President's Award

The NAPABA President’s Award is given annually to individuals or entities who demonstrate an exceptional commitment to the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander community. The President's Award is selected by the NAPABA President.  

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2023 Awardee

 

For Immediate Release: 
Date: October 26, 2023 

NAPABA Honors the Legacy of David L. Kim with President’s Award

WASHINGTON - During the 2023 Convention of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), Sandra Leung, the President of NAPABA, will bestow this year’s President's Award posthumously upon David L. Kim, a pioneer within the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AAHNPI) community. Every year, the NAPABA President pays tribute to a remarkable entity or individual who has demonstrated exceptional commitment to the Nation’s AANHPI population. NAPABA is proud to honor David Kim’s incredible legacy. NAPABA, along with so many others, mourns with the Kim family for their loss of David, who passed away in June 2023. 

“David Kim not only was a game-changer for corporate philanthropy to benefit the AANHPI community, but he created the model,” said Sandra Leung, President of NAPABA. "His impact will be felt for generations to come. For our NAPABA family, David’s commitment and generosity have been invaluable in ensuring that NAPABA and the NAPABA Law Foundation (NLF) thrive—especially in the early years following our founding. He will be greatly missed.” 

During his long career — which included serving as President and CEO of the National Asian Pacific Center on Aging, President of the Iambic Group, LLC; Vice President of Multicultural Markets at AARP, Chief of Staff of the U.S. Mint, and Global Director of Asian Marketing and Community Relations at Anheuser Busch — David blazed the trail for so many. He harnessed corporate resources to invest in long-overlooked AANHPI populations. He shared wisdom, generosity, and counsel with so many in our community with a degree of selflessness and kindness that left an indelible mark on a generation.   

David's contributions were integral to the growth and development of NAPABA and NLF. For over three decades, he delivered opportunities for generations of AANHPI law students who now stand as leaders in the legal profession. Programs like the Thomas Tang Moot Court Competition, a training ground for law students, have flourished because of his generosity. Beyond his professional achievements, David is remembered fondly for his warmth, incredible sense of humor, and enduring friendship. 

“On behalf of NAPABA, I am truly grateful to David’s family for allowing us to honor his legacy during NAPABA's 35th Annual Convention in Indianapolis,” said Sandra Leung. “This award is a testament to the lasting impact of his life's work within the AANHPI community and the legal profession as a whole.” 

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The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) represents the interests of over 60,000 Asian Pacific American (APA) legal professionals and nearly 90 national, state, and local APA bar associations. NAPABA is a leader in addressing civil rights issues confronting Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. Through its national network, NAPABA provides a strong voice for increased diversity of the federal and state judiciaries, advocates for equal opportunity in the workplace, works to eliminate hate crimes and anti-immigrant sentiment, and promotes the professional development of people of all backgrounds in the legal profession.

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Previous Recipients

2023 Awardee: David L. Kim

2022 Awardee: The Asian American Foundation, Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum

2021 Awardee: The Alliance for Asian American Justice   2020 Awardee: Helen Zia 2019 Awardee: Dale Ho 2018 Awardee: Karen Korematsu, Dale Minami,Don Tamaki 2017 Awardee:  Justice Goodwin Liu 2016 Awardee: Tina Matsuoka 2015 Awardee: NAPABA Civil Rights Committee 2014 Awardee:  McGuireWoods LLP and Sidney Kanazawa 2013 Awardee:  Paul O. Hirose 2012 Awardee: Christopher Kang 2011 Awardee: No award recipient 2010 Awardee:  Bruce Ishimatsu, Gordon Yamate, Microsoft 2009 Awardee: NAPABA Judiciary Committee Co-Chairs (Wendy Wen Yun Chang, James C. Ho, John C. Yang), Walmart