FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Haidee Pan

Director of Marketing & Communications

Phone: 626-356-9838

Email: haidee@causeusa.org

CAUSE mobilizes APA community for its 25th Annual Gala – “The Time Is Now!”

Pasadena, CA – March 23, 2018 – Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment (CAUSE) will be celebrating its 25th Anniversary on Thursday, April 5, 2018 at the L.A. Hotel Downtown (333 S. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90071).

The schedule of events is as follows:
6:00 P.M. VIP Reception | Pacific Room
6:00 P.M. Silent Auction & Networking | California Ballroom Foyer
7:00 P.M. Dinner Program | California Ballroom

The CAUSE Annual Gala is the premier APA event for those interested in politics and community. It boasts the largest attendance of APA elected officials and is a celebration of those striving to make an impact in our community. More than 100 APA federal, state and local officials from all over California will be in attendance. The gala also serves as the largest fundraiser of the year for CAUSE. Funds raised help sustain our many programs and services, which include voter outreach, training, and education and leadership development programs. Our programs have proven to be successful in encouraging increased civic engagement and political leadership in the Greater Los Angeles area and beyond. Additionally, 400+ guests are expected to attend this year— all of whom are dedicated to elevating the APA community.

This year’s theme is “The Time is Now!” CAUSE Executive Director Kim Yamasaki says, “As our country enters a new era of politics, it is important, now more than ever, to mobilize and empower our community, to make an impact in future elections.”

We are delighted to recognize the following honoree for their audacity and resolve to stand as a leader for the APA community:

Inspirational Leadership Award
Los Angeles Councilmember David Ryu

Los Angeles City Councilmember David E. Ryu represented the 4th council district which includes the neighborhoods of Sherman Oaks, Toluca Lake, Hollywood, Hollywood Hills, Los Feliz, Silverlake, Miracle Mile, Hancock Park, Windsor Square, Larchmont and a portion of Koreatown.

Ryu studied economics at UCLA; Public Policy and Administration at Rutgers; won a prestigious United Nations graduate internship; and was a Netkal Fellow at USC’s School of Social Work.

As Senior Deputy to Los Angeles County Supervisor Yvonne Burke, he worked for years on issues like public health, housing, children and family services, transportation and senior services. He helped oversee the County budget and worked for a time as a Special Investigator for the Auditor-Controller, rooting out waste and fraudulent expenditures.

Ryu returned to the non-profit world and served as Director of Development and Public Affairs at one of Los Angeles’s largest non-profit health care providers: Kedren Acute Psychiatric Hospital and Community Health Center.

On July 1st, 2015 Ryu became the first Korean American to serve on the LA City Council and only the second Asian American.

“The work that CAUSE does to empower leadership and organize the API community is remarkable, effective and important,” Councilmember Ryu said. “I am so honored to receive this award, and to work with CAUSE on bringing a new generation of leadership to the fore, inspiring the voices of our community, and ensuring that Asian-Americans remain a key part of the Los Angeles story.”

Press will receive complimentary admission; to reserve your press spot, please RSVP with Audrey Soriano by email at audrey@causeusa.org or phone at (818) 621-3642 by Tuesday, April 3.

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Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment (CAUSE) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan, community-based organization with a mission to advance the civic and political empowerment of the Asian Pacific American (APA) community through nonpartisan voter registration and education, community outreach, and leadership development.

For press inquiries, please contact CAUSE via phone at (626) 356-9838 or email at info@causeusa.org. General information can be obtained from our website, www.causeusa.org. Our offices are located at 260 S. Los Robles Avenue, #115, Pasadena, CA 91101.

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