Asia Society Southern California’s Annual Gala Dinner
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 at the Beverly Hilton
Join Asia Society Southern California as they honor LA Laker Kobe Bryant and STAPLES Center President Tim Leiweke.
Kobe Bryant, Olympic Gold Medalist and the reigning NBA MVP, will receive the “Global Ambassador Award” at the Asia Society Southern California’s Annual Gala Dinner, recognizing him as an outstanding humanitarian building global bridges of good will through sport on Tuesday evening, June 30, 2009, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. We invite you to join as a sponsor and support his tireless effort to create global understanding through the power of sport.
Bryant’s popularity extends beyond the United States and Asia. As a consummate bridge builder, his popularity has risen along with the growth of basketball worldwide. Last summer, Nike China launched a reality TV show called Kobe Mentu or “Kobe’s Disciples.” The finalists traveled to the U.S. and their experience learning about basketball from Bryant became a six-episode documentary. Bryant’s jersey is the most popular piece of NBA licensed apparel in China.
That same night, Timothy J. Leiweke, President and CEO of AEG, the Los Angeles-based company that also 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. Recently, in partnership with the NBA, AEG announced plans to build and operate ten new arenas in China in the coming years. As part of this initiative, the joint venture has begun management of the Wukesong arena, site of the 2008 Olympic basketball games, in addition to having begun construction of an arena in Shanghai and breaking ground on another in Guangzhou.
For more information on sponsorship and individual tickets please call Lisa Noshi at 213-613-9934 x 10 or visit www.AsiaSocietySoCal.org.
Best regards,
PUAASC--message sent on behalf of Asia Society Southern California