【《We Chinese in America》Media Editor Tang Zhao, May 20, 2022】On May 7, 2022, at Jasmine Restaurant, Dr. Aurora Cudal, the leading Filipino community leader, and Mitz Lee presented the APAC Lifetime Achievement Award to Dr. Allen Chen, the owner of Jasmine Restaurant. Dr. Chen is also one of the 2015 Ellis Island Medals of Honor recipients.

Below is the Introductory Speech of Dr. Aurora Cudal:

This award is reserved for a community leader that has demonstrated an extraordinary personal commitment to his/her organization in the Asian community and has thus enabled the group to excel in fulfilling its mission and goals. It also recognizes the best in community spirit and encourages others to improve their communities through volunteer service, and civic participation. It has only been awarded twice in APAC’s ten-year history, but it is fitting that the decade celebration finds us awarding APAC Co-Founder, Dr. Allen Chan, the Lifetime Achievement award.

Dr. Allen W. Chan is a family man, a well-respected Doctor of Chiropractic, successful entrepreneur and community leader. His achievements demonstrate his passion to improve the community and help those who are less fortunate, locally and around the globe.

Dr. Chan was born in Shanghai, China and left China for Hong Kong with his family at the age of eleven. In 1970, he fulfilled his childhood dream of coming to America for college. He worked his way through college and graduated from University of Utah where he met his wife, Janet. They have two daughters, Cindy and Casey. In 1988 he moved to San Diego to open his own Chiropractic office.

Dr. Chan’s community work serves to empower the various Asian ethnic communities in San Diego. In 2010, he was recruited as the Partnership Specialist for the US Census Bureau. He helped organize the Complete Count Committees for the various Asian communities to ensure an accurate count of this “Hard to Count” Asian population. He was the co-founder and co-chair of The Alliance for Asian and Pacific Islander Americans in 2001 and Asian Pacific American Coalition (APAC) in 2011. Thorough these organizations he played a leading role in San Diego’s 2001 and 2011 City Council redistricting processes for fair representation of San Diego’s Asian American community. His relentless effort successfully leads to the first ever Asian City Council District in 2012 and has successfully helped to elect the first Asian American City Councilman representing the first Asian City Council District in San Diego in 2014.

Dr. Chan never forgets one of the teachings of his mother, “always remember the origin of the water that you drink.” He also believes that as immigrants and descendants of immigrants, it is our obligation and duty to preserve and promote the best of each culture making it part of the great American culture. He has worked hard to engage the San Diego community to help society at large. As founder of Beyond Productions, the charity arm of his Jasmine Restaurant, and Charter President of San Diego United Lions Club, he has conducted numerous cultural events and charity projects in support of worthy causes. 

He is proud of the relief project in the Philippines, “The Lions Village”, that built typhoon resistant houses with concrete blocks by the survivors of Super Typhoon Haiyan in 2015. It is a self-help program through Gawad Kalinga in the poorest part of the Philippines. The project has and will touch people’s lives for generations to come. Currently his Lions Club is working on raising funds for the victims of the horrific Hurricane Harvey through Lions Clubs International Foundation and local Lions.

Dr. Allen Chan is the recipient of the “San Diego Asian Business Association Community Service Award”, the “Special Congressional Recognition for Outstanding and Invaluable Community Services” award and the “Community Service Award” of the Citizens Oversight Committee, San Diego Community College District, among others. He is also the recipient of the 2014 KPBS’s “Local Heroes” program for his achievements and contributions in the community. 

On May 9, 2015, Dr. Chan received the prestigious “Ellis Island Medal of Honor” from National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations (NECO). as an outstanding immigrant who has fulfilled his American Dream. In 1997, he organized the establishment of the” Friendship City” relationship between San Diego and Huzhou City in Zhejiang Province of China.

The dynamic work of Dr. Chan reflects his sincere drive and compassion to help others and make a difference locally and abroad. He is committed to continue such efforts of giving back to the community. He is deeply grateful for the opportunities and the wonderful life that America has given him and his family. He wishes the same for other immigrants in America.

