COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY
Honoring Those Who Are Making An Impact
Presented by San Gabriel Chamber of Commerce
In partnership with WarmuthLaw and the SGV Master Key Podcast
Sponsored by
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2023 Lifetime of Service Awards
Honorable Dr. Sophie Wong
Honoree
Honorable Joaquin Lim
Honoree
2023 Impact in the Community Awards
Foundation for Living Beauty
Honoree
San Gabriel Educational Foundation
Honoree
Business 4 Business (B4B)
Honoree
Sponsored by
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About the Honorees
2023 Lifetime of Service Award
Dr. Sophie Wong
Honoree
The Honorable Dr. Sophie Chao Wong is a Chinese- American entrepreneur and civic leader. As evidenced by her extensive accomplishments, Sophie is a hands-on business and political leader, having created a bridge to serve between her community, state, and country as an elected and appointed public servant for over 25 years.
She has attained the American Dream and proudly dedicates herself to giving back to our great country. As a Chinese immigrant, Sophie has worked tirelessly to achieve her goals, and she strives from her heart to return the blessings afforded to her by the United States.
Notably, Sophie’s impressive litany of accomplishments continues onward. Some of her positions over the years include:
• President/Member, Board of Education, Alhambra Unified School District
The first Asian-American ever to serve on the century-old Alhambra Unified School Board.
Elected and Re-elected 3 terms for a total of 12 years (1990-2002, Retired)
• Principal, American Realty
• President/CEO, Chinese for Christ Theological Seminary
• Chairman, Eagle Spirit Culture Education Foundation USA
• Founding Director, Chairman/Past Chairman & Treasurer, Golden Security Bank (25 yrs)
• Co-founder, American & Chinese World War 2 Memorial Monument, Monterey Park, CA
• Former Board Member, California State Alcoholic Beverage Control Appeals Board (7 yrs)
• Former Board Member, State of California Board of Medical Quality Review Committee
• Former Vice Chairman, Chair, Finance Committee, State of California Acupuncture Board
• Former Appointed Member, National Steering Committee (WNET), U.S. Small Business Administration
• Honorary Advisor, Chinese Women’s Business Association of California
• Co-founder/Lifetime Member, Chinese Elected Officials (CEO)
• Member, Board of Supervisors, Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association (CCBA)
• President/Founder, Asian American Republican Women Federated (AARWF)
• Former President, Asian Business Association (ABA) of Southern CA
• Elected Delegate, White House Conference on Small Business
• Former Member, Advisory Council, U.S. Small Business Administration-Region IX
• Former President & Director, Monterey Park Chamber of Commerce
• Former Vice Chairman & Board Director, Salvation Army Community Advisory Board
• Former Director, Alhambra Chamber of Commerce
• Former Trustee/Finance Committee Member, Atherton Baptist Home
• Former Director/Treasurer, San Gabriel Valley Medical Center
• Former Director, San Gabriel Valley Red Cross Board of Directors
• Former Director, United Way, Los Angeles Corporate & San Gabriel Valley Boards of Directors
• Former Director, West San Gabriel Valley YMCA Board
• Co-founder, Women’s Scholarship Fund & Former Director, Univ. Development Board, Cal State University, L.A.
• Former Director, President’s Advisory Board, East L.A. Community College
• Former Vice President, Monterey Park Soroptimists Club
• Co-founder & Former Advisor, Asian Youth Center
• Founder, Alhambra School District Foundation
• Founder, Alhambra Latino Association of Alhambra Unified School District
• Founder of Scholarships to Students of Alhambra Unified School District
• Founder, Alhambra Asian-American Association of Alhambra Unified School District
• Former Commissioner, Monterey Park Economic Development Commission
About the Honorees
2023 Lifetime of Service Award
Joaquin Lim
Honoree
Joaquin was born in China. At age 2, he was adopted and moved with his new family to Hong Kong where he spent his formative years in British schools.
He studied journalism and economics in college. Prior to graduation, Joaquin enlisted in the U.S. Army and was stationed with the M.A.S.H. unit in South Korea as a UH-1 helicopter medic.
Following his honorable discharge from the military, Joaquin returned to grad school where he studied pricing theories. After graduation, he worked for many years as a defense contract negotiator for the U.S. Department of Defense and, subsequently, for private aerospace companies such as Lockheed, Rockwell International, and McDonnell Douglas.
Always interested in education, Joaquin joined the California State University system as an adjunct professor. He later was recruited as the executive director of American International Education Foundation. In 1995, Joaquin ran and was elected to the Walnut City Council. He served as the city’s mayor and councilmember for 17 years.
During his tenure on the council, he also served two terms as the president of the Chinese American Elected Officials (CEO) in Southern California. He was a delegate to the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG). His community achievement earned him the honor of being featured in a 2002 book entitled “Distinguished Asian American Political and Governmental Leaders”.
Joaquin is most proud of his daughters. Elaine works as a senior manager for Apple in Cupertino. Janice works as a pediatric nurse here in SoCal. Six years ago, Joaquin became the proud grandfather of Sequoia Hurley who is learning to speak Cantonese at the Alice Fong Yu Alternative School in San Francisco.
