Event Commemorates the 25th Anniversary of Hate Crime Victim Joseph Ileto and His Family
LOS ANGELES, CA — September 25, 2024 – Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California (AJSOCAL) announced today its 41st Anniversary Gala: United in Action on October 10 at Vibiana in DTLA. This annual event, emceed by journalist David Ono (he/him), brings together Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) leaders in civil rights, social justice, public office, business, entertainment and the arts.
The 2024 Public Image Award will be bestowed to veteran entertainment executive Fritz Friedman (he/him) for his decades-long commitment to celebrating AAPI representation. Award-winning actor Lou Diamond Phillips (he/him) will present Friedman with his award.
The gala this year commemorates the 25th Anniversary of the murder of Filipino American hate-crime victim Joseph Ileto, along with an in-memoriam tribute to his mother, Lillian Ileto, for her anti-violence advocacy. That tribute includes performances by actors/recording artists Jennifer Paz (she/her) and Anthony Fedorov (he/him). Mental health professional and LGBTQIA+ activist Eddy Gana (they/them), LCSW, will be receiving the 2024 Joseph Ileto Courage Award, which annually recognizes unsung heroes for exceptional courage and resilience in the face of adversity. Executive Director of Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA) Kimmy Maniquis (she/her/siya) and wife of the late Eric Swing, Ellen Rodgriguez Swing (she), will present Gana with their award.
Connie Chung Joe (she/her/hers), CEO, AJSOCAL says, “In our 41st year, AJSOCAL is remembering Lillian Ileto’s tireless dedication to the fight against anti-Asian hate in the wake of her son Joseph’s tragic murder. It’s hard to believe that mass shooting in the San Fernando Valley by a White Supremacist was 25 years ago. While we as a nation have made strides toward awareness and understanding, today, anti-Asian hate is still poisonous and under-reported. We want our people and allies to continue to work toward equity and acceptance.”
Fritz Friedman
Friedman (he/him) is President of The Fritz Friedman Company, a production and strategic marketing communications company based in Los Angeles and San Diego. He is also a Commissioner for Arts and Culture for the City of San Diego and a Board Member of California Humanities. At Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, he held the position of Senior Vice President of Worldwide Publicity and Corporate Communications for two divisions: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE) and Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions. Friedman has a long history of philanthropic and civil rights activities, including lobbying efforts to help gain benefits for more than 18,000 Filipino Veterans of World War II. For this, the Philippine Government gave him a Presidential Citation, which President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo awarded at Malacanang Palace in Manila. He was also a member of the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs, Chair of the Vassar College Asian Pacific Islander Alumni Association, and the co-founder and President Emeritus of The Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment (CAPE), the largest entertainment organization for Asian Americans in the world.
Eddy M. Gana
Gana (they/them) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Clinical Program Manager at Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA) where they founded a support group for non-binary community members. Gana provides 1:1 therapy, family counseling, support groups, mental health first aid training, and coalition-building. They serve as a community and policy advocate for the Queer Trans API (QTAPI) community. Their organizing experience also includes advocating on behalf of Filipino veterans’ rights with KmB / Pro-People Youth, Los Angeles. Gana graduated from UC Irvine with Bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Criminology, UCLA with a Certificate in Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counseling, and USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work with a Master of Social Work and an emphasis on Child and Adolescent Mental Health. They are a second-generation Filipinx-American from Union City and are based in Los Angeles, California.
Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California (AJSOCAL) is the nation’s largest legal and civil rights organization for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs). Founded in 1983, AJSOCAL supports over 15,000 individuals and organizations annually. By offering free legal help, engaging in impact litigation, conducting crucial research, and advocating for policy change, AJSOCAL prioritizes the most vulnerable members of AAPI communities while fostering a robust advocacy for civil rights and social justice. Offices are in downtown Los Angeles and Orange County, with satellite offices in Sacramento, ensuring accessibility for all. www. AJSOCAL.org
SPONSORS (at time of release)
Title Sponsor
| Bank of America |
Presenting Sponsor
| Sunset Magazine and Cadillac |
Co-Chairs
| Alliant Bird Marella Comcast NBCUniversal East West Bank JPMorgan Chase |
Nielsen Pacific American Fish Company U.S. Bank UPS The Walt Disney Company | ABC7 |
Platinum
| Hon Mike Eng | Sidley Austin LLP |
Gold
| Akin Blue Shield of California Cathay Bank Connie Chung Joe & Jeremy Joe GloBeam Health Net IW Group Jamison |
Kaiser Permanente King & Spalding Liang Ly LLP O’Melveny Robin-Hwajin Yoon Kim Foundation SMBC MANUBANK Turbo Charitable Foundation |
General Operating Support Partners
| Arian Foundation Bill Tan & Shelly Ushio Carlos and Genevieve Cabanilla Fund Chung Intervivos Trust | Law Office of San San Lee, Inc. Panda Restaurant Group The Takayesu Family Fund Southern California Gas |
For a full list of sponsors and further information about the 41st Anniversary Gala and ticketing details, visit AJSOCAL’s website or email.
