ABOUT US
Chinese American Heroes (CAH) is an IRS 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to documenting the contributions of Chinese Americans to America and the world. CAHwas conceived in 2005 and received its non-profit status on July 31, 2006. The mission of this organization includes providing role models for our youth, educating interested parties in the heroic contributions of our citizens, and promoting philanthropy. Today, no other non-profit/for profit organization is performing this critical mission. CAH conducts research and publishes the stories of heroes and significant historical events on their multi-media website www.chineseamericanheroes.org. In partnership with Asian Week, many stories of Chinese American Heroes have been, and are, currently featured in asianweek.com. Check asianweek.comin the "Feature" section to read about our heroes and significant historical events. As a young, non-profit, funding is very difficult. Today, the Founder and Board of Directors fund 95% of their expenses. Non-profit organizations struggle for many years before sufficient financial support is accumulated for paying for staff and office space. CAHis no exception as it struggles to raise funds to conduct research about authentic heroes and publishing that information on its website. The organization has about 6 months of income, but the Founder will fund and keep the operation going when it's current funding is exhausted. CAH is a very cost effective organization. As a virtual organization, it controls its expenses, and only one person is on a modest salary. The content developers (writers) work from home and are paid for each article or biography they submit for publication. The budget for this national project is about $1,500.00 per month - covering the salary of its Managing Editor and paying $40-50 for each biography, or significant history report, to its writers. Some very significant stories of heroism have been discovered in our research and are an inspiration to all Americans. For example, on that fateful day on September 11, 2001, several Chinese Americans became extraordinary, national heroes. Mr. Zack Zeng sacrificed his life rescuing and comforting victims until the Twin Towers collapsed down on him. The Governor of New York and the Mayor of New York City honored his courage and heroism in a ceremony naming a NYC street after him. Another Chinese American hero, a Pentagon police officer, Isaac Jesse Waipulani Hoopii dashed into the smoking and burning Pentagon building 15 times rescuing 15 people before it became too dangerous to make further rescue attempts. David W. Lim, a Chinese American police officer, dashed up 44 flights of stairs and guided hundreds of people in the stricken North Tower to safety before the building imploded on top of him. Miraculously, he fell into a safe cavity of broken steel beams and concrete debris, and was rescued many hours later. Airlines Attendant/Purser Betty Ann Ong was declared "a true American Hero" by the 911 Commission Chairman Mr. Thomas Kean for her courageous actions on the fateful American Airlines flight 11. Most Americans do not know about these heroes. These inspiring stories are gathered and posted for public viewing on the CAH website. Without the content developed by the CAH writers, the heroic deeds of our heroes would not be available to the general public, and in some instances, their stories would never be known. Countering the many negative stereotypes about Chinese Americans by showing the best people in our community deserves public support. CAH is a national organization and someday, it believes, will get the national financial support it needs to run its operations. In the meantime, in order to continue its mission, financial support from its friends and supporters is needed to tell the many unknown stories about our heroes. We Thank all in advance who can help our cause. Roger S. Dong, Chairman/Founder David Chai, President Philip Chin, Managing Editor
Roger Dong
Chairman & Founder
 Roger retired from Federal service after serving thirty-six years in the Department of Defense, the Air Force, and commercial business. He multi-tasked in the Reserves while working for IBM Corporation before becoming President of OBS Software, and later President & CEO of Medicom Corporation, a computer services company.
Roger is very active in the community and volunteers for numerous organizations, including the World Affairs Council, the Asia Foundation, the San Francisco Committee on Foreign Relations, the Organization of Chinese Americans, the Chinese Historical Society of America, the Chinese American Forum, the American Legion Cathay Post #384, and the San Francisco War Memorial Veterans Board. Roger was a ten-year Rotarian and President of the Rotary Club of Taipei during his tour abroad. He received his M.A. from the University of Arizona in Chinese and Japanese studies. and his B.A. from San Francisco State University in Chinese.
David Chai, Ph.D.
President & CEO  Dr. Chai retired after thirty years with AT&T Bell Laboratories in New Jersey, where he was a Member of Technical Staff and a Director of software development and systems engineering. He served in appointed positions of the Planning Board and Zoning Board in Holmdel, New Jersey and Assistant Commissioner of the state of New Jersey, as well as elected positions as both Council and Mayor of Holmdel.
Dr. Chai has served on the boards of many non-profit organizations, including the United Way of Monmouth County (NJ), Center for Non-Profits, Leadership New Jersey, and more recently OCA-San Mateo, 80-20 Initiative and Northern California Presbyterian Homes and Services. He was recognized in the Congressional Record of the U.S. House of Representatives on July 13, 2004 and received the Outstanding and Distinguished Service Award in 1999 from OCA-New Jersey. Dr. Chai graduated from Purdue University with a BS in Electrical Engineering, and from the University of Michigan with a Master and Ph.D in Communication and Computer Sciences. Born in Nanjing, he lived in Chongqing and Tokyo before moving to the U.S.
