The Polystrong Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to fostering the next generation of Pacific Islander leaders, hosted its largest fundraising event of the year at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
The Polystrong Global Leadership Awards Charity Gala brought together leaders from across the Pacific Islander community to celebrate excellence, build connections and support the foundation’s mission.
“It was truly meaningful for Polystrong to reach out and say, ‘hey, we want to celebrate you all,’” Utah State Representative Verona Mauga said.
Each year, the gala honors individuals for their achievements in their respective fields.
This year’s honorees included Kyle Reyes, Vice President of Utah Valley University, and David Derrick Jr., co-director of Disney’s upcoming animated film Moana 2.
“Working on Moana was the first time that I truly was able to be vulnerable and really show parts of myself,” Derrick said.
The foundation also presented a Lifetime Achievement Award to the deceased Duke Kahanamoku, a pioneer in competitive surfing.
His grand-niece, Ellie Kahanamoku, accepted the award on his behalf.
“I started this so that our young people coming up could see who they are capable of becoming, which is anything,” Frank Tusieseina, founder of the Polystrong Foundation, said.
With another successful gala completed, the foundation looks ahead to continuing its mission of celebrating culture and inspiring future generations of leaders.