MEET THE HONOREES AND SPECIAL GUESTS of KACF-SF's Sixth Annual Gala Saturday, September 25
Hyatt Regency | 5 Embarcadero, San Francisco
CORPORATE HONOREE David Lee President and Board Member, AppHarvest
TRAILBLAZER HONOREE Corey Lee Three-Star Michelin Chef and Restaurateur
DISTINGUISHED COMMUNITY LEADER Marilyn Strickland U.S. Representative, WA
DISTINGUISHED COMMUNITY LEADER Andy Kim U.S. Representative, NJ
As the former COO and CFO at Impossible Foods, David generated over $1.3B in funding to make plant-based meats available to the masses. Now, as the President and a Board Member of AppHarvest, he continues to be a driving force in the advancement of sustainable practices in the food industry. David also serves as audit committee chair of Benson Hill, which has just announced its SPAC merger to go public. We honor David to recognize his innovative work as a Korean American entrepreneur for companies that prioritize sustainability.
David spoke on national news about utilizing technology to build a better food company and advance food security:
"[This] problem of feeding the masses, creating equal access to high-quality nutritious food, and the need to save the planet all come together. And for us, it's about using technology at AppHarvest, creating a consumer movement, being radically transparent, and-- and trying to build a better food company."
He and his wife have been two of KACF-SF's most steadfast supporters since our founding in 2014, and we would not be where we are today without them!
Considered one of the most talented chefs in the US, Corey made history in 2014 when his flagship restaurant, Benu, received three Michelin stars - the first SF restaurant and first Korean American chef to earn such an accolade. In 2021, KACF-SF partnered with his forthcoming Korean restaurant, SAN HO WON, to provide 700 hot meals to seniors, domestic violence survivors, and unhoused communities.
Check out Corey's talented team in action, as they prepare meals for vulnerable populations:
We celebrate Corey’s ability to transcend cultural boundaries to achieve culinary excellence and his dedication to the Korean American community.
Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland was born in Seoul, South Korea to a Black father and Korean mother and raised in South Sound, Washington. In 2020, she made history as one of the first Korean American women elected to Congress in its span of 230 years.
She wore hanbok, a traditional Korean dress, to the swearing-in ceremony to honor her mother, who grew up in Korea during the Japanese occupation and then the Korean War.
"She married my father and ended up coming to the United States ... [where] she didn't really know anyone, didn't speak the language, and just really looking at her resilience, her strength and really just wanting to honor her."
Marilyn Strickland poses with her mother. (Strickland's campaign website)
As an advocate for marginalized communities, Congresswoman Strickland has spoken out against the rise in hate violence against the AAPI community:
"I think for a lot of people in the AAPI community, we've been saying for a while now, this is real. [I] think part of this too just really highlights that when we talk about hate crimes, the Asian American community isn't the group that comes top of mind when people have that conversation."
She has also modeled coalition building through her dual membership in both the Congressional Black Caucus and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucuses. We recognize her as a Distinguished Community Leader for her embodiment of what it means to “Rise Together”.
Congressman Andy Kim grew up in South New Jersey as a proud son of Korean immigrants, where he attended public K-12 schools before becoming a Rhodes Scholar. He is the first Democratic member of Congress of Korean descent and the first Korean American congressman from New Jersey.
Photos of Andy Kim cleaning up at the Capitol that emerged after the insurrection on January 6, 2021 were a stark contrast from what had been witnessed just hours prior. In refusing to let the “sun rise on a broken Congress”, he reminded us to stand together against divisive narratives and actions.
Following the Atlanta spa shootings, he launched In Our Hands PAC, which will help recruit, train and support AAPI and candidates of color to run for office.
“When I first ran for Congress, insiders told me I can’t win because my majority white district wouldn’t vote for an Asian American or a candidate of any color. With the help of many people, we proved them wrong and I want to now work with you to lift up AAPI and other candidates of color all over the country."
We honor Congressman Kim as a figure who exemplifies the American Dream and his demonstration of compassion during the darkest hour of modern American history.
Join the philanthropic movement.
Together we are building a more vibrant and empowered Korean American community.
Gold Sponsors
Eunice & Andrew Kim | Sophia Oh-Kim & Seung Kim | Ed Lee
So Yong Park & Brian Byun | Central Medical Center Goodwater Capital | NLVC | Vacatia
Silver Sponsors
Sally Carlson | Lillian & David Chun | Angie & John Kim
Annie & James Kim | Susan Kim & David Lee | Anonymous Hanlees Auto Group | LG Technology Ventures
*Sponsor List as of July 29, 2021. Click here to learn about our sponsorship levels and benefits.
The Korean American Community Foundation of San Francisco (KACF-SF) provides grants and capacity-building assistance to community-based organizations serving the needs of vulnerable Korean Americans in the greater Bay Area. Our mission is to build a vibrant, healthy, and empowered Korean American community. KACF-SF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Your donations are tax deductible.
