We invite you to join the 2024 Annual Dinner on Monday, September 30th at The Plaza Hotel. The Annual Dinner is The Korea Society’s flagship event of the year, in which we bring together those who share the Society’s mission of strengthening friendship between the peoples of the United States and Korea. Yoon Soo (Gene) Yoon, Chairman of the Board at FILA Holdings Corp. & Acushnet Holdings Corp, and Seri Pak, South Korea’s legendary former professional golf player, will receive the Society’s prestigious General James A. Van Fleet Award for their outstanding lifetime contributions to the deepening of ties between the United States and Korea through sports.
VAN FLEET AWARD HONOREES
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Yoon Soo (Gene) Yoon |
Seri Pak |
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Chairman of the Board | CO-CEO of BAZ International | |||
FILA Holdings Corp. & Acushnet Holdings Corp. | Chairman of SERI PAK Hope Foundation | |||
Fifth Avenue at Central Park South
New York City
Reception 6:00 PM | Dinner 7:00 PM
Table Sponsorship and Individual Ticket
DOWNLOAD REGISTRATION FORM
DINNER COMMITTEE
LEADER - $100,000
• Recognition from the podium as Dinner Committee
• 10 guests for VIP reception; 10 guests for general reception
• 10 guests for dinner in premium seating; 10 guests for dinner in preferred seating
• Full-page Acknowledgment; corporate profile with photo and bio of corporate representative in the dinner program book
BENEFACTOR - $50,000
• Recognition from the podium as Dinner Committee
• 10 guests for VIP reception
• 10 guests in priority seating
• Full-page Acknowledgment; corporate profile with photo and bio of corporate representative in the dinner program book
PATRON - $30,000
• Recognition from the podium as Dinner Committee
• 4 guests for VIP reception; 6 guests for general reception
• 10 guests in preferred seating
• Full-page Acknowledgment; corporate profile with photo and bio of corporate representative in the dinner program book
In addition to above benefits, Dinner Committees will receive
• recognition by level on the event webpage, promotional emails, social media, and a large screen aside the stage in the event room.
• Year-round recognition in the Korea Society’s Annual Report
TABLE SPONSORSHIP
SPONSOR - $20,000
• 2 guests for VIP reception; 8 guests for general reception
• 10 guests for dinner
• Half-page Acknowledgment; corporate profile with photo of corporate representative in the dinner program book
DONOR - $15,000
• 10 guests for general reception and dinner
• Half-page Acknowledgment; corporate profile in the dinner program book
ALL SPONSORS BENEFITS INCLUDE:
• Recognition by level on event webpage, promotional emails, social media, and a large screen aside the stage in the event room.
• Year-round recognition in the Korea Society’s Annual Report
INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT AND TICKETS
PATRON COUPLE - $6,000
• 2 tickets for VIP reception and preferred seating
• Acknowledgement on our website and in the dinner program book
PATRON - $3,500
• 1 ticket for VIP reception and preferred seating
• Acknowledgement on our website and in the dinner program book
CONTRIBUTOR - $1,000
• 1 ticket for general reception and dinner
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Full-page in the dinner program book - $10,000
Half-page in the dinner program book - $6,000
Table Sponsorship and Individual Patron ticket registrations must be confirmed by September 6, 2024 to be acknowledged in the dinner program. Cancellations after September 10, 2024 will not be accepted.
The Korea Society is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. The non-tax-deductible amount is $450 per ticket.
For further information on sponsorship opportunities or to purchase tickets, please contact Jamie Joo or by phone at (646) 439-4009.
Awardees
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Accepted b
Yoon Soo (Gene) Yoon
Chairman of the Board
FILA Holdings Corp. & Acushnet Holdings Corp.
Gene Yoon, also known in Korean as Yoon Soo Yoon, is the Chairman of the Board of Italian sportswear company FILA Holdings Corp. and American golf product company Acushnet Holdings Corp., which owns the Titleist and FootJoy trademarks. He is widely credited with not only introducing FILA to the Korean market in 1991, but also restoring its global popularity, having acquired the global brand trademark in 2007 and reintroduced ‘90s classics like the Disruptor sneaker as vintage-inspired FILA designs have been a hit with younger generations.
Before establishing himself as a businessman in his home country of South Korea, Gene Yoon’s studies took him from Seoul High School to Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, where he majored in political science and diplomacy. His career began in earnest in 1973 with a stint at Korea Shipping Corp., before he joined JCPenney as a Korea-based distributor in 1975 and then took on the position of export director for international trading and shoe company Hwaseung Co. in the early ‘80s.
Gene Yoon’s FILA journey started in 1991 when he led the brand’s entry into South Korea with the foundation of FILA Korea, which grew into the role of global cornerstone for FILA Group. In 2005, it achieved management independence before taking over the global FILA business in 2007.
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Accepted by
Seri Pak
CO-CEO of BAZ International
Chairman of SERI PAK Hope Foundation
In 1998, during the IMF crisis when South Koreans were struggling, she won a dramatic victory at the US Women's Open, a major event of the LPGA, with her ‘mircale barefoot shot’, providing courage, hope and comfort to the nation.
Until her retirement, she achieved a total of 25 victories on the LPGA Tour, including 5 major wins, and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2007. Inspired by her success in the US, young Korean female golfers, known as "Seri Kids," began their careers, subsequently raising the profile of Korean women's golf on the LPGA Tour.
In 2016, as the coach of the women's golf team at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, held for the first time in 116 years, she led the team to a gold medal, once again moving the nation.
In 2020, Seri Pak received the Bob Jones Award from the USGA, which is considered the Nobel Prize in golf, for her contributions to the sport. This award placed her alongside golf legends like Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, as well as former US President George H. W. Bush, who made significant contributions to golf.
In 2024, Seri Pak became the first Korean player to host an LPGA Tour event named after her, the "FIR HILLS SERI PAK Championship," providing a new tournament for many golfers around the world to experience.
Additionally, Seri Pak was selected by the American economic magazine "Business Insider" as one of the 36 symbolic figures who contributed to the development of women's sports globally, being the only Asian player on the list. After retirement, she has been active as a businesswoman, promoting the popularization of golf and the development of the sports industry through golf and sports marketing. Through the Seri Pak Hope Foundation, she annually hosts junior golf tournaments in the US and Korea, nurturing junior golfers. Domestically, she is active as a businesswoman, entertainer, and commentator, leading the way in promoting "K-Golf" beyond K-pop, K-beauty, and K-food.