/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ - Recently, a special reception was held in Seattle by Annie's Fun to raise awareness about the Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund (APIASF), which is the nation's largest non-profit organization devoted solely to providing college scholarships for Asian & Pacific Islander American (APIA) students. Nearly 70 people, including many leaders from the APIA and minority community in the Pacific Northwest, attended the reception. During the program portion of the reception, the following leaders made remarks: Neil Horikoshi (CEO of the APIASF), Jacinta Titialii (the Chair of the APIASF), Rep. Bob Hasegawa (Washington State Legislator), Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos (Washington State Legislator), Rep. Phyllis Kenney (Washington State Legislator), Blaine Hirai (the Chair of Annie's Fun), Kerwin Higashi (Vice President of Sodexo), and Dr. Rohini Anand (Senior Vice President & Global Chief Diversity Officer of Sodexo).

Blaine Hirai, the Chair of Annie's Fun and a member of the APIASF Board of Directors, was instrumental in organizing the reception in Seattle.

Also, during the reception, Annie's Fun and the APIASF presented awards to Vivian Cosey-Glover and McCain Foods USA (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/IJl_uZ0UGXXxTIlIGusBaw?feat=directlink) and to Fernando Martinez and the Northwest Minority Supplier Development Council (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/QOS0sDVAUyeF5e7HM3IXtw?feat=directlink) for their outstanding efforts and leadership to promote and advance Asian & Pacific Islander American diversity. Additionally, APIASF Board members Kevin Bradley of McDonald's, Blaine Hirai of Annie's Fun, and Wai Ling Eng of McDonald's are pictured holding the APIASF/Annie's Fun API diversity award with Frank VanSchaayk, Vivian Cosey Glover and Laurie Jecha-Beard of McCain Foods at a recent event in Chicago (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Rl83wNXGM4LxY96i1Ccb5A?feat=directlink).

To see a video slideshow of the reception in Seattle, please click the following links: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0zNYnxtTfw or http://picasaweb.google.com/109871738078417495055/102010APIASFAnnieSFunReceptionInSeattle?feat=directlink.

About APIASF

Based in Washington, D.C., the Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund (APIASF) is the nation's largest non-profit organization devoted solely to providing scholarships for Asian & Pacific Islander Americans (APIA). Since 2003, APIASF (http://www.apiasf.org) has provided a critical bridge to higher education for APIA students across the country by awarding more than $3 million in scholarships to 1,331 students. APIASF manages two scholarship programs: APIASF's general scholarship and the Gates Millennium Scholars/Asian Pacific Islander Americans funded by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Corporate supporters include, but are not limited to: AT&T Inc., The Coca-Cola Company, Farmers Insurance Group of Companies, ING, Macy's Inc., McDonald's, Sodexo Foundation, United Health Foundation, USA Funds, Walmart Foundation and Wells Fargo.

About Annie's Fun

"Annie's Fun" (http://www.anniesfun.org) is a non-profit, charitable 501(c)(3) organization located in the Pacific Northwest that was formed by Blaine Hirai and the Hirai Family in 2005 to help those in need. The primary mission of Annie's Fun is to help children and economically disadvantaged communities.

Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund (APIASF)

Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund (APIASF)

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