Trailblazer Award recipient Michelle Zauner and ABC’s Juju Chang at the 2022 KACF Gala at Cipriani Wall Street in New York on May 11, 2022. Photo by Lia Chang
Joseph Bae, honored for his long-time support of KACF and leadership in advancing Asian American philanthropy, shared about how his experiences growing up as a first generation Korean American immigrant shaped his commitment to give back and made a call to action to the room to “step up and do the positive work our community needs.”
2022 KACF Award recipient Joe Bae with KACF Board member Alex Chi at the 2022 KACF Gala at Cipriani Wall Street in New York on May 11, 2022. Photo by Lia Chang
Joseph Bae joined KKR in 1996 and is its Co-Chief Executive Officer. Prior to his current position, he served as Co-President and Co-Chief Operating Officer from 2017 to 2021, and he has been a member of the board of directors of KKR & Co. Inc., since July 2017. Mr. Bae has held numerous leadership roles at KKR. He was the architect of KKR’s expansion in Asia, building one of the largest and most successful platforms in the market. In addition to his role developing KKR’s Asia-Pacific platform, he has presided over business building in the firm’s private markets businesses, which included leading or serving on all of the investment committees and implementing the firm’s modern thematic investment approach. Mr. Bae serves on the firm’s Inclusion and Diversity Council. He is active in a number of non-profit educational and cultural institutions, including co-founding and serving on the board of The Asian American Foundation, serving as a member of Harvard University’s Global Advisory Council and serving as a member of the Board and Executive Committee of the Lincoln Center.
2022 KACF Award recipient Joe Bae at the 2022 KACF Gala at Cipriani Wall Street in New York on May 11, 2022. Photo by Lia Chang
KACF President Kyung Yoon, 2022 KACF Award recipient Joe Bae and KACF Board member Alex Chi at the 2022 KACF Gala at Cipriani Wall Street in New York on May 11, 2022. Photo by Lia Chang
2022 KACF Award recipient Joe Bae with his parents at the 2022 KACF Gala at Cipriani Wall Street in New York on May 11, 2022. Photo by Lia Chang
2022 KACF Award recipient Joe Bae with his wife, Janice Lee and their two children at the 2022 KACF Gala at Cipriani Wall Street in New York on May 11, 2022. Photo by Lia Chang
Bloomberg.com: KKR’s Night Out Sees Co-CEO Joe Bae Joined by ‘Squid Game’ Star
Lee Jung-jae, took the stage to be honored for his global impact and uplifted the power of K-Content in breaking through cultural barriers and bridging the divide that is often caused by language barriers.
KACF President Kyung Yoon, 2022 KACF Award recipient Lee Jung-jae, Juju Chang at the 2022 KACF Gala at Cipriani Wall Street in New York on May 11, 2022. Photo by Lia Chang
As the star of Netflix’s global megahit, Squid Game, Lee Jung-jae made history as the first Asian actor to win a SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series and to win a Critics’ Choice Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series, for his role as Seong Gi-hun, the main protagonist. He is one of the most prolific and successful actors in South Korea.
2022 KACF Award recipient Lee Jung-jae at the 2022 KACF Gala at Cipriani Wall Street in New York on May 11, 2022. Photo by Lia Chang
2022 KACF Award recipient Lee Jung-jae at the 2022 KACF Gala at Cipriani Wall Street in New York on May 11, 2022. Photo by Lia Chang
KACF President Kyung Yoon and 2022 KACF Award recipient Lee Jung-jae at the 2022 KACF Gala at Cipriani Wall Street in New York on May 11, 2022. Photo by Lia Chang
Kyung Yoon, Lee Jung-Jae and Mathew Wang. Photo by Lia Chang
Julia Riew, the 22-year-old Harvard senior who became a social media sensation for creating her own “Korean Disney princess” musical, was joined by her friends Natalie Choo and Caron Kim on stage to perform “Dive.”
