52nd Gala
Rooted to Rise

March 7, 2025

Ziegfeld Ballroom

141 W 54th St, New York City

6pm Cocktails

7pm Dinner & Program

Black Tie Optional

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About

Rooted in our rich history, we continue to rise to new challenges and foster deeper connections.

The Korean Community Services of Metropolitan New York is honored to host this gala, marking the beginning of another 52 years rooted in service and rising in unity. As a holistic organization, we are deeply committed to helping community members of all ages—from young children to seniors—thrive through services that

nurture health, productivity, and stability. Rooted in our rich history, we continue to rise to new challenges,

driving forward with the theme, ‘Rooted to Rise,’ symbolizing our unwavering dedication to growth, resilience, and collective uplift. Together, we foster deeper connections, greater understanding, and stronger solidarity

as we rise toward a brighter future.

52nd Gala E-Journal

Honoree

HONOREE

Chef Edward Lee is a Korean-American chef, author, and restaurateur. He was born in Brooklyn. He is currently the chef and owner of 610 Magnolia in Louisville, Kentucky, and Shia in Washington, D.C. Recently, he appeared on Netflix’s Korean cooking competition show "Chef’s Table: Korea," where he reached the finals, demonstrating his deep understanding of Korean culture and cuisine.

Dr. Peter Na is a renowned psychiatrist and Yale University professor celebrated for his profound impact on mental health through his research and community work.

Emcee

EMCEE

Vivian Lee is an Emmy-winning TV journalist, creative director, and host of The 5 Of Us Podcast.

Cefaan Kim is a talented correspondent at ABC News.

Auctioneer

AUCTIONEER

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Edward Pokropski

Edward is a two-time Emmy nominated Senior Writer/Producer at NBCUniversal. He is one of the co-founders of The Asian Comedy Fest and he has been touring his solo storytelling show, Case 84: Adopted in the USA all over the country!

Kathleen Kim

Kathleen is a NYC based producer, puppeteer, and voice artist best known for her work on Sesame Street as Ji-Young, the show's first Asian American Muppet character who debuted in the Emmy nominated AAPI special "See Us Coming Together." Some of her performance credits include Awkwafina's Nora from Queens, Saturday Night Live, The Today Show, and Helpsters on Apple TV+.

Gala Team