Officer Hanley Chan
Vice President of Biographical Integrity  Officer Hanley Chan is a San Francisco Special Police Officer, Board Member of the San Francisco Organization of Chinese Americans, and Board Member of the Cathay Post for the Veterans of Foreign Wars. In addition, Officer Chan serves as Political Director of the San Francisco Park Rangers Association and is also an Insurance/Notary Officer.
Officer Chan holds an Associate of Arts degree in Administration of Justice from City College of San Francisco and a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities from New College of California.
Martin Jung
Vice President of Finance (Treasurer)  Martin works for Franklin Templeton Investments as a Legal Specialist. In addition to serving on the Board of ChineseAmericanHeroes.org, Martin is also a Board Member for the OCA San Mateo Chapter and has been involved with OCA since 2005. In his capacity as OCA Board Member, Martin has had the opportunity to meet people and establish numerous relationships. Martin has a passion for community outreach and is also active with numerous community projects including the George Hall Elementary School Mentoring, the Habitat for Humanity, the 2nd Harvest Food Sort, the Chinese Historical Society, and the Sutter VNA & Hospice.
Martin was awarded an "Unsung Hero" award at the OCA National Convention in 2006 for his dedication and involvement in giving back to his community. He attended California State University Hayward and earned his BA in Liberal Studies.
Galin G. Luk, J.D.Board Member  Galin is an Attorney with Cox, Wootton, Griffin, Hansen and Poulos, LLP, specializing in personal injury, construction defect, asbestos, environmental, contract actions, admiralty and maritime matters and inland cargo claims. Galin has tried cases in federal court and has also successfully represented clients in arbitration and mediation.
Previously, Galin attained the rank of Captain serving in the United States Marine Corps as a Judge Advocate. He litigated felony, misdemeanor jury, bench trials and administrative hearings as the Chief District Attorney and then as the Senior Public Defender for Marine Corps Air Station, New River. Upon completion of service, Galin was awarded the National Defense Service Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. Galin currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Chinese Historical Society of America and ChineseAmericanHeroes.org. He received his J.D. from the University of California at Davis and his B.A. from San Francisco State University.
Tzy Cheng Peng, Ph.D.
Board Member  Dr. Peng is a retired scientist, an American citizen since 1962 and a community service activist for 39 out of 54 years in the U.S. He volunteered with the United Way, consulted for St. Louis Minority Advocacy, taught English to new immigrants and helped register seniors to vote. He was a cultural consultant for Families with Children from China in St. Louis, President and officer of the Organization of Chinese Americans there and publisher of the Chinese American Forum magazine. Dr. Peng lectures regularly in high schools and colleges and in the St. Louis Religious Dialogue Group. He is a justice-advocate for victims of the 911 terrorist attack, of WWII, and of Japanese atrocities in China.
Dr. Peng received the International Channel’s "Vision in America Award 2002" for his valuable contributions to the community and was recognized in the books of "Ageless Remarkable St. Louison" published by St. Andrews (Pinnacle Press, 2003) and "Chinese St. Louis" by Huping Ling (Temple University Press, 2004).
Winnie Tang
Board Member  Winnie is a longstanding community leader and is heavily involved with local, state, and national social justice organizations. She organizes and participates in a variety of workshops and dialogues on civil rights, education, immigration, health, community safety and political well-being issues. She has a rich and robust history in banking, business development, non-profit management, and corporate and government relations.
Winnie began her involvement in social justice work after attending an OCA/JACL Leadership Conference in 1996. In 1997, Winnie chaired the Asian-American Steering Committee, which led to the successful creation of the Miami-Dade County Asian-American Advisory Board in Florida. Winnie currently serves as president of the Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) - South Florida Chapter and the United Chinese Association of Florida (UCAF). Her goal is to be the voice of the underserved.
Eric H. Wang, J.D.
Board Member  Eric is an attorney and partner in DLA Piper’s Silicon Valley office. He has broad experience in the general corporate and securities representation and business counseling of emerging growth and other privately-held companies, publicly traded companies, and venture capital firms. Eric also concentrates in mergers and acquisitions, having represented numerous public and private companies in various industries in mergers and acquisitions, divestitures and spin-offs.
In 2005 and 2006, Eric was recognized as one of the best lawyers in the Bay Area in the corporate and securities area in Bay Area Lawyer Magazine. He received his law degree from Boalt Hall School of Law at the University of California at Berkeley and his undergraduate degree in economics from Pomona College in Claremont.
|