I showed up to a gala on a night when nearly 700 people gathered to talk about something real. Not the typical “let’s dress up and celebrate ourselves” energy. This felt different.

The Asian Community Fund’s 2025 Gala: Rising Together brought together Governor Maura Healey, Mayor Michelle Wu, Shirley Leung, Jim Braude, and visionary leaders like Reshma Kewalramani and Yvonne Hao. Ninety sponsors. Countless donors. Over $875,000 raised in a single evening. But the real moment wasn’t the number. It was watching a room full of people understand what that money actually builds. Infrastructure. Advocacy. Belonging. Real work, not ceremonial work.

One of the best things about photographing galas is seeing the moment when people stop performing and start believing in what they’re actually doing. The ACF has distributed over $1.6 million in grants since 2020. They’re the first and only philanthropic fund in Massachusetts dedicated to AAPI communities. That’s not something you can fake in a ballroom full of people watching.

Rising Together wasn’t just a theme on the invitation. It was the entire point of the night.

What an incredible evening with an incredible crew. Thank you to the Asian Community Fund for having us document this.