FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Haidee Pan
Director of Marketing & Communications
Phone: (213) 269-4639
Email: haidee@causeusa.org
Los Angeles, CA – March 1st, 2019 – Center for Asian Americans United for Self-Empowerment (CAUSE) will be celebrating its 26th Anniversary on Thursday, April 18, 2019 at The Westin Bonaventure Hotel (404 S Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90071).
The schedule of events is as follows:
6:00 PM VIP Reception, General Reception, & Silent Auction
7:00 PM Dinner Program
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 elected, business, and community leaders 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 Southern California 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 Future We Define.” As the Asian Pacific American community continues to grow, there is one thing that is clear: we cannot be silenced or ignored. CAUSE Executive Director Kim Yamasaki says, “Since our inception, hundreds of emerging leaders have become empowered to vote, participate, and lead. These are the faces of tomorrow and together we define the future we want to see.”
We are delighted to recognize the following honorees for their leadership of the APA community:
Community Partnership Award
Kim Delevett
Community Affairs & Grassroots Regional Leader
Southwest Airlines
Norman Y. Mineta Legacy Award
Dr. Leana Wen*
President
Planned Parenthood Federation of America and Planned Parenthood Action Fund
*To be represented by Crystal Strait, President & CEO of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California
Kim Delevett is a Southwest Airlines Community Affairs & Grassroots Regional Leader. She partners with nonprofit, business, and civic organizations in Northern California and the Pacific Northwest to support educational and economic development programs in these diverse communities.
On a national level, Kim is also Southwest’s first corporate community affairs manager to be primarily responsible for supporting the Asian Pacific American community.
Kim has served on multiple boards of directors and business/advisory councils. She is especially passionate about making a difference in the lives of our future leaders –from mentoring students to supporting programs that help youth become civically engaged.
Kim has also been active with efforts to preserve culture and heritage throughout the country, and her work has received multiple community awards.
“For more than a decade, Southwest has proudly supported CAUSE and its programs, including the CAUSE Leadership Academy,” Kim Delevett says. “I’m impressed not only by how the Leadership Academy has helped participants grow professionally --through civic engagement and exposure to decision-makers, policymakers, and issues of the day --but also by how it’s helped them grow personally. I’m deeply humbled by the Community Partnership Award, and I’m grateful that my work enables me to give back to the diverse communities we serve.”
Dr. Leana Wen is the President of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and the Planned Parenthood Action Fund. She leads an organization that has worked for more than 100 years to provide healthcare to women, young people, and marginalized communities.
Before joining Planned Parenthood, Dr. Wen served as the Baltimore City Health Commissioner, where she oversaw more than 1,000 employees with an annual budget of $130 million; two clinics that provide more than 18,000 patients with reproductive health services; and mental health programs in 180 Baltimore schools. Under her direction, the Baltimore City Health Department led the country in health innovation and was recognized by the National Association of County and City Health Officials as the Local Health Department of the Year.
"I am deeply honored to be recognized by CAUSE with the Norman Y. Mineta Legacy Award, named after one of my heroes,” says Dr. Wen. “The mission of CAUSE, to advance the political and civic empowerment of the APA community, is one I hold deeply personal. As a Chinese-American immigrant, I am so thankful that because of the opportunities I have been given, I am now able dedicate my life to providing people from all backgrounds with high-quality, compassionate healthcare.”
The event will be MC’d by CAUSE Board Members Wendy Greuel, Commissioner on the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, and Ralph Barnes, General Manager of the Beverly Center.
Press will receive complimentary admission; to reserve your press spot, please RSVP with Haidee Pan by email at haidee@causeusa.org or phone at (213) 269-4639 ext.1005 by Tuesday, April 2, 2019.
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 political empowerment of the Asian Pacific American community through nonpartisan voter outreach, training, and education as well as leadership development.
For any further inquiries, please contact CAUSE via phone at (213) 269-4639 or email at info@causeusa.org. General information can be obtained from our website at www.causeusa.org. Our office is located at 1605 W. Olympic Boulevard, Suite #1027, Los Angeles, CA 90015.
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