APAC recognizes Dr. Chan for his exemplary uncommon qualities – perseverance, insight, collaboration, action, and inspiration – which are essential to the advancement of civic engagement.

Below are Dr. Allen Chen Remarks regarding his IFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD :

THANK YOU SOOO MUCH FOR THE KIND INTRODUCTION. I AM REALLY HUMBLED AND HONORED TO BE PRESENTED WITH SUCH A PRESTIGIOUS AWARD. THERE ARE MANY OTHERS IN THIS ROOM WHO ARE EQUALLY OR MORE DESERVING TO RECEIVE THIS AWARD THAN ME. THANK YOU.

IT SEEMED NOT TOO LONG AGO THAT I TRAVELLED OVER 6000 MILES WITH A PLANEFUL OF FOREIGN STUDENTS FROM HONG KONG. WE ALL SANG “500 MILES” MANY TIMES ON ROUTE TO AMERICA. WE LANDED IN SAN FRANCISCO AIRPORT TO A TOTALLY STRANGE COUNTRY.

I WAS BORN IN SHANGHAI, IMMIGRATED TO HONG KONG WHEN I WAS ELEVEN WHERE I FINISHED HIGH SCHOOL. I HAD ALWAYS DREAMED OF COMING TO AMERICA FOR COLLEGE SINCE I WAS IN JUNIOR HIGH.

MY OLDER BROTHER, OLIVER, WHO AT THAT TIME WAS FINISHING HIS ENGINEERING DEGREE AT MCGILL UNIVERSITY IN MONTREAL, CANADA, AS A FROEIGN STUDENT. IT WAS OLIVER, WHO HAD SAVED ENOUGH MONEY FROM HIS PART-TIME JOB TO HELP ME FULFILL MY DREAM OF STUDYING ABROAD.

SO, ON 1/14/1970, WITH THE EXTRA $300 THAT OLIVER HAD BORROWED FROM HIS CLASSMATE, I STARTED A NEW LIFE IN AMERICA.

I CONSIDER MYSELF A VERY LUCK MAN.

DURING THE FOLLOWING HALF A CENTURY, I HAVE MET MANY GREAT AND KIND PEOPLE. THE MOMENT I LANDED IN SAN FRANCISCO, LUCILLA YEE, THE OLDER SISTER OF ANOTHER STUDENT WHOM I HAD JUST MET, WELCOME ME, LIKE HER OWN BROTHER, TO THEIR HOME IN SACRAMENTO.

WHILE I WAS IN UNIVERSITY OF UTAH PURSUING MY PHARMACY DEGREE, I MET THE MOST IMPORTANT, BEAUTIFUL, AND SMART PERSON IN MY LIFE, MY WIFE, JANET.

MY ADOPTED HOST FAMILY, ANN STANISLAWSKY, WHO TREATED US AS PART OF HER OWN FAMILY, HAD ALSO HELPED US, FINANCIALLY, TO BUY OUR FIRST HOME. WE HAD KEPT IN TOUCH WITH THEM FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.

34 YEARS AGO, IN 1988, I CAME TO SAN DIEGO TO START MY OWN CHIROPRACTIC PRACTICE. I DID NOT KNOW A SOUL IN SAN DIEGO AT THAT TIME. THE FIRST PERSON THAT I MET ON THE DAY I ARRIVED HERE WAS KIM DANG TRAN. IT WAS KIM WHO HAD WELCOME ME, A TOTAL STRANGER, TO THEIR HOME AND HELPED ME SETTLE DOWN IN SAN DIEGO.

