Peace Gala Breaks Fundraising Record for SUA Scholarships

Joyful chatter and bright saxophone notes drifted over the canyon as guests mingled in the garden of the Athenaeum on a Saturday in October. While the sun set behind the San Joaquin Hills, Soka University of America’s 21st annual Peace Gala, “Celebrating a Vision of Peace,” was in full swing, gathering 376 attendees to raise funds for the university’s scholarship endowment.

“Together, we are ensuring that young people, many of whom could not otherwise afford such an institution, are given the chance to grow as global citizens dedicated to peace and the betterment of humanity,” said Stephen Dunham, chair of the board of trustees, during his welcome remarks. “Tonight is a celebration of that shared commitment.”

This year, the Peace Gala raised $1.67 million, breaking the event’s all-time record by over $150,000. These funds will enable SUA to continue initiatives like the Soka Opportunity Plan, which fully covers tuition for families earning under $90,000. But for many donors, giving to SUA means more than expanding access to higher education — it’s an investment in a more peaceful, just, and sustainable world.

“I support this amazing university,” said donor Naomi Saito, “because the founder Daisaku Ikeda’s ideal of education is to foster global citizens and future leaders who can work for humanity and peace. So if my tiny effort and contribution can help realize that mission, I am deeply grateful and appreciative.”

For gala committee member Miki Singer, SUA’s founding values of wisdom, courage, and compassion resonate profoundly. She finds it especially meaningful to hear about how alumni live these values after graduation, contributing to their communities in countries all over the globe.

After a cocktail hour and silent auction, guests proceeded to the Athenaeum’s Tuscan-inspired courtyard for a gourmet dinner and programming hosted by the master of ceremonies, Gene Kang, Emmy award-winning reporter with KTLA 5 News in Los Angeles.

“A whole community of students from around the world gather here,” Kang said, touching on some of the experiences that make education at Soka uniquely transformative. “They learn together in small classes on a fully residential campus where dialogue, diversity, and discovery aren’t just ideals, they’re part of daily life.”

The evening’s events included a performance by the Josho Daiko student club, university updates from President Edward M. Feasel, and a moving speech by alumnus Nitesh Sil ’11 on the life-changing impact of donors’ generosity. Masterful auctioneer DawnMarie Kotsonis led a live auction featuring an impressive array of items and experiences, including a basketball jersey belonging to Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat; an eight-day European river cruise; and a luxury trip to a private villa in Moab, Utah. The program also included a performance by Shunzo Ohno, Japan’s most influential jazz trumpeter and composer, whose innovative rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” captured the hopeful spirit of the evening.

“You are all making dreams come true for the students here at SUA through your generous contributions to our scholarship fund,” President Feasel said in his address to gala guests. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your continued tremendous support.”

“Another Incredible Year of Advancement”: President Feasel Shares What’s New at SUA

In his speech, President Feasel outlined exciting new initiatives that provide students with hands-on learning experiences in sustainability. After signing a memorandum of understanding last year with Earth Charter International, SUA sent a Learning Cluster in January to the Earth Charter Education Center, located on the campus of the U.N.-mandated University of Peace in San José, Costa Rica.

“Twelve students, together with one faculty member, were able to spend over a week in Costa Rica studying how the country is living up to the principles of the Earth Charter,” President Feasel said. “We will be sending a Learning Cluster to Costa Rica every January moving forward.”

He also highlighted the first Soka Amazon Sustainability Study Tour, which took place in August. Thanks to the memorandum of understanding that SUA signed with the Soka Amazon Institute last year, one faculty member and 13 students traveled to Manaus, Brazil, where they learned about environmental challenges faced by local communities in one of the most biodiverse regions in the world.

Finally, he announced that SUA will host the International Earth Charter Youth Summit in summer 2026. Co-sponsored by SUA and Earth Charter International, the summit will convene young environmental leaders from every continent.

“This last year has been another incredible year of advancement,” he said. “These are just a few recent examples of how your generous support has allowed us to expand our efforts to foster global citizens.”

Nitesh Sil ’11 on Transforming Struggles Into Service

One of the most memorable moments of the evening was Sil’s poignant account of how being a Soka student altered the course of his life. A member of the Class of 2011, Sil grew up in Delhi, India, where his family ran a small Chinese restaurant and struggled to make ends meet.

“Throughout grade school, while my friends went to clubs or other activities, I would go to work with my parents,” he said. “I was the only help they could afford.” In addition to financial difficulties, Sil was coping with mental health issues and trauma caused by ongoing domestic violence in his family. He found solace in his Buddhist faith and especially in reading the work of philosopher, peace advocate, and SUA founder Daisaku Ikeda.

“When I first heard of Soka University of America and wanted to apply, many discouraged me, as my family didn’t have enough money,” he said. He initially went to college in Delhi, where he lived in a small room and could only afford one meal a day. However, the mentorship of a young men’s leader in his faith community inspired him to persevere and realize his dream of attending SUA.

During his first year at Soka, the support and guidance of a faculty member helped Sil address his mental health struggles. He later feared he would not be able to complete his degree because of his financial circumstances. However, he was awarded a full academic scholarship for the next three years through the Soka Opportunity Plan, making it possible for him to not only graduate, but also launch a career dedicated to helping other young people change their lives through education.

“Upon graduation, I founded DIG International, a college preparation program that has maintained close to a 100% success rate in securing student admissions to top global universities,” Sil said. “The ideals of DIG — dialogue, inner transformation, and global citizenship — are deeply rooted in the ideals of Soka education.” He recently expanded the organization’s impact through founding a nonprofit branch of DIG that “empowers school leaders, educators, students, and parents based on the ideals of global citizenship rooted in Ikeda’s philosophy of education.”

For Sil, dedicating his career to serving others is a way to show his gratitude to SUA and everyone who helped him get to where he is today. He concluded his speech by humbly asking donors to continue changing lives through their generosity.

“Continue to give young people — those who will create peace and deep human connection in this world — the chance to transform their struggles into service, their pain into purpose,” Sil said. “Supporting a Soka student is so much more than helping one individual; it is planting the seeds of peace that will ripple across communities and generations.”

Take a moment to enjoy the following photo gallery of this year’s unforgettable Peace Gala.