GALA COMMITTEE
The 2026 Gala Committee is a dynamic group of passionate leaders who believe in the power of community. Each member volunteers their time, talent, and energy to bring our highly-anticipated annual celebration to life—an event that uplifts, connects, and inspires. This exceptional team drives every aspect of the gala; sponsorships, marketing, promotions, ticket fundraising, programming and more. Their dedication, fresh perspectives, and new approaches expands the vision, impact, and reach of this gathering. Meet the amazing people behind the scenes below.
2026 Gala Committee Members
YVONNE HUATIN CHOW (they/she)
HoC Gala Co-Chair
Yvonne is the Founding Artistic Director of House of Chow and serves as Co-Chair of its Gala Committee. One of Yvonne’s love languages is event planning. In her second year in New York City, she landed a Special Events Internship with Susan G. Komen for the Cure, where she gained hands-on experience managing both large-scale events—such as Race for the Cure—and more intimate donor gatherings at renowned venues like Time Warner Center. Yvonne has gone on to produce hundreds of iconic NYC events from repertory seasons to community service programming to international performance tours. Yvonne is passionate about building community through thoughtfully curated, in-person gatherings.
ABBY KANE (she/her/any)
HoC Gala Co-Chair
As an art-ally, Abby assists House of Chow with special events management, grant applications, and community partnerships. She enjoys providing the administrative support that allows artists to flourish and build stronger communities. She loves going to Queer Bookclub, video games, and her two cats, Salt and Pepper!
ELLA KENNEDY (they/them)
Ella is a queer, Asian American adoptee who loves utilizing their creativity to design marketing materials that align with House of Chow’s vision and mission, while also supporting donor relations and communications. In their free time, Ella enjoys learning dance with House of Chow, watching movies, and cosplay.
ANNA PATRICK (she/her)
Anna is an event coordinator by day and a professional dancer by night. As a returning HoC volunteer, Anna will be living the best of both worlds by utilizing her knowledge gained from the hospitality and arts industry to assist the House of Chow team with sponsorships, funding, and community relations. As an American who is learning more about her own Caribbean heritage and African descent, Anna finds it important to be surrounded by multicultural backgrounds as she enjoys collaborating with people who have different ideas and perspectives.
KAI CHUANG (he/they)
Kai is a creative with a background in industrial design and hospitality, supporting House of Chow with venue arrangements and event logistics. They’re passionate about bringing people together, building community, and often take on the role of host at gatherings. Whether it’s cooking, gardening, or anything that gets their hands dirty, Kai is always happiest creating with care and intention.
SAM HONG (he/him)
Sam is a Chinese American whose upbringing was split between Los Angeles and Changsha. At House of Chow, he supports the organization's fundraising and partnership missions. He is a Brooklyn-based writer who spends his spare time hunting for the best stinky tofu in New York.
ZAYDA RIVERA (she/her)
Zayda Rivera has been an event producer for the past 10 years. From black tie galas to weeklong conferences, Zayda has led the way in creating memorable events. Her passion is producing events that uplift and inspire communities of color, the youth, and the LGBTQIA+ community.
Join the Gala Committee
Want to be part of something meaningful?
Join us as a cultural changemaker and help shape this unforgettable event.
Email info@houseofchow.org to learn more today!