DURING THESE 34 YEARS, I HAVE ALSO MET MANY GREAT API COMMUNITY LEADERS LIKE OUR HONORABLE TOM HOM, DR. AURORA CUDAL, SALLY WONG, MAYOR TODD GLORIA, COUNCILMAN CHRIS CATE, AND MITZ LEE, JUST TO NAME A FEW. THEY ARE MY TRUE SOURCE OF INSPIRATION AND ENCOURAGEMENT TO GET INVOLVED WITH THE COMMUNITY. THERE ARE MANY, MANY OTHERS, LIKE DONNA LEE, NATASHA WONG, JANTIMA DANFORD, NANCY TRINH, AND OF COURSE, MY WIFE AND OUR TWO BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTERS, CINDY AND CASEY, WHO HAVE SUPPORTED ME AND ENCOURAGED ME DURING ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY AND HUMANITARIAN ENDEVOURS.

I CAME TO SAN DIEGO WITH ALMOST NOTHING. IT WAS MY SISTER, SARRINA, WHO LOANED ME SOME MONEY TO OPEN MY CHIRORACTIC OFFICE. IT WAS OUR PATIENTS AND THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAVE SUPPORTED OUR PRACTICE AND JASMINE SEAFOOD RESTAURANT DURING ALL THOSE YEARS.

ALL THESE PEOPLE ARE THE ONES WHO HAD HELPED ME AND MADE ME THE MAN THAT I AM TODAY.

MY MOTHER TAUGHT ME AND MY WIFE ALWAYS REMINDED ME THAT

“ALWAYS REMEMBER THE SOURCE OF THE WATER THAT WE ARE DRINKING”.

IT IS JUST NATURAL THAT I, A YOUNG IMMIGRANT, WHO WAS ABLE TO FULFILL THE AMERICAN DREAM BECAUSE OF ALL THE SUPPORT THAT I HAVE RECEIVED ALONG THE WAY, TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY THAT HAS NURTURED ME.

IT IS ALSO MY BELIEVE THAT AS IMMIGRANTS AND DESCENDENTS OF IMMIGRANTS IT IS OUR DUTY AND OBLIAGATION TO PRESERVE AND PROMOTE THE BEST OF EACH CULTURE, MAKING IT PART OF THE GREAT AMERICAN CULTURE.

WE ARE ESPECIALLY PROUD THAT OUR YOUNGER GENERATION HAS ALSO PICKED UP THE TORCH, INCLUDING NATASHA WONG, OUR LIONS CLUB’S AMAZING YOUNG PHILANTHROPIST, CADY MARIANO, AS WELL AS OUR DAUGHTERS, CINDY AND CASEY, WHO HAVE FOLLOWED OUR FOOTSTEPS OF GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. CINDY AND CASEY ARE RUNNING THE “OPERATION COURAGE IS BEAUTIFUL” (OCIB) THAT CINDY FOUNDED IN 2009”. WITH THEIR VOLUNTEERS THEY HAVE COLLECTED AND MAILED THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF PERSONALIZED CARE PACKAGES TO THE BRAVE FEMALE SOLDIERS IN THE TRENCHES OF FOREIGN LAND, PROTECTING OUR FREEDOM AND SECURITY.

THE DEEP COMPASSION AND DEDICATION OF THE YOUNGER GENERATION IN HELPING OTHERS HAVE DEFINITELY INSPIRED AND ENCOURAGED ME TO CONTINUE WITH OUR MISSION OF SHARING AND GIVING BACK.

ALL THE COMMUNITY, CIVIC, CULTURAL AND HUMANITARIAN ACHIEVEMENTS THAT OUR FAMILY HAS BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH DURING OUR TIME IN SAN DIEGO COULD NOT HAVE BEEN ACCOMPLISHED WITHOUT THE SUPPORT, PARTICIPATION AND CONTRIBUTION FROM THE COMMUNITY.

THEREFORE, IT IS MY BELIEF THAT THIS AWARD TRULY BELONGS TO ALL OF MY MENTORS, PARTNERS, SUPPORTERS AND MY 3 BEAUTIFUL LADIES AT HOME. ON THEIR BEHALF, I PROUDLY ACCEPT THIS AWARD. THANK YOU.

(Source:Dr. Allen Chen)

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