Annual Gala

OCA-NY GALA

Join us Friday, September 28 for the 2018 OCA-NY Gala!

Our gala theme this year is “Celebrating Community Empowerment.” We are proud to honor outstanding individuals and an organization that has demonstrated sustained service in advocating and supporting the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community here in New York City.

Judge Randall Eng, a trailblazer for the Asian American legal community, having served as the first Asian American Judge in New York State, in addition to other honors and extensive years of judicial service, as well as many years of public service for the City of New York, will be honored with the OCA-NY Lifetime Achievement Award. Judge Eng was the first Asian American Assistant District Attorney in Queens County (1973-1980), the Deputy Inspector General of New York City (1980-1981), and also the Inspector General of New York City (1981-1983). Judge Eng was also appointed to serve on the Criminal Court of the City of New York, later became an acting Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, and then went on to preside on the Criminal Term on the Queens County Supreme Court. In 2008, Judge Eng was elevated to Associate Justice of the Appellate Division, Second Department. In 2012, Governor Andrew Cuomo appointed Judge Eng to become the Presiding Justice of the Appellate Division, Second Department.

Donald Hong, a leader with over 35 years of experience assisting and providing essential services to disadvantaged communities, will be honored with the OCA-NY Leadership Award. Mr. Hong is President of UA3, a nonprofit organization that offers technology services to help bridge the gap in the digital divide, as well as mental health advocacy and community advocacy services for New Yorkers. Mr. Hong also serves as the President of the 384 Grand St Housing Development Fund Corporation (HDFC), which helps to provide affordable housing to seniors and individuals with disabilities. Previously, Mr. Hong served as the President of both the Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC) and Hong Ning Senior Citizen Housing, where he promoted the socioeconomic empowerment of AAPI, immigrant, and low-income communities.

Hamilton-Madison House (HMH) will be honored with the OCA-NY Community Award. HMH has worked to improve the quality of life for New York residents, especially the underserved neighborhoods of Chinatown, the Lower East Side, and Two Bridges. Since 1898, HMH has fostered the well-being of vulnerable populations including the elderly, children, the ill and handicapped, new immigrants and refugees and the unemployed, and increased understanding and cooperation amongst these communities. Furthermore, HMH continually challenges itself and the community to address current issues and to changing needs.