On the evening of October 24, the Asia Society held its 11th Annual Asia Game Changer Awards ceremony in downtown Manhattan, honoring individuals and organizations making a transformative impact in Asia. This year’s awardees included The Asian American Foundation, renowned Chinese-American climber and filmmaker Jimmy Chin, and comedian Bowen Yang.
Asia Society’s Chair, Kevin Rudd, expressed his honor in leading the organization during these challenging times. “Each of this year’s honorees has demonstrated a commitment to humanity in unique ways—whether through documenting history, promoting popular culture, or tackling anti-Asian hate,” Rudd emphasized. He noted that fostering understanding and communication between the East and West is more crucial now than ever.
The Asian American Foundation was the only organization among the award winners. Established during the pandemic by notable Asian American figures, it aims to reduce and prevent hate crimes against Asians through research and educational initiatives. Norman Chen, the Foundation’s CEO, spoke about the ongoing violence facing the Asian community, stating that according to their research, one in five Asians in New York City experienced anti-Asian violence in 2023. He added that investment in Asian communities is still vastly inadequate and that more resources and attention are urgently needed.
Jimmy Chin, 51, accepted the award alongside his wife, Chai Vasarhelyi. Chin has climbed Mount Everest and Meru multiple times, and together, they produced the documentary “Free Solo,” which won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2019.
Bowen Yang, who hails from a Chinese background in Brisbane, Australia, was inspired to pursue comedy by Korean-American actress Sandra Oh. He transitioned from writing to acting on “Saturday Night Live,” becoming the first Asian cast member in the show’s history, and has been nominated three times for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.
Other notable award recipients this year included CNN International journalist Christiane Amanpour and Bang Si Hyuk, the founder of the HYBE Group and a prominent figure in the K-pop industry. Past awardees have included well-known personalities such as Yo-Yo Ma, I.M Pei, Jack Ma, Wang Shi, Lei Jun, Zhang Yimou, and Liu Qing.
