By six o’clock on May 28th, the ballroom at the Charles Hotel was shimmering.
Crisp white linens dressed each round table, anchored by golden centerpieces with peacock feathers and glass cylinder vases submerged in blue and purple orchids. Along the walls, the Asian Women for Health logo glowed brightly, full of promise. The space felt transformed – like a peacock’s dream world: vivid, and alive.
As guests arrived, violinist Violin Viiv, adorned in a beautiful sequined gown, set the evening’s tone, filling the room with music, energy, and enchantment. Conversation, laughter, and melody wove together into a welcoming hum. Guests mingled over hors d’oeuvres, browsed a vibrant auction display, and reconnected with old friends while new connections sparked.
The room was a living mosaic of culture and community: brilliant jewel-toned saris, elegant gowns, shalwar qameez, and traditional ensembles reflecting the richness and diversity of our Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities.
This was the start of CelebrAsians 2026: Thriving in Full Splendor.
Now in its third year, the gala gathered more than 300 community members, supporters, partners, sponsors, volunteers, artists, and friends, making it our largest gala to date. More than a celebration, the evening was an opportunity to invest in a future where AANHPI communities can access culturally responsive health education, mental health support, workforce development opportunities, and community-driven research.
It was a homecoming as much as a fundraiser, drawing people together under one roof, ready to honor, celebrate, and reconnect.
Throughout the evening, one message surfaced again and again: thriving is not something we achieve alone. It is built through community, through collective care, and through the courage to show up for one another.
The dinner program began with an electrifying performance by the New England Bhangra Club. The energy was infectious as dancers invited volunteers to the stage, teaching bhangra steps to the popular beat of ‘Mundeya Tu Bach Ke Rahin’. Laughter echoed, barriers disappeared, and the night seemed to say what we all know to be true: community is not something you watch. It is something you do together.
At the heart of the evening was the presentation of this year’s 2026 Luminary Award to Abby Nguyen-Burke.
“My story didn’t begin in a bank,” she started. “It began on a boat.”
Born in a small shack in a rice paddy in Vietnam, Abby was just two years old when her parents made the difficult decision to flee their homeland in search of safety and opportunity. That journey carried her family through refugee camps and eventually to Dorchester, where, like so many immigrant families, survival came first.
Abby spoke candidly about the pressures, expectations, and unspoken struggles that often accompany immigrant experiences. She also spoke about the people who showed up for her along the way – mentors, supporters, and community members who helped ensure she did not have to navigate life’s challenges alone.
Her message was both deeply personal and universally resonant. Her parents took a risk so she could have a future. Now, she said, it falls to all of us to ensure others have the same opportunity – not simply to survive, but to be healthy, supported, and able to truly thrive.
In many ways, her story captured the very essence of AWFH’s mission.
“Because when you give tonight,” Abby shared, “you’re making sure a child doesn’t have to translate a diagnosis. You’re making sure a woman has access to care in her language. You’re creating space for mental health, without stigma.”
Her words resonated deeply throughout the ballroom, and when she finished, the room rose in a long and heartfelt standing ovation.
If Abby gave the evening its meaning, dancer Brianna Li gave it its image. In a stunning white peacock-inspired gown, she became the embodiment of the evening’s theme – graceful, radiant, and unapologetically vibrant. Her performance offered a beautiful visual reminder of what it means not merely to get by, but to thrive in full splendor.
Guests also heard from our Community Health Worker Trainer, Xukun Guo, whose story reflected the transformative power of investing in community leadership. Her journey served as a reminder that when we create opportunities for individuals to learn, lead, and serve, entire communities benefit.
The evening also provided an opportunity to recognize two extraordinary leaders whose service has helped shape AWFH’s trajectory. Board Co-Chairs Adam Thomas and Ingrid Chiemi Schroffner were also honored as they stepped down from their leadership roles after guiding the organization through several formative years. Ingrid also shared a moving musical performance, reminding us that leadership often takes many forms – including acts of generosity, creativity, and grace.
Our annual paddle raise followed, showcasing the incredible generosity of our community. Donors received commemorative peacock-themed pins as tokens of appreciation, each contribution helping to sustain and expand AWFH’s programs in Community Health Worker workforce development, youth mental health, culturally responsive health education, and community-engaged research.
As the evening closed with dessert and tea, a sense of gratitude and renewed purpose lingered in the air.
CelebrAsians is only one night, but it represents something much larger. It is a reflection of what becomes possible when people choose to invest in one another. It is a celebration of resilience, community, and hope. It is a reminder that thriving is not an individual act, but a collective one.
To every guest, sponsor, volunteer, artist, donor, partner, and supporter who joined us: thank you.
Thank you for helping build a future where AANHPI communities are not merely surviving, but thriving.
Here’s to the splendor we create – together.
