September 27 - 16th Annual Chinese American Museum Historymakers Gala

Los Angeles

The Chinese American Museum's 6th anual 2012 Historymakers Awards Banquet takes place this year September 27 at The Westin Bonaventure.

Prominently recognized as one of the premiere Chinese American events in Southern California, the event honors the achievements of extraordinary individuals who have made a significant impact or lasting contributions towards the advancement of the Chinese American community and beyond in the fields of art, literature, journalism, medicine, film, science, business, government, law, athletics, and community service.

This year’s Historymakers Awardees include:

Excellence in Corporate Leadership – Tom McKernan and the Automobile Club of Southern California;

Excellence in Medicine and Community Service – Dr. Carl K. Moy, an OB/GYN who practices in Chinatown and Monterey Park;

Excellence in Government - Honorable Carol Liu, California State Senator, 21^st District, serving Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena, San Gabriel, Temple City, La Cañada Flintridge, East Pasadena and East San Gabriel; 

Lifetime Achievement Award – Dr. Dan S. Louie, Jr., Chinese American Citizens Alliance; 

The Judge Ronald S.W. Lew Visionary Award – Latham & Watkins, LLP.

“We are incredibly excited to be honoring this distinguished group of community, civic and corporate leaders,” said Banquet Chair Munson A. Kwok, Ph.D.  “The Board of Directors is committed to reaching its goal to become one of the pre-eminent museums in the United States.  By honoring these individuals, we recognize their commitment to the importance of the rich history of Chinese Americans.”

In addition, this banquet also serves as the major annual fundraiser for CAM, helping to raise critical funds to cover operational and program costs.  This year’s event is co-hosted by NBC4’s Weekend News Anchor Ted Chen and Actress/Teacher April Hong. The night begins with a reception and silent auction and then continues with a dinner and awards ceremony.

Tickets for the event can be purchased by calling (213) 485-8484 or visiting www.camla.org.

 The Honorees:

Tom McKernan and the Automobile Club of Southern California 

Tom McKernan is Chair of the Automobile Club of Southern California and Auto Club Enterprises, which operates in 21 states and has over 14 million members.

The Auto Club was founded over 111 years ago to serve the interest of motorists and has grown into a diversified service business.

McKernan serves on and has been past chair of the boards of the California State Chamber of Commerce, the California Business Roundtable, the New Majority and The Segerstrom Center for the Arts.

He served as chair of the state School-to-Career Advisory Council and was asked to co-chair California Forward’s Leadership Council with Leon Panetta in 2007.

He is past chair of the Los Angeles Orthopaedic Hospital and served on the board of Blue Shield of California, as well as many others.

Dr. Carl K. Moy 

Dr. Moy is a board-certified Obstetrician and Gynecologist who has practiced medicine in the Chinese community for over 25 years.

He received his medical education from the University of Illinois, Chicago and completed his OB/GYN training at Chicago’s Illinois Masonic Medical Center.

He currently practices medicine in Chinatown and Monterey Park, serving those communities since 1981.

He has served as Chairman of the OB/GYN department at the Mission Hospital in Huntington Park and the Pacific Alliance Medical Center in Los Angeles.

He has also served as President for the Chinese Physician’s Society of Southern California and Chief of Medical Staff at Pacific Alliance Medical Center. 

Honorable Carol Liu, California State Senator, 21^st District 

The first Asian American woman ever elected to the California State Senate, Liu served as City Council Member from 1992-2000 and a State Assembly Member from 2000-2006.

In the State Senate, she pursues her agenda to improve public education, increase access to higher education as well as career and technical education, protect the environment, promote sustainable economic development and preserve essential services for the elderly, low-income, disabled and other at-risk populations.

She chairs the Human Services Committee, The Education Subcommittee on Education Policy Research, The Budget Committee Subcommittee No. 1 on Education and the Select Committee on Women and Children in the Criminal Justice System.

Since taking office she has authored legislation to improve community college student success, protect seniors from abuse, maintain access to school programs for disabled youth, and promote the reunification of parents and their children.

She also has an agenda to support measure to streamline K-12 education governance, improve school district and teacher effectiveness, expedite the education mandates reimbursement process, bring transparency to higher education tuition deliberations, and improve delivery of services and continuity of care for the elderly.

