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March 28 Chinese Historical Society Gala Honors San Francisco’s Fong Family with Phil & Sarah Choy Community Service Award
Film director Jon M. Chu Honored for Outstanding Artistic Achievement
CHSA Heads Into Sixth Decade With Renewed Vision and New Leadership
21 January 2020 – SAN FRANCISCO, CA: Just three years away from celebrating its 60th anniversary year, the Chinese Historical Society of America (www.chsa.org) has announced plans for its annual Awards Gala, taking place on Saturday, March 28 at the San Francisco Grand Hyatt on Union Square. In addition to honoring San Francisco’s much-admired Fong Family along with film director Jon M. Chu, the annual event will provide an opportunity for attendees to meet incoming board chair Douglas S. Chan and interim executive director Pamela Wong. Founded in 1963, the Chinese Historical Society of America is the oldest and largest archive and history center documenting the Chinese American experience in the United States, operating out of its historic landmark building in San Francisco’s Chinatown designed by Julia Morgan.
After serving as board president for three years, Hoyt H. Zia recently stepped down as director. “I join everyone at the Chinese Historical Society in thanking Hoyt for his exemplary service to the organization,” said Chan. “He leaves a great legacy as a leader who – more than any other director – applied his deep experience in community organizations and as a corporate executive to help us at a critical moment in its operations. He has been a leader in the establishment of a national initiative to link museums and historical societies dedicated to the history and contributions of Chinese Americans. Words cannot express adequately our gratitude for his putting the building blocks in place to continue CHSA’s authoritative public programs and exhibitions and transform and modernize its operations.”
The annual Chinese Historical Society Gala, this year themed “A Celebration of Family” and always one of the season’s most-anticipated events, will take place on Saturday March 28, at 6pm at San Francisco’s Grand Hyatt on Union Square (345 Stockton Street). The Phil & Sarah Choy Community Service Award will be given to longtime community leaders Mr. & Mrs. Ronald Fong along with sons Rodney Fong, CEO of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, and Barre Fong, an acclaimed documentary filmmaker. Coming off the mega-success of his recent Crazy Rich Asians, film director Jon M. Chu will be honored for Outstanding Artistic Achievement.
“Every organization goes through transitions,” Chan continued. “I want all of our friends, supporters and donors to know that CHSA continues to thrive and grow. We are indeed fortunate to have Pam Wong, for many years our deputy director, assume a leadership role while the board undertakes a search for a new executive director following the departure of Tamiko Wong last month. We wish Tamiko well in her next venture”
“The Chinese Historical Society is lucky to have Pam Wong’s deep knowledge, skills, and institutional memory applied to our programs,” said Gala Chairperson Jane Chin, noting that CHSA’s next project is producing a short film featuring the “super fans” and memorabilia collectors of martial artist Bruce Lee and the launching of programs that include offering Cantonese and Mandarin language classes and Chinatown-themed walking tours as well as planning for its next major exhibit.
Additional information about tickets for the March 28th Gala will be forthcoming shortly or visit website www.chsa.org
About the Chinese Historical Society of America:
As the oldest organization of its kind in the country, the Chinese Historical Society of America has since 1963 served as a leading content provider, dedicated to the interpretation, promotion, and preservation of the social, cultural and political history and contributions of Chinese communities in America. CHSA pursues this mission through exhibitions, publications, and educational and public programs in the CHSA Museum and Learning Center, a landmark Julia Morgan-designed building (formerly the Chinatown YWCA) located at 965 Clay Street, San Francisco.
