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UPDATE (October 31, 2023) — Registration for this event is closed. Tickets and tables are no longer available for purchase.

Schedule | About the Honoree | Tickets and Tables

The 2023 recipient of the Roy M. Huffington Award for Contributions to International Understanding is the trailblazing former two-term governor of Washington State and ambassador to China Gary Locke. Ambassador Locke broke barriers by becoming the U.S.'s first Chinese American governor and the first Asian American to serve as U.S. ambassador to China.

As governor, Ambassador Locke became known for his "common-sense" approach to governance, passing historic bipartisan welfare reform. As the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, he increased exports and found new markets for American-made goods and services. He then doubled American exports to China while serving as ambassador. He also was celebrated for his approach to increasing government efficiency and his commitment to the environment.

Anne and Albert Chao, David and Jessica Firestein, Y. Ping Sun and David Leebron, Selma and Mustafa Tameez, and Ling and George Yang will serve as honorary chairs for the 2023 Huffington Award Luncheon.

Named after Asia Society Texas' co-founder Roy M. Huffington, the award distinguishes outstanding leaders who have made significant contributions advancing international diplomacy and cultural, social, or economic understanding. It is the highest honor granted by the organization, with past award recipients including President George H. W. Bush and former Secretary of State James A. Baker, III, and former PepsiCo Chairman and CEO Indra Nooyi.

For sponsorship information, please contact Saleena Jafry at [email protected] or 713.496.9939.

Dress for this event is business attire.

Schedule

11 a.m. Registration and Reception
12 p.m. Lunch and Program

About the Honoree

Gary Locke served as governor of Washington State from 1997 to 2005. He was the first Chinese American to be elected governor in United States history and the first Asian American governor on the continental United States. He then served as the U.S. Secretary of Commerce and U.S. Ambassador to China. Mr. Locke has been a leader in the areas of education, employment, trade, health care, human rights, and the environment. Most recently, he has served as the interim president of Bellevue College, the largest open access institution of higher education in Washington State.

As the governor of Washington, the nation’s most trade dependent state, Mr. Locke increased exports by leading trade missions to Mexico, Europe, and Asia and more than doubled the state’s exports to China. During his tenure, he achieved bipartisan welfare reform and oversaw the gain of 280,000 private sector jobs, despite two national recessions. Mr. Locke also had the most diverse cabinet in state history. More than half his judicial appointments were women and 25% were people of color.

As U.S. Secretary of Commerce from 2009 to 2011, he led President Obama's National Export Initiative to double American exports in five years. He also completed the 2010 Census substantially under budget, saving taxpayers $2 billion and achieved the most significant reduction in patent application processing in the agency's history.

As U.S. Ambassador to China from 2011 to 2014, he worked to open markets for made-in-USA goods and services, reduced wait times for visa interviews of Chinese applicants from 100 days to three days, and through the Embassy's air quality monitoring program, exposed the severity of the air pollution in China, causing the Chinese people to demand action by the government.

Mr. Locke achieved the rank of Eagle Scout and is a recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award from the Boy Scouts of America.  He attended Yale University, graduating with a Bachelor degree in political science and received his law degree from Boston University.

About the Moderator

Mustafa Tameez is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Outreach Strategists, a leading full-service public relations and marketing firm. With nearly 30 years of experience, Mr. Tameez is a digital marketing expert, strategic consultant in communications and public affairs, and an authority in multicultural markets.

Mr. Tameez has chosen to invest in the community where his passions lie. He holds leadership positions with the Interfaith Ministries, National Immigration Forum, Olive Branch, Anti-Defamation League Coalition for Mutual Respect, Asia Society Texas, and the South Asian Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Tameez is a Senior Fellow with the American Leadership Forum and a Director with the Texas Lyceum, a nonprofit, non-partisan organization that helps identify and develop the next generation of top leadership in the State of Texas.

