RECOGNIZED BY THE COMMUNITY

Patrick Kwok:
San Jose Annual Diversity Recognition Award, 1998
Patrick received the Annual Diversity Recognition Award at San Jose’s United Day Celebration in May, 1998. The Award honors individuals who demonstrate in their daily activities that they value and appreciate the uniqueness of every individual and that they care about what others think and feel, who actively promote the value of diversity among fellow employees and the public, and who have demonstrated that actively accepting, appreciating and promoting diversity improves City services. Patrick is principal engineer and manager of the Technical Support Division of San Jose’s Environmental Services Division. He chairs the City Diversity Task Force, is president of the Asian American Association of City Employees and serves on the board of the 7,000-member California Water Environment Association. A past member of the CHCP executive board and former chair of the Dragon Committee, he is co-chair of the 1998 Chinese Summer Festival.

Patrick, a CHCP board trustee, was installed as the new mayor of Cupertino on December 2, 2004. Patrick, who had been serving as vice-mayor of Cupertino, plans to help the city tackle new challenges including budget deficits and improving communications between the city government and residents.  Ten years ago, Patrick began to volunteer with the YMCA of Cupertino and served as the first Asian American on Cupertino's planning commission. He was elected to Cupertino's city council in 2000. Patrick has served CHCP in various capacities, from being co-chair of the Summer Festivals to co-chair of our most recent gala event. 

Art Low:
California Optometrist of the Year, 1997
Art was named Optometrist of the Year in 1997 by the California Optometric Association in recognition of his work in the community and in his profession. In addition to serving as a CHCP board member and past president, Art is active in the Lions Service Club and was elected president of the Campbell Chamber of Commerce, 2000.

Duane Heinz:
Junior League Silver Bowl, 1997
Duane Heinz, Ph. D, a CHCP volunteer, received of one of 25 Silver Bowl awards given in 1997 by the the Junior League of San Jose to community volunteers deserving of special recognition. Duane was recognized in the Cultural Service category for his work with the Chinese Historical and Cultural Project. A chemistry professor at Foothill/DeAnza College, he has served as Junior Chairman for the Chinese Summer Festival and can always be counted on as an enthusiastic volunteer for whatever needs to be done.

Jessica Yu:
Best Documentary Oscar, 1997
Jessica Yu produced Home Base: A Chinatown Called Heinlenville, which can be viewed at the Ng Shing Gung. Yu’s film, “Breathing Lessons: The Life and Work of Mark O’Brien,” won a 1997 Oscar for best short documentary. The film celebrates the courage and achievements of the Berkeley poet and journalist whose bout with polio left him confined to an iron lung.

Victor Wong:
AACI Freedom Award, 1995
Victor Wong, one of the founders of Asian Americans for Community Involvement (AACI), received an AACI Freedom Award in 1995 in recognition of his years of support. Art, a retired IBM Technical Engineer currently devotes his time to teaching English and citizenship classes to seniors.

RECOGNIZED BY CHCP

Founders Award Honorees, 1997:
Lillian Gong-Guy and Gerrye Wong

Committee of 100 Honoree, 2004:
Connie Young Yu and Gerrye Wong

President's Award, CHCP, 2004:
Lillian Gong-Guy

Heinlen Awards

The Chinese Historical and Cultural Project presents the Heinlen Awards annually to indviduals outside the Chinese-American community who worked with CHCP and serve as “bridges between peoples.” The award commemorates John Heinlen, a local businessman who stood fast against public opinion and helped the Chinese rebuild after a disastrous fire destroyed San Jose Chinatown in 1887. This new Chinatown became known fondly as Heinlenville.

1995 Heinlen Award:
Dave Thomas
The 1995 Chinese Festival marked the presentation of the first annual Heinlen Award to Dave Thomas , owner and founder of the East West Kung Fu School. Dave’s interest in the art and culture of Asia is evident in his enthusiasm, which spearheaded the reconstruction of the San Jose Dragon.

1996 Heinlen Award:
Irene Rutledge, CHCP Webmaster, 1995-10/2001

1997 Heinlen Award: Staff of San Jose Historical Museum (now History Park at Kelley Park, San Jose
Mignon Gibson, Past Director
Monte Duran, Events Coordinator
Virginia Beck, Past Education Curator
Sara Nunes, Past Curator
Nancy Valby, Curator

1998 Heinlen Awards:
Duane and Marlene Heinz
Duane and Marlene have been long-time CHCP supporters and have worked tirelessly to make CHCP’s annual Chinese Festivals a great success. Duane has also served on the CHCP executive board. He is a chemistry professor at Foothill/DeAnza College.
Alexander Weiss
Alexander Weiss brought to public awareness the historical and cultural significance of the Angel Island Immigration Station’s Detention Barracks and helped save it from destruction, resulting in its status today as a National Historical Landmark. Now retired, Weiss was State Park ranger for 17 years, serving and living on Angel Island from 1970 to 1974. Alexander Weiss was born in Vienna, Austria and came to this country in 1940 at the age of four. He was active in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s.

1999 Heinlen Award:
Chris Jochim
Chris Jochim, a CHCP board member, has been a CHCP supporter since the first Chinese Summer Festival, when his wife, Bau Chin, recruited him to help her with the children's activities. As chair of CHCP’s Education Committee, Chris has helped distribute CHCP’s Golden Legacy curriculum to Santa Clara Valley schools and helped educators use these lesson plans. He was instrumental in obtaining a Hewlett-Packard Silicon Valley Grant in 1999 for the production of a CD-ROM version of the Golden Legacy materials. Chris is director of the Center for Asian Studies and heads the Comparative Religions Studies Program at San Jose State University. He has authored Chinese Religions: A Cultural Perspective in the Prentice Hall Series of World Religions.

2001 Heinlen Award:
Mike Honda
U.S. House of Representative for California, 15th District, the Honorable Michael Honda, was presented with the 2001 Heinlen Award for his continued support of CHCP. He has attended past Festivals and participated in the fashion show at CHCP’s 10th anniversary Dragon Ball. In Congress, he has pressed for Japan’s acknowledgement of the Rape of Nanking atrocities during World War II.