Kobe Bryant, Captain and MVP of the 2009 NBA Champion Lakers, to Be Honored by
Asia Society Southern California
LOS ANGELES, June 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Asia Society Southern California will
honor Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers, and Timothy J. Leiweke, President
and CEO of AEG and President of STAPLES Center, on June 30, 2009 at its annual
gala dinner in Los Angeles. Minister Liu Peng of China's General
Administration of Sports and President of its Olympic Committee will be guest
of honor and award presenter.
In announcing Kobe's selection as "Global Ambassador,"Donald Tang, Chairman of
Asia Society Southern California noted, "Kobe Bryant is deeply committed to
creating good will and understanding between the U.S. and China. For example,
the newly-created Kobe Bryant China Fund will support and collaborate in the
efforts of China's renowned Soong Ching Ling Foundation to bring educational,
sports, and health programs to children across China."
Mr. Tang continued, "Here in the U.S., Kobe is working to find ways to help
American youth to better understand the importance of the U.S. - China
relationship, and to benefit from the opportunities that relationship can
bring. As a part of that effort, the Kobe Bryant Family Foundation is
launching a Mandarin language program in conjunction with the After-School
All-Stars, which will teach Chinese language skills and culture to American
youth."
Timothy J. Leiweke, President and CEO of AEG, the Los Angeles-based company
that owns STAPLES Center, will receive the Asia Society "Global Corporate
Leadership Award." Under his leadership, Leiweke has built AEG into one of the
world's most innovative and successful sports and entertainment organizations.
Minister Liu Peng from China's General Administration of Sports will be the
special Guest of Honor. He gained worldwide respect by leading every aspect of
the effort to make the 2008 Beijing Summer Games a resounding success. As the
President of the Chinese Olympic Committee, Minister Liu supervised thousands
of officials and volunteers, balancing the gargantuan budget and organizing
dozens of large-scale events with all eyes of the world on Beijing. It was at
those games that Kobe Bryant led the USA Men's Basketball Team to a Gold
Medal.
The sponsors and one thousand anticipated guests of the 2009 Asia Society
Southern California Gala would enjoy a silent auction filled with sports
memorabilia followed by an awards ceremony paying tribute to the evening's
honorees. The Gala will be held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, in Beverly Hills,
California.
A nonprofit, nonpartisan educational organization, Asia Society provides a
forum for building awareness of the more than thirty countries broadly defined
as the Asia-Pacific region - the area from Japan to Iran, and from Central
Asia to New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. Through art exhibitions and
performances, films, lectures, seminars and conferences, publications and
assistance to the media, and materials and programs for students and teachers,
the Asia Society presents the uniqueness and diversity of Asia.
Founded in Los Angeles in 1985, Asia Society Southern California is an
independently funded regional Center that creates its own programs and
activities. Home to the largest Asian population in the United States, Los
Angeles is a vibrant microcosm of Asian and American relations. Asia Society
Southern California is supported by contributions from foundations,
corporations, and individuals.
Members of the press wishing to cover this event should contact Deborah
Jordan, Executive Director of Asia Society Southern California, to request
appropriate credentials.
Ticket Information: Tickets are on sale now. All dinner guests must be
pre-registered before June 22nd. Call 213/613-9934 or visit
www.AsiaSocietySoCal.org to purchase tickets. Tickets will not be sold
on-site.
SOURCE Asia Society Southern California
Deborah Jordan of Asia Society Southern California, +1-213-613-9934 x 11
(office), +1-818/681-4681 (cell), or djordan@asiasociety.org