Tickets and Tables

A letter acknowledging your contribution will be sent to the person(s) in which your gift was made in honor. Please complete this form and return it via mail, or click the ticket link below.

Download the Form Purchase Tickets

For more sponsorship information, please contact Saleena Jafry at [email protected] or 713.496.9939.

Table Underwriting

Presenting Sponsor: $50,000

• Seating for two at head table
• Public recognition from podium at luncheon
• Featured logo or name placement on invitation, print program, promotional materials, and on-site signage
• Inclusion of an individual/company representative on event host committee
• Admission for two to the VIP Reception and all other guests to the pre-lunch Reception
• One premier table (seating for 12)
• Complimentary valet for all guests

Platinum: $25,000

• Public recognition from podium at luncheon
• Featured logo or name placement in invitation, print program, promotional materials, and on-site signage
• Inclusion of an individual/company representative on event host committee
• Admission for two to the VIP Reception and all other guests to the pre-lunch Reception
• One premier table (seating for 12)
• Complimentary valet for all guests

Gold: $15,000

• Logo or name placement in invitation and print program
• Inclusion of an individual/company representative on event host committee
• Admission for two to the VIP Reception and all other guests to the pre-lunch Reception
• One priority table (seating for 10)
• Complimentary valet for all guests

Silver: $10,000

• Logo or name placement in invitation and print program
• Inclusion of an individual/company representative on event host committee
• Admission for all guests to the pre-lunch Reception
• One priority table (seating for 10)
• Complimentary valet for all guests

Bronze: $5,000 (Limited Availability)

• Logo or name placement in invitation and print program
• Inclusion of an individual/company representative on event host committee
• Admission for all guests to the pre-lunch Reception
• One table (seating for eight) OR sponsorship of a table for students
• Complimentary valet for all guests

Tickets

VIP Couple: $2,500

• Inclusion of couple on host committee
• Priority luncheon seating for two
• Admission for two to VIP Reception
• Complimentary valet

VIP Ticket: $1,250

• Inclusion of individual on host committee
• Priority luncheon seating for one
• Admission to VIP Reception
• Complimentary valet

Single Ticket: $350

• Luncheon seating for one
• Admission to the pre-lunch Reception
• Complimentary valet

Sponsors

Platinum

Anonymous
Muffet Blake
Mikki Hebl and David Harvey

Gold

Durga and Sushila Agrawal
Chinhui and Eddie Allen
Anne and Albert Chao
Contreras Family
Ling and George Yang

Silver

Nancy C. Allen
Kathy and Glen Gondo
Kathy and Marty Goossen
Reinnette and Stan Marek
Y. Ping Sun and David Leebron | Selma and Mustafa Tameez
Lulu and Anthony Wang
White & Case LLP

Bronze

Margie Van Elten and Joe Blommaert
Julie and John Cogan
Sabria and Kevin Lewis
Sue and Randy Sim

Official Airline Sponsor

United

Host Committee

Durga and Sushila Agrawal
Chinhui and Eddie Allen
Nancy C. Allen
Muffet Blake
Margie Van Elten and Joe Blommaert
Tripp Carter
Anne and Albert Chao
Julie and John Cogan
China and Roberto Contreras IV
Molly and Jim Crownover
Jay Cuclis, White & Case LLP
Charles C. Foster, Foster LLP
Geraldine Gill
Kathy and Glen Gondo
Kathy and Marty Goossen
Mikki Hebl and David Harvey
Mohsin and Farhina Imtiaz
Joanne Kim, Southwestern National Bank
Jody Lee, Southwestern National Bank
Y. Ping Sun and David Leebron
Sabria and Kevin Lewis
Sultana and Moez Mangalji | Westmont Hospitality Group
Reinnette and Stan Marek
Layla Panjwani, Foster LLP
Gordon J. Quan
Unna and Ram Ramanathan
Regina Rogers
Sue and Randy Sim
Selma and Mustafa Tameez
Phoebe Tudor
Ling and George Yang
Jane Zhang