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The WWAAC Awards Aired on ION Television Saturday, October 17th 1:00 to 3:00 pm .
2008 WWAAC Leaders & Legends Awards Aired on Charter MainStreet TV Sunday, December 28th 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Aired on tvK 24 across the nation Sunday, November 30th 2008
2008 WWAAC Awards Premiere Screening Held on Friday, January 16, 2009 at the UPS Headquarters Founder's Auditorium in Atlanta, GA.
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WWAAC L&L Awards Co-Host
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WWAAC L&L Awards Community Partner
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Press Release
The Nation's Elite Asians Honored at the WWAAC Awards!
The Far East once again met the Southeast at the fourth annual Who’s Who in Asian American Communities Awards. Boasting a distinct theme — “Leaders & Legends” — the Awards held Saturday, August 29th, at the Gwinnett County Performing Arts Center, brought from metro Atlanta, along with guests from around the nation and the world, to celebrate and recognize the accomplishments and achievements of those in the Asian-American community that have soared to immeasurable heights. The audience of nearly 700 was a virtual Who’s Who of dignitaries including the Consul General of Japan - Takuji Hanatani, the Chief of Staff from the Atlanta Mayor’s office – Greg Pridgeon, Representative Hugh Floyd, Chairman of Gwinnett County Charles Bannister, Duluth Mayor Nancy Harris, high ranking Navy officers and dozens of officers from senior management of corporate America. Sachi Koto Communications again put a twist on this year’s festivities, backing away from the traditional awards dinners and galas. Using the stage of the performing arts center, the WWAAC Awards were presented as a theatrical production including a Red Carpet Ceremony which is scheduled to be aired on ION-Television on October 17th. In 2008, The WWAAC Awards were filmed live in Hollywood and broadcast on several television networks/stations including TVK24 and Charter TV. Former CNN Anchor and WWAAC Committee Chair Sachi Koto, welcomed the crowd, emphasizing the importance of celebrating the most accomplished and distinguished Asian Americans in the U.S. And heartfelt words were spoken by Sonya Gong Jent in memory of Frances Nam — a young mother and friend, as well as a pioneer for the Asian-American community. Two inaugural awards, the WWAAC Community Spirit award and the WWAAC Corporate Champion Award, were bestowed to Vice Admiral Harry B. Harris Jr. and United Parcel Service Inc. (UPS), respectively. The Leaders & Legends honorees included: Anne Chow, senior vice president of the Premier Client Group for AT&T Inc.; Michael Fung, chief financial officer of Walmart USA; and Jon C. Iwata, senior vice president of marketing and communications for IBM Corp. Norman Mineta, former Secretary of Transportation and Commerce and currently vice chairman of Hill & Knowlton, was honored with the WWAAC Leaders & Legends’ Lifetime Achievement Award. The evening’s entertainment featured six different cultural performances. A combination of traditional dances and singing began with Tandav Themes Dance Academy’s rendition of “Ocean of Blessings,” a powerful dance presented in Indian classic style. Two-time winner of the Miss Philippines title - Toni Daya-Luetgers filled the theater with her powerful, yet melodic voice, and the Malaysian Association of Georgia Dance Troupe entertained the audience with a rarely performed dance. The spinning and twirling during the drum dance, presented by the Southeast Korean Association, along with the picturesque set and the rhythm of the drum, mesmerized the audience. In true artistic fashion, the Red Fans dance, the most captivating of the evening, was held as the grand finale. The audience gasped and applauded at the award winning dancers’ extravagant display of coordination and uniformity, while the sound of the flying fans brought depth to the performance. The Pan-Asian fête brought a myriad of cultures together to learn about and appreciate traditional Asian culture, as well as recognize exceptional role models in American society. The honorees of the evening have excelled in their respective fields and have been gracious enough to lend their expertise and philanthropic efforts to the communities from which they’ve hailed. They truly represent the Legends & Leaders of the Asian-American community. Michelle Henson |
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Courtesy of Brian Steel Shots Photography |