Natalie Choo, Julia Riew and Caron Kim sing ‘Dive’ at the 2022 KACF Gala at Cipriani Wall Street in New York on May 11, 2022. Photo by Lia Chang
Natalie Choo, Julia Riew and Caron Kim sing ‘Dive’ at the 2022 KACF Gala at Cipriani Wall Street in New York on May 11, 2022. Photo by Lia Chang
Natalie Choo, Julia Riew and Caron Kim at the 2022 KACF Gala at Cipriani Wall Street in New York on May 11, 2022. Photo by Lia Chang
Natalie Choo, Julia Riew and Caron Kim at the 2022 KACF Gala at Cipriani Wall Street in New York on May 11, 2022. Photo by Lia Chang
Natalie Choo, Julia Riew and Caron Kim at the 2022 KACF Gala at Cipriani Wall Street in New York on May 11, 2022. Photo by Lia Chang
TikTok fans embrace the soaring song of a Disney-inspired Korean American princess
Funds raised from the event will support the KACF’s mission to empower families and individuals living in poverty to grow self-sufficient and thrive.
Cipriani Wall Street in New York. Photo by Lia Chang
Cipriani Wall Street in New York. Photo by Lia Chang
Joe Bae, Juju Chang, Michelle Zauner and Lee Jung-jae and Kyung Yoon at the 2022 KACF Gala at Cipriani Wall Street in New York on May 11, 2022.
KACF Gala Co-chair Chris Park, President Kyung Yoon, Gala Co-chair Lisa Kim, 2022 KACF Trailblazer Award recipient Michelle Zauner, Gala Co-chair Jeannie Park. Photo by Lia Chang
KACF Gala Co-chairs Jeannie Park, Lisa Kim and Chris Park at the 2022 KACF Gala at Cipriani Wall Street in New York on May 11, 2022. Photo by Lia Chang
2022 KACF Award recipient Joe Bae and KACF Board Chair Chul Pak at the 2022 KACF Gala at Cipriani Wall Street in New York on May 11, 2022. Photo by Lia Chang
Board members James Seo with his wife, Sandra Seo and their children. Photo by Lia Chang
Gala Co-Chair Chris Park with Board member Steven Yang and his wife, Kathy Yang. Photo by Lia Chang
Board members David Lee and his wife, Hayan Lee. Photo by Lia Chang
Board members Alex Chi, Edward Lee and his wife, Hee Yoon. Photo by Lia Chang
Tony Lee and So-Chung Shinn. Photo by Lia Chang
So-Chung Shinn, Katie Song, Susan Choo, Elli Bai, Janice Lee. Photo by Lia Chang
Sarah BJ Sung and Priscilla Ahn. Photo by Lia Chang
CeFaan Kim, ABC News correspondent and reporter for WABC-TV, KACF President Kyung Yoon and ABC’s Juju Chang at the 2022 KACF Gala at Cipriani Wall Street in New York on May 11, 2022. Photo by Lia Chang
Gala Co-chair Jeannie Park and ABC’s Juju Chang emceed the 2022 KACF Gala at Cipriani Wall Street in New York on May 11, 2022. Photo by Lia Chang
CeFaan Kim, ABC News correspondent and reporter for WABC-TV and ABC’s Juju Chang at the 2022 KACF Gala at Cipriani Wall Street in New York on May 11, 2022. Photo by Lia Chang
2022 KACF Award recipient Joe Bae and his KKR Team at Cipriani Wall Street in New York on May 11, 2022. Photo by Lia Chang
2022 KACF Award recipient Joe Bae and his KKR Team at Cipriani Wall Street in New York on May 11, 2022. Photo by Lia Chang
2022 KACF Award recipient Joe Bae and his KKR Team at Cipriani Wall Street in New York on May 11, 2022. Photo by Lia Chang
Lenzo Yoon, Kyung B. Yoon, Matthew Wang, Miky Lee and Lee Jung-jae at the 2022 KACF Gala at Cipriani Wall Street in New York on May 11, 2022. Photo by Lia Chang
Michelle Zauner, Julia Riew, Natalie Choo, Caron Kim and KACF President Kyung Yoon at the 2022 KACF Gala at Cipriani Wall Street in New York on May 11, 2022. Photo by Lia Chang
KACF President Kyung Yoon with 2022 KACF Award recipients Joe Bae, Michelle Zauner and Lee Jung-jae at the 2022 KACF Gala at Cipriani Wall Street in New York on May 11, 2022. Photo by Lia Chang
Julia Riew, Natalie Choo, Lee Jung-Jae and Caron Kim at the 2022 KACF Gala at Cipriani Wall Street in New York on May 11, 2022. Photo by Lia Chang