Chinese American Citizens Alliance 

Founded in San Francisco in 1895, The Chinese Americans Citizens Alliance has provided community services and leadership for more than a century, fighting against racial discrimination, defending civil rights, opposing anti-immigrant movements, and suppressing stereotyping, hate crimes and ignorance of Chinese Americans, their communities, history and culture.

It encourages the empowerment and integration of Chinese Americans into the American mainstream  

Founded by English-speaking native born American citizens, bonded by a common Chinese heritage and ancestry, whose aim was self-improvement in body and mind through exercise, study and forums, it evolved into a viable organization dedicated to leadership and service, that spoke out against denying the right to vote to Chinese Americans and became a stronger voice in public affairs. 

In the early years, members cultivated their political voice and promoted economic empowerment.

In 1924, they founded and operated The Chinese Times, the only national Chinese language national daily newspaper, which published for over 60 years.

The Alliance supported the 1943 repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act, earlier the dominant issue had been family reunification allowing wives from China to join their Chinese American husbands.

The Immigration Bill of 1946 repealed the ban on Chinese wives. 

Latham & Watkins, LLP 

The Law Firm of Latham & Watkins, LLP is committed to help clients achieve their business strategies and providing outstanding legal services around the world. Its staff find innovative solutions to complex business issues for their clients and use their experience and the firm’s resources to help clients meet their challenges with a culture geared toward establishing and nurturing long-term client relationships, solution-oriented approaches that present innovative problem solving and sound commercial advice, and optimally sized teams that provide cost-effective and high-quality legal services.  With 2,000 lawyers in 31 offices in 14 countries, more than 60 languages are spoken at Latham & Watkins. With 60 internationally recognized practices with expertise across industries, it is consistently ranked in the top tier of firms by leading legal and business publications (The American Lawyer, Financial Times, Asia Legal Business).

Latham & Watkins is committed to Pro Bono and Community Service, feeling a duty to help ensure that the doors of justice are open to all, regardless of income, and that the practice of law includes the unique ability and responsibility to advocate for equal justice and provide needed representation to people of limited means. Latham & Watkins volunteers thousands of hours of time and expertise to help those who might otherwise be denied access to the legal system. Over the past decade, it has provided more than $675 million in free legal services to the disadvantaged and non-profit sector, totaling over 1.8 million pro bono hours.

More about CAM: 

Symbolically housed in the oldest and last surviving structure of Los Angeles’ original Chinatown, the 7,200 square foot Chinese American Museum (CAM) embodies both a cultural and physical link to the past and a promising point of entry for the city’s multicultural future. Opened on December 18, 2003 after 20 years of dedicated community and civic leadership and support, CAM’s presence at El Pueblo de Historical Monument-- a 44-acre public park honored as the city's "birthplace" as well as the site of the original Chinatown-- heralds a rebirth of an important city architecture and reflects the vibrant development of an immigrant history that began over 150 years ago in America, specifically when the first major Chinese settlement was documented in Los Angeles in the 1860s. As a visual symbol of new and emerging traditions, CAM is proud to serve as an active-learning institution dedicated to researching, preserving and sharing the stories, experiences and contributions of Chinese Americans in the United States through quality exhibitions, programs, events, publications and workshops. More information on CAM can be found at www.camla.org. 

The Mission of the Chinese American Museum (CAM) is to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of America’s diverse heritage by researching, preserving, and sharing the history, rich cultural legacy, and continuing contributions of Chinese Americans.

The Chinese American Museum (CAM) is the first museum in Southern California dedicated to the Chinese American experience and history in this region.  Formerly known as the "Museum of Chinese American History" (MCAH), CAM began as a discussion between El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument (a department of the city of Los Angeles) and the Chinese Historical Society of Southern California (CHSSC). In October 1984, a museum committee formed to lay the foundation and plan for the Garnier Building's preservation. In 1987, under the leadership of Charter President Dr. Dan Louie, Jr., local historians, educators, community volunteers and descendants of Chinese American pioneer families formed the Friends of the Chinese American Museum, a volunteer support group, to help generate community interest and support, acquire artifacts, conduct research and raise funds. 

Date/Time:           Thursday, September 27, 2012

4:30 PM Media Opportunity

5:00 PM VIP Reception and Silent Auction

6:30 PM Dinner and Awards

Location:             The Westin Bonaventure, California Ballroom

404 South Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, California 90071  

Event Info:            Call (213) 485-8484 or visit www.camla.org