Deepak Chopra, Vishakha N. Desai, Fred Ho and Christine Toy Johnson Honored at Asian American Arts Alliance 30th Anniversary Gala, 10/9

On 9 October, the Alliance will celebrate its thirtieth anniversary and pay tribute to three extraordinary leaders and their commitment to the arts: Deepak Chopra, physician and author, Vishakha N. Desai, longtime president and CEO of the Asia Society; and Fred Ho, composer, musician, and activist. Actor, writer, and activist Christine Toy Johnson will also be recognized for her dedicated service and voluntarism with the 2012 Wai Look Award.

Proceeds from the annual Gala provide crucial support for the Alliance's innovative resources and support for Asian American artists and cultural organizations in the five boroughs. The Gala Benefit Committee includes Theodore Berger, Tisa Chang, Mary Sharp Cronson, David Henry Hwang, and the Purchase College Foundation. The event will be emceed by Greg Watanabe, who stars in Signature Theatre's revival of Hwang's Golden Child, opening 23 October.

The Gala will be held at TriBeCa Rooftop on 2 Desbrosses Street, a dramatic location offering panoramic views of the city (near the intersection of Hudson and Canal).

Event highlights include presentations by Shiva Kumar, filmmaker and documentarian; Grace Nono, award-winning Philippine vocalist; and Joseph V. Melillo, Executive Producer, BAM. Performances will include traditional Hawaiian music and dance from Andy Kulana Wang and Marina Celander and a musical tribute by Fred Ho. The Gala also includes a silent auction, featuring exotic getaways, celebrity meet-and-greets, and more. Go to 30th Anniversary Gala for details. Cocktails and silent auction begin at 6:30pm; dinner and award presentations at 7:30pm .

This star-studded event attracts performers and patrons from across the metropolitan area. A limited number of tables ($5,000/7,500/10,000/15,000) and individual tickets ($350/500/750/1000) are still available. To purchase, contact Soriya Chum at 212.941.9208 or schum@aaartsalliance.org.

The Asian American Arts Alliance is dedicated to strengthening Asian American artists and arts/cultural groups in New York City through funding, promotion and community building. The Alliance helps support individual artists and arts organizations access and share resources online and in person. The Alliance builds community through programs that lead to peer-learning, collaboration, and professional development. www.aaartsalliance.org