MEDIA CONTACT:
Heidi Hong
heidi.hong@capal.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 22, 2014
WASHINGTON, DC – On Friday, May 9, the Conference on Asian Pacific American Leadership (CAPAL) will host an evening gala at the Sphinx Club to celebrate CAPAL’s 25th Anniversary and Asian Pacific American (APA) Heritage Month in May. Attendees are invited to connect with prominent APA leaders, celebrate the role of Asian Pacific Americans in society, and mingle with like-minded professionals committed to public service.
In 1989, CAPAL was founded to address the lack of Asian Pacific American representation in the federal government. Since then, CAPAL has expanded to provide scholarship funding to students nationwide and professional development resources for young professionals in the Washington D.C. area. The 25th Anniversary gala will celebrate CAPAL’s past achievements, highlight AAPI leadership in public service, and inspire new visions for public leadership and civic participation.
“This is an exciting year for CAPAL,” said Gita Ram, Chair of CAPAL’s Board of Directors. “We’re not just celebrating our organization, but the accomplishments and achievements of individuals and community groups who have worked to strengthen the AAPI community. We’re proud to have been a part of developing leaders for a strong AAPI community in the nation’s capital and across the country for the last 25 years and look forward to empowering the next generations of leaders for the next 25 years.”
Since 1992, CAPAL has funded scholarships for outstanding students who plan to pursue unpaid internships in public service. Proceeds from the Gala will benefit CAPAL’s “25 Scholars and Interns in 25 years” campaign, which will provide funds for current students and recent graduates to pursue internships in the public sector.
“CAPAL has grown tremendously over the past 25 years to offer opportunities for aspiring Asian Pacific American Leaders and to seek leadership roles in public service,” said Chantale Wong, member of the CAPAL Advisory Council and founding board chair. “As Asian Pacific American communities continue to grow rapidly, CAPAL’s programs meet an increasing need for AAPI political leadership and civic engagement.”
The reception will feature several prominent leaders of the AAPI community, including former Secretary of Transportation and Commerce Norman Y. Mineta. Deputy Secretary of Labor Chris Lu will provide remarks at the VIP reception.
The event has received wide-ranging support from community leaders, including CAPAL’s Gala Host Committee members: Congresswoman Judy Chu, Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth, and Floyd Mori, President and CEO of the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies.
Tickets to the Gala are available to the general public online at www.capal.org/gala until Thursday, May 8 at 11:55 p.m. EDT. Admission includes a light dinner, open bar, silent auction, and special guest performances.
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The Conference on Asian Pacific American Leadership (CAPAL) is a 501(c)(3) charitable and educational organization dedicated to building leadership and public policy knowledge within the Asian Pacific American community. Its mission is to promote APA interests and success in public service careers, to provide information and education on policy issues affecting the community, and to serve the APA community at large. For more information, visit www.capal.org.