In an engaging ceremony held on October 6th, the National Organization for Women (NOW) Philly celebrated its annual award luncheon at the Felt Factory. This year, the event honored four outstanding women for their dedicated contributions to the community: Grace Kong, president of the Asian American Women’s Coalition (AAWC) and director of the Chinese department at Echelon Care & Rehabilitation Center; Annette Collier; Rue Landau; and Joann Bell. Vanessa Fields, president of Philly NOW, presented the Community Contribution Awards.
In her acceptance speech, Grace Kong expressed her gratitude to Emily Wang, a member of AAWC, for nominating her for this special recognition. “Emily and I have worked closely for many years to empower women in the Asian community and ensure equal rights,” she shared. Grace thanked all AAWC members for their support and kind words, acknowledging the immense contributions of Cecilia Moy Yep, founder of the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation, and Judge Ida Chen, whose guidance laid a solid foundation for AAWC’s progress.
She also recognized the past presidents, vice presidents, members, board members, and advisory committee members for their hard work and dedication, stating, “Their extraordinary efforts have led to AAWC’s success today, and I take great pride in what we have achieved together.”
Grace emphasized her fortune in working alongside AAWC members, noting how much she has learned from each of them over the years. “This Philly NOW award should be shared by every member of the AAWC board. Congratulations to each of you; you all deserve this honor,” she remarked.
Additionally, she thanked her friend Chen Zi from the Xiang Sheng Association for her ongoing support, as well as the Echelon Care and Rehabilitation Center for their full-page congratulatory ad. Grace also expressed appreciation for the presence and recognition from event director Janine.
In a heartfelt moment, Grace acknowledged her two children, Christina and Brian, stating how proud she feels as their mother and thanking them for their support. “I am truly honored to receive this award from Philly NOW, and I will cherish this moment forever,” she concluded.
Founded in 1966, Philly NOW is part of the larger NOW organization, which consists of 550 chapters across all 50 states and Washington, D.C. As the largest feminist organization in the U.S., it has approximately 500,000 members dedicated to promoting feminism, advocating for social change, eliminating discrimination, and ensuring equal rights for women across social, political, and economic spheres.
