Earlier this month, CHSA was the lucky recipient~along with 5 other San Francisco Chinatown service organizations~of a grant from the Lincoln University Foundation in California.
In 1967, Dr. Tung Kong Lee Lee founded the Lincoln University Foundation at his alma mater to fund scholarships for Lincoln University students and he led the work of the foundation until his death in 1994.
A Chinese immigrant who came to the United States in 1933, Dr. Lee’s life as an American was distinguished by impressive accomplishments which were many and diverse: scholar, university president, newspaper publisher, businessman, civil rights advocate, and civic leader.
Shortly after his arrival in the US to study at Lincoln University in San Francisco in 1933, Dr. Lee met Walter U. Lum, the civil rights leader who was Grand President of the Chinese American Citizens Alliance and publisher of the Chinese Times. Dr. Lee’s service with the Chinese Times spanned over half a century beginning as an assistant to Mr. Lum and ending as publisher.
Dr. Lee believed that his people were a strong, tough, heroic, and resilient people who could and did rise above racism, discrimination, and oppression through struggle, resistance, education, and hard work. Throughout his 55 year tenure with the Chinese Times, Dr. Lee continued the important work of Walter U. Lum and the use of the newspaper as a vehicle for the advancement of Chinese American interests and civil rights.
Dr. Lee’s association with Lincoln University, where he received his master’s and doctorate degrees, also spanned over half a century. He served Lincoln University as president, chancellor, and chairman of its Board of Trustees. He donated his annual salary as president and chancellor back to the university.
The assets of the Lincoln University Foundation are from funds raised and wisely invested by Dr. Lee. It is altogether fitting that the Board of Directors of the Lincoln University Foundation will distribute its assets totaling $375,000 to honor and preserve his memory upon its dissolution to six tax exempt organizations serving his beloved Chinese community: Chinese Hospital($250,000), Chinese Historical Society of America($25,000), Chinese Newcomers Service($25,000), Kai Ming Headstart($25,000), On Lok($25,000), and Chinatown YWCA($25,000).