On Thursday, May 21, 2026, Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California (AJSOCAL) brought together 86 friends, advocates, and supporters for the 12th Annual PBAC Game Night at Century Park in Century City. Hosted by AJSOCAL’s Pro Bono Advisory Council (PBAC), the evening was filled with laughter, friendly competition (Quiz Show, Finish the Lyrics, and more!), and a whole lot of community spirit, all in the name of advancing justice for AAPI communities across Southern California.
Introducing Networking Bingo: A New Game Night Tradition
This year we introduced something brand new to the Game Night lineup and it was an instant hit. Before the second round of games kicked off, guests got on their feet for Networking Bingo, a fun and competitive twist on the classic game designed to get everyone mingling . Each guest received a bingo card filled with prompts like “works at a different firm than you,” “has argued in court,” and “grew up outside of California.” The goal: find someone in the room who matches each square and get their name in the box.
Congratulations to Nalee Xiong for being the first to call Bingo, and to Dyanna Castaneda for completing the whole page!
Our Teams
Thank you to all of our incredible teams who made the night so competitive and so fun:
Hooper Lundy – Teal the Show
Littler Mendelson – X-Partayers
Walzer Melcher Yoda – Irreconcilable Differences
Holland & Knight – Right to Remain Violent
Akin Gump – Akin Not Stirred
Gibson Dunn / SoCalGas CAPE – Outta Gas
APABA – Bao & Order
PBAC / Amazon – Subpoena Colada
And the Winners Are…
The competition was fierce but the winners were well deserved. Congratulations to:
Overall Game Night Winner: Team Hooper Lundy – Teal the Show
Punniest Team Name: Team Akin Gump – Akin Not Stirred
Most Spirited Team: Team Littler Mendelson – X-Partayers
Honoring Our Champion Volunteers
Game Night is also our annual opportunity to celebrate the individuals and organizations whose dedication to AJSOCAL and the AAPI community has made a real and lasting difference. This year we were proud to honor:
Gibson Dunn, recognized for their exceptional work on behalf of an elderly, monolingual Vietnamese client facing eviction through an unlawful detainer judgment. When opposing counsel showed no interest in settlement, the Gibson Dunn team prepared an outstanding appellant’s opening brief that completely changed the trajectory of the case, ultimately helping the client walk away with a sealed judgment, a waiver of accrued rent, and a meaningful settlement. A special shoutout to Minnie Che for being our incredible connection within the firm.
SoCalGas CAPE (Community of Asians and Pacific Islanders in Energy), recognized for five years of consistent and heartfelt partnership with AJSOCAL. Whether at our summer service events, clinics, the APATOY drive, or our annual gala, the CAPE team has always shown up with sleeves rolled up and ready to help.
Lauren Tran, Administrative Intern, whose warmth, thoughtfulness, and reliability made a genuine impact on everyone she worked with at AJSOCAL. From hiring and recruitment to internal events and the everyday rhythm of our front desk, Lauren showed up with joy and dedication every single time.
Catvy Pham, OC Citizenship and Immigration Intern, whose dedication to the Vietnamese community as our only Vietnamese-speaking intern has been nothing short of exceptional. Clients consistently comment on her kindness and patience, and her community-driven spirit has made a real difference in Orange County.
Introducing the Inaugural Mark Yoshida Fellow
Game Night also gave us the opportunity to announce our inaugural Mark Yoshida Fellow to our pro bono community. Named for our beloved longtime staff attorney who served AJSOCAL for nearly 30 years helping community members become U.S. citizens, the fellowship is designed to build the pipeline of future public interest attorneys dedicated to AJSOCAL’s mission. We are thrilled to welcome Natasha Amonkar-Zazueta as our first fellow, joining us in September 2026 with a focus on immigration law.
Thank You to Our Generous Sponsors
None of this would be possible without the incredible support of our sponsors. A heartfelt thank you to:
Venue Sponsor: Littler Mendelson P.C.
Champion Sponsors: Walzer Melcher & Yoda, Akin Gump, and Gibson Dunn
Contender Sponsors: Holland & Knight, Hooper Lundy, APABA, and Christine Kim and the Kim/Um Family Giving Fund
And thank you to every individual who registered, donated, and showed up for this community. Every dollar makes a difference and we are so grateful for your generosity.
Click here to see all the photos from the event!
