APA Heritage Logo

San Francisco Celebrates

Asian American & Pacific IslanderHeritage Month

May 2023

Strengthening the Fabric of our Community

2023 Celebration Guide

During the month of May, explore Asian American & Pacific Islander culture through films, foods, and books. The APA Heritage Foundation works with our Official Celebration Partners the Asian Art Museum, the Center for Asian American Media (CAAM) and the San Francisco Public Library to compile a Celebration Guide with a list of activities and events in the San Francisco Bay Area taking place in May.

APA Heritage Awards & Reception

Wednesday, May 3, 2023

5:30pm
Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Ave, San Francisco

Celebration Theme – Strengthening the Fabric of our Community

The APA Heritage Awards is a signature program of San Francisco’s celebration of Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month.  Every year the APA Heritage Celebration Committee honors civic organizations that have achieved significant milestones in serving the community.  Our event is free and open to the public, but registration is required.

Celebrate Community Milestones

Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation (AIISF)

Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation (AIISF)

Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation (AIISF) is a nonprofit organization that partners with CA State Parks to preserve the former U.S. Immigration Station at Angel Island and promote its history. Angel Island is a living landmark that symbolizes diverse experiences of detention, racism, exclusion, hope, and determination.

AIISF protects the historic site, elevates its stories, promotes learning, and celebrates the new beginnings and immigrant contributions that define the strength of the U.S. AIISF’s goal is to inspire a more equitable and inclusive future by demonstrating how immigrants make nations better.

Over the past 40 years, AIISF has raised over $40 million in public and private funds to support the preservation and renovation of this National Historic Landmark as well as to conduct programs that connect the site’s history to current day experiences and events.

“We are extremely thankful to everyone who has helped to support the preservation and maintenance of Angel Island’s buildings over the past 40 years. Over the coming months, we are excited to unveil new programs and strategies focused on raising up the voices and stories of immigrants then and now.”

Edward Tepporn, Executive Director

Website: https://www.aiisf.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AIISForg

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AIISForg

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aiisforg/

Asian Pacific Fund

Asian Pacific Fund

Founded in 1993, the Asian Pacific Fund is the only community foundation dedicated to improving the lives of underserved and marginalized Asians and Pacific Islanders (APIs) in the Bay Area. Its mission is to strengthen the API community by increasing philanthropy and supporting the organizations that serve the most vulnerable community members.

The Asian Pacific Fund’s vast network of affiliates, including safety net service providers and advocates who drive policy changes to improve well-being for all, has deep roots in the region and is critical to promoting inclusion and belonging.

Through its affiliates, the Asian Pacific Fund is able to drive change by raising awareness about pressing community needs and more importantly, connect philanthropy to API-serving nonprofits by mobilizing funding and resources to increase collective impact.

“For 30 years, the Asian Pacific Fund has played the critical role of driving resources to our community’s most pressing issues. We’re proud to celebrate this milestone and look forward to many more years of building strength, leading with courage, and creating belonging for our Bay Area API community.”

Carolyn Wang Kong, President & Executive Director

Website: https://asianpacificfund.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AsianPacificFund93

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AsianPacificFnd

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asianpacificfund/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asianpacificfund/

The Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California (the Center)

The Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California (the Center)

The Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California (the Center) is Northern California’s largest Japanese American community-owned facility. Incorporated as a nonprofit in 1973, it has served the community for 50 years.

The Center’s goals include providing cultural and educational programs to preserve and promote the Japanese American cultural and historical heritage, enhancing the understanding and appreciation among people in the United States and Japan, and managing and maintaining a multi-service community center that provides administrative and program space for others in the community.

Today, the Center offers an array of programs for a diverse audience of all ages, which includes traditional and contemporary Japanese cultural arts, activities for children and youth, exhibits and forums, senior wellness programs, performing arts, and social and recreational activities.

“The 50th anniversary of the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California is a tribute to the generations of our Japanese American community. It honors the fulfillment of a long-held community vision to own a facility to celebrate our cultural heritage and the legacy of our Japantown community.”

Paul Osaki, Executive Director

Website: https://www.jcccnc.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LikeJCCCNC

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jcccnc_sf/

2023 Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month Poster

APA Heritage Foundation

The APA Heritage Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the diverse Asian American and Pacific Islander cultural heritage as well as to providing a forum for community collaborations.   Every year, the Foundation coordinates resources to support San Francisco’s celebration of AAPI Heritage Month.  In addition to the APA Heritage Awards and Reception, an annual signature event in the City, we also work with over 100 Publicity Partners to compile and cross promote the AAPI Heritage Month Celebration Guide, a list of events, activities, and educational resources for the month of May.  Special thanks to our community representatives who volunteer on the APA Heritage Celebration Committee who make this all possible.

Special acknowledgement also goes to our AAPI Heritage Month Official Celebration Partners: the Asian Art MuseumCenter for Asian American Media (CAAM) and San Francisco Public Library.

Sponsors and Partners

Your support of the APA Heritage Foundation, a 501c3 nonprofit organization, makes this celebration possible. To become a sponsor, please contact Claudine Cheng at Claudine@apasf.org

Heritage Champions

Heritage Captain

Heritage Partners

Heritage Friends

Community Sponsors

  • Asian American Donors Program
  • Asian Peace Officers Association
  • Asian Firefighters Association
  • Center for Asian American Media
  • Chinese American Citizens Alliance San Francisco Lodge
  • Chinese Chamber of Commerce
  • Friends of the San Francisco Public Library
  • Hep B Free Bay Area
  • Japan Society of Northern California
  • Japanese Chamber Commerce of Northern California
  • Japantown Community Benefit District
  • Nihonmachi Street Fair Inc.
  • Northeast Medical Services
  • OCA – SF Bay Chapter
  • Pacific Asian American Women Bay Area Coalition
  • Rose Pak Community Fund
  • SF Community Health Center
  • SF – Ho Chi Minh City Sister City Committee
  • SF – Manila Sister City Committee
  • SF – Osaka Sister City Association
  • SF – Seoul Sister City Committee
  • SF – Taipei Sister City Committee
  • Telegraph Hill Neighborhood Center
  • USF Leo T McCarthy Center

Media Sponsors

Special Acknowledgements

MUNI ad sponsor

SFMTA

Hotel Partner

Winery Partner

Eco Terreno Wines & Vineyards

Airline Partner

Alaska Airlines