The 2021 KAAGNY Virtual Gala: Stronger Together
Pictured above: KAAGNY President Charles Yoon presents the KOREAN AMERICAN OF THE YEAR Award to Mr. Jong Duk Byun, Founder and President of the 21 Hope Foundation.
On Korean American Day (January 13, 2021), KAAGNY hosted its Virtual Gala via livestream, which received over 1,400 views at the end of the evening.
Echoing this year’s theme, “Stronger Together: Community Building in the COVID-19 Era,” the Gala honored several individuals and organizations for their work in uplifting underserved communities during the pandemic.
The Naeil Foundation (represented by Trustee and Treasurer Bill Moon) received the ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR Award for their work in providing frontline workers with PPE items as well as their efforts to bolster Korean American participation in the 2020 Census and Elections.
Grace Yoon of Rockefeller Capital Management was presented with the COMMUNITY ROLE MODEL Award for her work in empowering young women and girls pursuing futures in finance and tech.
Chloe Kim, the Founder of the Bao Sei Foundation, received the NEXT GEN LEADERSHIP Award for the Foundation’s work in providing support and empowering North Korean refugees pursuing higher education in the United States.
The KOREAN AMERICAN OF THE YEAR Award was presented to Mr. Jong Duk Byun of the 21 Hope Foundation, which sprang to action in 2020 to provide relief to the Korean American community in the form of PPE donations, scholarships, and monetary support.
Grace Yoon, Recipient of the Community Role Model Award
Naeil Foundation, Recipient of the Organization of the Year Award
Chloe Kim, Recipient of the Next Gen Leadership Award
Jong Duk Byun, Korean American of the Year Award
The Gala featured video messages from South Korean President Moon Jae In, Consul General Won Sam Chang, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Congressman Andy Kim, and other elected officials extending their well wishes to the community on Korean American Day.
The Gala concluded with the winning entries of the Gala Photo Contest, where members of the Korean community submitted their photos with a blurb describing how they, their families, and community displayed resilience in 2020. The winners of the contest were awarded with a $250 Amazon gift card.
