2025 January Recap
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by
Jenny Lee
Creating Winter Magic for Our BAP Youth
Look at how much fun our BAP students are having in this awesome Cameron House tradition, made possible by a festive and thoughtful donor. Thirty-nine BAP students, two high school chaperones, and four Cameron House Youth Programs staff embarked on an ice skating adventure in Union Square! Despite the chilly rink, the joy, laughter, and encouragement shared among the students brought so much warmth—many didn’t even need jackets at all. ❄️
Thank you to those who made this unforgettable experience possible! These memories will last a lifetime. 💛
Community Workshop #5: Medical Benefits 2026 a Success!
On January 20, 2026, Cameron House hosted Community Educational Workshop #5, “Medical Benefits 2026,” welcoming adults, children, expectant parents, and individuals with disabilities to learn from guest speaker Rachel Gandt from Anthem BlueCross. She shared valuable insights on resources, including housing, legal services, employment, and education with our audience. With 13 participants engaged in learning and a fun lucky draw, made possible by a grant from Ascend NorCal, the session was both informative and enjoyable.
📌 Next Workshop: Medicare Benefits 2026 – February 10, 2026. Contact Flora at (415) 781-0401, ext. 130 to sign up!
An Evening of Women’s Health, Connection, and Community by the Asian American Women's Association
In collaboration with our new partners at the Asian American Women’s Association, we hosted “The New Rules of Women’s Health” that provided a decade-by-decade roadmap for navigating major health transitions from one’s 30s and beyond. Led by healthcare and health tech leaders Claire Chang and Jane Lee Choe, topics included fertility, sex, perimenopause, menopause, hair loss, technology tools, bone density, medical tourism, and personalized preventative care, among many other things. Fellow attendees included many folks who were very new to Cameron House, including the new Chief Philanthropy Officer of the SF Asian Art Museum, the former CLO of Ebay, Managing Director at Goldman Sachs, Founder and CEO of Song Labs (Cosmetics Brand), Board member of Korean American Community Foundation, Owner of Sung Jin Ingriselli Wine Cellar, a Stanford Senior University Counsel, and many other female Bay Area AAPI trailblazers. Adding a special personal touch, Cameron House Board President Liane Wong and Vice President Jenn Lee shared reflections on their own journeys, from participating as youth at Cameron House to now serving as leaders and board members. We were honored to welcome our newcomers and introduce them to the prolific work of Cameron House.
Standing Together in Community: Welcoming SFPD Chief Derrick Lew
Cameron House joined the warm, celebratory welcome of San Francisco Police Department Chief Derrick Lew alongside dozens of Asian communities across the Bay Area at a Far East Cafe dinner sponsored by API Forum Foundation and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce. Cameron House was, as always, well represented among the 300+ guests, but our table mates included Cameron House Board Members and Alumni Liane Wong, Tommy and Bonnie Lim, and Byron Ho and Board Member Benzi Blatman. Alumni David Cho, staffers Liane Ma, Kim-Lan Grout, and Scott Lan, and two Cameron House donors also attended.
We are proud to see our community members continuing to rise through the ranks of Bay Area leadership. To Derrick Lew and the SFPD, congratulations and good luck in this tough job—we’re rooting for you!
Community in Action: Thank You, Rotary Club of San Francisco Chinatown
None of Cameron House’s wins are our own; we get by with a little (a lot) of help from our friends. Friends like the Rotary Club of San Francisco Chinatown, who have uplifted Cameron House’s mission and work for years. Last December, the Rotarians presented Cameron House Chief Finance and Operations Officer Bill Vigna and Chief Advancement Officer Kim Lan Grout with yet another generous donation to support our youth programs and social services. And, since they were wise to gift it during Big Give, their already generous gift was doubled!
To Rotary Club of San Francisco Chinatown President John Dean and all of the Rotarians, you are a masterclass in what it means to be community servants. May we all continue to learn from your great example. Thank you for your continued support!
Pictured here, from left to right, are Johnny Wong, Rosalind Chooey, Pauline Lee, Kim-Lan Grout, John Dean, Bill Vigna, Stan Wong, Faye Taam, and Elizabeth Poong Mark.
