This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Nonprofit Steps Up While Government Funding Shrinks

Asian Americans for Community Involvement, the county's largest Asian-American nonprofit organization, continues to serve beyond the Asian community, despite the reduction of government funding.

One local nonprofit, Asian Americans for Community Involvement, which serves Cupertino and beyond, has managed—thanks to the support of private donors—to add new programs in the last year, in spite of a flagging economy and deficit-stricken government.

The scenario that forced some nonprofits to cut back on programming and services doesn't seem to have hit Asian Americans for Community Involvement (AACI), Santa Clara County's largest Asian community organization.

"The government safety net is shrinking, but AACI has stepped up," said Michele Lew, president and CEO of the organization, at its annual fundraising luncheon Wednesday in San Jose. "Stepping up is not easy in this economy."

Find out what's happening in Cupertinowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

AACI established the Center for Addiction, Recovery and Empowerment in 2010 to help individuals and family members affected by gambling addictions, as well as the Center for Healthy Independence to empower those with mental health problems.

One of AACI's sponsors in health care is , which donates to AACI's mental health programs implemented through , a nonprofit that serves the West Valley communities of Cupertino, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, Saratoga, West San Jose and the unincorporated mountain regions.

Find out what's happening in Cupertinowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Representatives from El Camino Hospital at Wednesday's fundraiser included Jean Yu, manager of the hospital's .

"El Camino Hospital is proud to be a community hospital," said Yu. "We respond to the needs of the community."

While El Camino Hospital now offers a list of Chinese-speaking physicians on its website, AACI also has a new website that offers information about domestic violence in three languages: English, Chinese (with options of traditional or simplified characters) and Vietnamese.

Lew said AACI has a staff of more than 170 to serve 12,000 individuals in Santa Clara County, and its clients have increased 38 percent in the past five years.

Founded in 1973, AACI was initially committed to address common concerns of Asian-Americans, but its services have reached beyond the Asian community.

According to Clark Williams, board chairman of Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits, AACI has a community clinic that is open to everyone, Asians and non-Asians.

Williams said he attends AACI's annual fundraising luncheon every year because he sees the difference the organization makes. He says he is especially impressed by what AACI does for domestic-violence victims and senior citizens.

"They provide free transportation for senior citizens who can't drive to participate in their programs," said Williams. "I believe it's helpful to many elderly Chinese in Cupertino."

Cupertino Councilwoman Kris Wang, who also attended the luncheon at Doubletree Hotel in San Jose, said she thinks senior citizens are those who benefit from AACI services the most in Cupertino.

A group of senior citizens who have used AACI services expressed their gratitude Wednesday by singing a Chinese song composed by two of them and dedicated to the nonprofit.

The luncheon program also included a Gordon N. Chan Leadership Award ceremony, during which Congressman Mike Honda presented an award to a representative of Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, who was unable to attend the event.

The leadership award is given to leaders who have done exceptional work for the community and exemplify Chan's leadership traits of generosity, compassion, commitment and advocacy.

Chan (1936-2001) was the first Chinese-American to be appointed to the Santa Clara County Planning Commission, as well as the first and only Chinese-American president of the Santa Clara Farm Bureau.

Chan also served as executive director of AACI and as executive board member and founder of the Chinese Historical and Cultural Project (CHCP).

Former president and current parliamentarian of CHCP, Rodney Lum, said Chan was his teacher.

Lum, a Mountain View resident and an ophthalmologist with a private practice in Campbell, attended Wednesday's fundraiser. He said what he finds most unique about AACI is that it doesn't stay within the Asian community.

"It's a grassroots organization that works for not just Asians," said Lum. "I think they should change their name to All Americans for Community Involvement, and can still be called AACI."

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?