Sheila Marcelo, Joe Bae and Peng Zhao at the 2022 KACF Gala at Cipriani Wall Street in New York on May 11, 2022. Photo by Lia Chang
Asian American Federation’s Executive Director Jo-Ann Yoo and Associate Director of Development and Communications Meera Venugopal at the 2022 KACF Gala at Cipriani Wall Street in New York on May 11, 2022. Photo by Lia Chang
Guest at the 2022 KACF Gala at Cipriani Wall Street in New York on May 11, 2022. Photo by Lia Chang
Matthew Wang with his mother, KACF President Kyung Yoon and Alice Chang at the 2022 KACF Gala at Cipriani Wall Street in New York on May 11, 2022. Photo by Lia Chang
KACF Board Member Michael K. Chung, KACF Director of Special Events Ellen Rae Huang, President Kyung Yoon, Board Chair Chul Park and Brennan Gang, VP of Programs and Operations at the 2022 KACF Gala afterparty at Cipriani Wall Street in New York on May 11, 2022. Photo by Lia Chang
About KACF: Since its inception in 2002, the Foundation has awarded over $10 million in grants and provided culturally competent capacity building assistance to nonprofits addressing economic insecurity in the Korean and wider Asian American community. Equally important, KACF has fostered a culture of giving among Korean Americans, mobilizing the power of philanthropy to give rise to long standing change. Learn more about KACF at kacfny.org.
Click here to see more photos from the party.
KACF Gala Co-chair Jeannie Park, Lia Chang and KACF President Kyung Yoon at the 2022 KACF Gala at Cipriani Wall Street in New York on May 11, 2022.
Lia Chang is a Chinese-American actor, a multi-media content producer, an award-winning filmmaker, and a photo activist and documentarian, who lifts up and amplifies BIPOC communities and artists and the institutions that support them.
Lia moved to New York from her home in San Francisco when she was 17 years of age and made her stage debut as Liat in a national tour of South Pacific with Barbara Eden and Robert Goulet. She spent many years working extensively Off-Broadway, including Signature Theatre’s revival of Sam Shepard’s Chicago. Her film work includes Wolf, New Jack City, A Kiss Before Dying, King of New York, Big Trouble in Little China, and The Last Dragon. The decades of being viewed by others through the narrow lens of “Asian actor” in the industry brought Lia to a turning point, and she picked up her camera, determined to create awareness by documenting the work and the lives of her BIPOC colleagues, resulting in the creation of thousands of photographs and pieces of video. Her photo archives are housed in the AAPI collection in the Library of Congress’ Asian Reading Room under “Lia Chang Theater Portfolio collection,1989-2011” and in the “Lia Chang Photography Collection” in The Billy Rose Theatre Division of the New York Public Library.
Lia’s awards include the 2022 Prospect Muse Award, the 2000 OCA Chinese American Journalist Award and the 2001 AAJA National Award for New Media. She is also an AAJA Executive Leadership Graduate, a Western Knight Fellow at USC’s Annenberg College of Communications for Specialized Journalism on Entertainment Journalism in the Digital Age, a National Press Photographers Association Visual Edge/Visual Journalism Fellow at the Poynter Institute for New Media, and a Scripps Howard New Media Fellow at the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism.
More recently, Lia co-founded Bev’s Girl Films, which makes films that foster inclusion and diversity on both sides of the camera. She executive produced and starred in the indie films Hide and Seek (AA Film Lab’s 2015 72 Hour Shootout Best Actress Nomination), Rom-Com Gone Wrong, and When the World Was Young (2021 DisOrient Film Audience Choice Award for Best Short Narrative). www.liachang.com, www.liachangphotography.com
Lia Chang Photography 