FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Global Citizen Awards Gala to Honor Oklahoma Leaders for Worldwide Impact
United Nations Association and Happy World Foundation celebrate five trailblazing honorees with keynote from UN Information Center Director Will Davis
Oklahoma City, OK – June 2, 2025 – The 2025 Global Citizen Awards Gala, hosted by Happy World Foundation Inc., the United Nations Association of Oklahoma City, and Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC), will celebrate five visionary leaders whose work exemplifies the values of global citizenship, citizen-to-citizen diplomacy, and peacebuilding.
The gala will take place on Saturday, July 26, 2025, at 6:00 PM at the OCCC Visual and Performing Arts Center and will feature a keynote address by Will Davis, Director of the United Nations Information Center in Washington, D.C.
Honorees Representing Oklahoma’s Global Footprint
The 2025 Global Citizen Awards will be presented to:
• Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr., for his bold action to preserve and revitalize the Cherokee language and culture during the UN’s International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022–2032).
• Mohammad and Jalal Farzaneh, for their philanthropic investments in education, interfaith understanding, and healthcare, empowering underserved communities across Oklahoma and beyond.
• Kari Watkins, President & CEO of the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum, for her three decades of international leadership in trauma-informed education, memorialization, and reconciliation.
• Phil and Cathy Busey, for their leadership in Native American-owned business and arts education, including the global reach of Delaware Resource Group and El Sistema Oklahoma.
• Dr. Mautra Staley Jones, President of OCCC, for expanding access to higher education and championing global learning for Oklahoma students through study-abroad and diversity initiatives.
“These honorees are not just local heroes—they are global changemakers,” said Akash Patel, Founder of Happy World Foundation Inc. and Chair of the United Nations Association of the USA. “Each of them proves that leadership rooted in empathy and service can create ripples of hope far beyond Oklahoma. This gala celebrates those who build bridges across cultures, borders, and generations.”
Gala Highlights
• Keynote Address by Will Davis, UN Information Center Director
• Student performances, including from El Sistema Oklahoma and Cherokee language youth
• Video tributes from United Nations leaders and local changemakers
Event Details
📅 Saturday, July 26, 2025
📍 OCCC Visual and Performing Arts Center
🕕 6:00 PM Reception | 7:00 PM Awards Program
Members of the public and media are welcome to attend. Tickets and sponsorship information are available by request.
________________________________________
About the Global Citizen Awards
Presented annually by Happy World Foundation Inc., the United Nations Association of Oklahoma City, and Oklahoma City Community College, the Global Citizen Awards recognize individuals whose leadership and service uplift their local communities while advancing the shared values of the United Nations—peace, dignity, equality, and sustainability for all.
________________________________________
Media Contact:
Akash Patel
Founder, Happy World Foundation Inc.
Chair, UN Association of the USA
Melody Derksen Jaiswal
President, UN Association of OKC (UNA-OKC)
📧
YWthc2ggISBrICEgcGF0ZWwgfCBvY2NjICEgZWR1
📞 +1 405-697-7147 I 405-464-6360
Also check out other Performances in Oklahoma City, Entertainment events in Oklahoma City.
