THE PURSUIT OF PEACE
SOKA UNIVERSITY PEACE GALA | SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2025
At Soka, students don’t hope they can change the world...
THEY PLAN IT
Greetings,
At Soka University of America, we are committed to providing an education inspired by the visionary principles of our founder, Daisaku Ikeda. We unite students from diverse regions and cultures to nurture the essential qualities of global citizenship.
Guided by our exceptional faculty and enriched by each other’s perspectives, Soka students embark on an exploration of life’s most profound questions, drawing from multiple disciplines and worldviews. These transformative experiences cultivate the empathy, insight, and courage needed to contribute meaningfully to society. After graduation, our alumni carry these values into the world, working compassionately and boldly toward the betterment of humanity.
To ensure that financial challenges do not prevent deserving students from accessing a Soka education, we are committed to growing our scholarship endowment. Our annual gala, “Celebrating a Vision of Peace,” plays a vital role in this effort. Since its inception, the gala has generated more than $14 million, providing essential support for our mission.
In a time when education often focuses narrowly on career preparation, Soka University stands apart. We believe that the true purpose of education extends beyond professional training—it is about nurturing each student to become a more thoughtful, compassionate, and contributive human being.
Your support is essential in advancing this distinctive vision. We firmly believe that those who truly envision peace can actively work toward its realization. By contributing to Soka’s scholarship endowment, you empower the next generation of global citizens, ensuring they are equipped to lead lives of purpose and service.
Together, let us continue building a more peaceful world, one student at a time.
With heartfelt appreciation,
Linda Kennedy Executive Director of Philanthropy
The mission of Soka University of America is to foster a steady stream of global citizens committed to living a contributive life.
At Soka, professors don’t just teach...
THEY CREATE
A Proud Heritage
Soka University of America was founded on a bold vision: to make the world a smarter, more peaceful, sustainable, and compassionate place. Every graduate plays a role in fulfilling that mission. By admitting top students from around the globe, regardless of their financial circumstances, we ensure that our student body is driven by a shared commitment to positive change.
At Soka, we challenge students intellectually, immerse them in global experiences through study abroad programs, and foster a sense of community by having them live on campus. The result? A profound combination of wisdom and knowledge that shapes a global perspective few universities can offer.
Every single Soka University of America student receives financial aid, a commitment made possible only through the generous support of donors like you. Your contributions empower us to continue our mission of cultivating courageous, compassionate global citizens who use their wisdom to improve the world.
At the heart of Soka’s education is the belief that students should learn to create value in their lives, communities, and beyond. Founded by renowned educator and peace advocate Daisaku Ikeda— recipient of more than 400 honorary degrees and the United Nations Peace Medal—the Soka school system
is built on a tradition of humanistic learning, where each student’s growth and development are paramount.
At Soka University of America, we believe that a student-centered education is the most effective way to promote peace and uphold human rights while fostering a global humanistic perspective. Our curriculum is designed to integrate community service, respect for nature, and a commitment to humanity with the pursuit of individual achievement and happiness.
We prioritize building close, humanistic relationships between teachers and students, recognizing that meaningful dialogue is essential for cultivating the wisdom and intellect needed to nurture globally minded individuals.
Soka University of America thrives on an atmosphere of diversity and humanism, drawing students from across the globe. This year, we proudly welcome 495 students from 47 countries and 33 states, all calling Soka their educational home. In addition to this rich multicultural environment, our students participate in a required study abroad program their junior year, further enhancing their international experiences and broadening their global perspectives.
daisaku ikeda, founder of soka university of america, stated in a message at teachers college, columbia university, on june 13, 1996:
“I think I can state with confidence that the following are essential elements of global citizenship: The wisdom to perceive the interconnectedness of all life and living.
The courage not to fear or deny difference, but to respect and strive to understand people of different cultures, and to grow from encounters with them.
The compassion to maintain an imaginative empathy that reaches beyond one’s immediate surroundings and extends to those suffering in distant places.”
At Soka, alumni don’t wish for peace...
THEY MAKE IT
Soka University of America
21 st Annual Peace Gala
Benefiting the Student Scholarship Endowment
Saturday, October 11, 2025
sponsorship levels and benefits
Peace
$100,000 Hope
$25,000 Compassion
$5,000
All sponsorship levels include name recognition and a listing on all printed materials and website.
If you sponsor the Peace Gala and bring guests, the tax-deductible portion of your sponsorship will be reduced by the fair market value of the event benefits provided to each attendee. This ensures compliance with IRS regulations on charitable contributions.
2024 Peace Gala in Review
The 20th annual Peace Gala, “Celebrating a Vision of Peace,” took place on Saturday, October 12, 2024, bringing together 440 attendees for an unforgettable evening of inspiration and generosity.
One of the event’s most memorable moments was a heartfelt address by Soka alum Nandini Puri, Class of 2014, and her husband and business partner, Andrew Bawdon. Nandini reflected on how her education at Soka shaped her approach to business, while Andrew shared how Soka’s values transformed his life, even though he was not a student. Both credited the university for inspiring the sustainability-focused practices of their business.
KTLA’s Gene Kang seamlessly hosted the evening, while DawnMarie Kotsonis led an exhilarating live auction. A standout performance by the dynamic
Event Co-chairs:
Misty Fisher
Joan May
Arch Asawa
Norah Broillet
Matilda Buck
Chris Chen
Judy Chow
Grace Christianson
Dana Collins
Soka University’s 20 th Annual Peace Gala raised over $1,100,000 for the scholarship endowment
Tia Simone captivated the audience, leaving them eager for more.
During the silent auction, guests bid on an array of luxury items, including gift cards, jewelry, designer handbags, artwork, and fine wine. The live auction offered exclusive experiences such as a South Coast Plaza shopping spree; a five-day adventure in Moab, Utah; a rare bottle of wine hand painted by artist Blake Barrios; a Porsche driving experience; a framed and autographed Batman movie photo collage and an eight-day European cruise.
The evening’s success was made possible by the incredible generosity of donors, with over $1.1 million raised in support of the Soka Scholarship Endowment. These funds will continue to make a transformative impact on the education and development of future Soka scholars.
2025 Gala Committee
Bethany Colman
Michelle Forsythe
Joyce Joko Fu
Teresa Fu
Eileen Hayden
Clothilde Hewlett
Mary Patrick Kavanaugh
Pavitra Kavya Friedman
Linda Kennedy
Melody Lowe
John Marzullo
Nicky Mimuro
Terry Mitchell
Sheila Peterson
Diane Pritchett
Stephanie Rogers
Carolina Shorter
Miki Singer
Megumi Tanaka
Geoff Westropp
Emiko Yamagishi
Masayo Yoshida