華盛頓特區 – 2008年十月三十日 – 亞裔及太平洋島民獎學金基金會（The Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund，簡稱APIASF）訂十月三十日星期四晚間六點半至九點半在紐約希爾頓酒店舉行名為“Today’s Minds, Tomorrow’s FutureR”的第三屆年度頒獎典禮及晚宴。APIASF將表揚北美洲可口可樂公司總裁J. Alexander M. (Sandy) Douglas, Jr.，IW Group, Inc.董事長兼執行長Bill Imada，及美國麥當勞公司總裁Don Thompson。Douglas及Thompson將因所代表公司對高等教育的長期承諾與支持獲頒APIASF傑出教育獎。Imada則因其出眾的遠見，領導、熱情與付出最終促成APIASF的成立而獲頒APIASF追求美夢獎。
頒獎典禮與晚宴是APIASF一年中唯一的一場募款活動，凈收入將全數投入APIASF最重要的關鍵使命 – 就是儘可能的讓亞太裔學生有追求高等教育的機會。今年APIASF共發放每筆兩千五百美元的獎學金給兩百八十五位高三學生，該組織自2004年成立迄今所發出的獎學金總數因此達到一百八十萬美元。今年獲得獎學金的學生中，有百分之八十四是家中第一位大學生，百分之六十三來自弱勢社區。他們代表美國五十州中的三十五州、密克羅尼西亞聯邦、及北馬莉安娜群島，其中大多數的平均分數在滿分為四的計算尺度上為三點七。
APIASF過去和目前的獎學金得獎人將在頒獎晚宴中分享他們的努力目標並感謝協助本組織成立的熱心贊助人士。美國偶像第六季決賽選手Sanjaya Malakar也將擔任晚宴的特別來賓。
董事會主席Wai-Ling Eng表示，“APIASF很高興能夠延續這個優良的傳統，表揚將高等教育放在第一位的企業和個人。我們深感驕傲能夠表揚衷心支持APIASF的這幾位先生，也感謝他們他們對進一步教育亞裔及太平洋島民社區未來的領袖所做的貢獻。”
負責在晚會上頒獎的贊助商為美國麥當勞及亞裔麥當勞經營者協會。其他主要贊助商/晚會共同主席還包括Abercrombie & Fitch、AT&T、ING、Nationwide、USA Funds、北美洲可口可樂公司、聯邦快遞（FedEx Corporation）、IBM、梅西百貨、以及美國海軍Diversity Directorate。其他慶祝活動還包括紙上競標（silent auction）與酒會。APIASF簡介總部設於華盛頓特區的亞裔與太平洋島民獎學金基金會（Asian and PacificIslander American Scholarship Fund，簡稱APIASF）是全國規模最大，以提供亞裔及太平洋島民學生獎學金為唯一宗旨的非營利性組織。APIASF負責管理兩項獎學金﹕APIASF的一般性獎學金計劃和Gates Millennium學者/APIA。由比爾及美林達蓋茲基金會提供經費，UNCF負責管理的GMS/APIA提供表現傑出，符合接受Pell獎助金條件的亞裔及太平洋島民學生完成任何主修科目之大學教育，及部分主修科目研究所教育的機會。APIASF係於2006年九月接管該計劃。APIASF的支持者包括一般大眾及範圍廣泛的社區及專業領袖、組織及企業。企業支持者包括，但不限於﹕AT&T、 Abercrombie & Fitch、The Boston Consulting Group、 美國麥當勞（McDonald’s USA）、可口可樂公司（Coca-Cola Company）、 Nationwide、 Sodexo、 Wachovia、 Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. 及富國銀行（Wells Fargo）。欲知APIASF之使命與有關計劃的進一步詳情，請參看網頁www.apiasf.org。
ASIAN & PACIFIC ISLANDER AMERICAN SCHOLARSHIP FUND (APIASF)HOSTS THIRD ANNUAL GALA AWARDS DINNER
WASHINGTON, DC - October 30, 2008 --The Asian & Pacific Islander AmericanScholarship Fund (APIASF) will host its third annual awards dinner, the "Today's Minds, Tomorrow's Future" Gala, on Thursday, October 30, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the New York Hilton. APIASF will be recognizing J. Alexander M. (Sandy) Douglas, Jr., President, Coca-Cola, North America; Bill Imada, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, IW Group, Inc.; and Don Thompson, President, McDonald's USA. Douglas and Thompson will both receive the APIASF Excellence in Education Award for their respective company's long-standing commitment and support of higher education. Imada will receive the APIASF Inspiring Dreams Award for being the primary visionary whose leadership, enthusiasm and dedication led to the eventual formation of APIASF.The gala is APIASF's only fundraising event during the year, and all net proceeds go towards APIASF's critical and vital mission-- to insure that as many Asian and Pacific Islander American students as possible have the opportunity to pursue a higher education.
This year, APIASF distributed 285 scholarships of $2,500 each to high school seniors, bringing the total amount the organization has distributed since its inception in 2004 to more than $1.8 million. Of those students receiving scholarships this year, 84% were first in their families to attend college and 63% came from underserved communities. The scholars represented 35 of the 50 U.S. States, Micronesia and the Northern Mariana Islands, and the majority of them had a grade point average of 3.7 on a 4.0 scale.
At the gala, past and present APIASF scholarship recipients will share their aspirations and thank the generous sponsors who make our organization possible. Sanjaya Malakar, American Idol Season 6 Finalist, will also make a special guest appearance.
Wai-Ling Eng, Chair, Board of Directors, said, "APIASF is delighted to continue the tradition of honoring corporations and individuals who keep higher education at the forefront. We are proud to be recognizing these gentlemen for their commitment and support of APIASF and for helping to further the education of our future leaders in the Asian and Pacific Islander American community."
The evening's presenting sponsors are McDonald's USA and the Asian McDonald's Operators Association. Other major sponsors/gala co-chairs include Abercrombie & Fitch, AT&T, ING, Nationwide, USA Funds, Coca-Cola North America, FedEx Corporation, IBM, Macy's and the United States Navy Diversity Directorate. A silent auction and reception are also part of the evening's festivities.About APIASF
The Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund (APIASF) is based in Washington, DC, and is the country's largest non-profit organization devoted solely to providing scholarships for Asian and Pacific Islander Americans. APIASF also manages the Gates Millennium Scholars/Asian Pacific Islander Americans (GMS/APIA). Funded by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and administered by UNCF, the GMS/APIA program provides outstanding Pell Grant eligible APIA students with an opportunity to complete an undergraduate college education in any discipline they choose and a graduate degree in specific fields. APIASF assumed the administration of this program in September 2006. Supporters of APIASF include members of the general public and a wide spectrum of community and professional leaders, organizations and corporations. Corporate supporters include, but are not limited to, AT&T, Abercrombie & Fitch, The Boston Consulting Group, McDonald's USA, The Coca-Cola Company, Nationwide, Sodexo, Wachovia, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and Wells Fargo. For more information about APIASF's mission and program, please visit our website at www.apiasf.org. |
