PAAIA Celebrates Iranian American Achievements with Elegant Gala at the Metropolitan Club

 October 16th, New York City – On Friday, October 16th, 2015, hundreds of guests attended the Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans’ (PAAIA) Annual Gala at the Metropolitan Club in New York City to celebrate PAAIA’s accomplishments over the past year and commemorate the achievements of three distinguished Iranian Americans: Mahnaz Afkhami, Fereydoun Nazem, and Cyrus Amir-Mokri.

Guests also enjoyed an engaging conversation with internationally-recognized, award-winning Iranian contemporary artist and filmmaker, Shirin Neshat. 

PAAIA would like to offer a final congratulations to the deserving honorees awarded at the gala:

The Lifetime Achievement Award went to Mahnaz Afkhami, founder and president of Women’s Learning Partnership, executive director of the Foundation for Iranian Studies, and the former Minister of Women’s Affairs in pre- Revolutionary Iran. 

The Philanthropist of the Year was awarded to Fereydoun Nazem, former chairman of Oxford Health Plans and the founder of multiple billion dollar enterprises.

Finally, the Career Achievement Award was presented to Cyrus Amir-Mokri, Partner at the law firm Skadden Arps and former assistant secretary of Financial Institutions at the US Department of Treasury.

The award ceremony was followed by festive music and dancing by Mitra Sumara, a Farsi Funk band.