Executive Director, Dreams for Schools
Nithin has an interest in technology, education and enjoys working collectively with leaders to bring about positive impact. He aspires to build models and systems that are sustainable and empower the next generation of youth to become leaders in their local community. He is a passionate educator and social entrepreneur who champions educating and empowering the next generation of innovators. He serves as the Executive Director of Dreams for Schools, whose mission is to make STEM approachable and accessible for all. Empowering Students & Cultivating Curiosity by providing the right tools and experience, Dreams for Schools helps kids program the future training them to be STEM literate with hard and soft skills needed to become the critical thinkers, creative leaders and technologists of tomorrow.
In addition, Nithin is also a community leader and serves as a member on several non-profit and advisory boards which include Harbor Day School in Corona Del Mar, UC Irvine Young Alumni Council, and OC Grantmakers. Nithin obtained his bachelor’s degree in Computer Science at the University of California, Irvine.
Managing Partner, Kerymen LLC
Her philanthropic focus has been on addressing issues of racial inequity, fostering youth, and promoting women’s issues. She has served on the boards of the Boys and Girls Club of Anaheim and the Orange County board of the Asian Americans Advancing Justice. She is currently serving on the Newport Beach Library Foundation Board and is a founding advisory board member of the NAACF.
Director of Programs, The Sun Family Foundation
Joanna Kong is the Director of Programs for the Sun Family Foundation, a private nonprofit organization that supports education for disadvantaged youth and other charitable endeavors.
Prior to this role, she worked as a corporate attorney at various law firms, including Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld. As a lawyer, she specialized in counseling business owners from formation through various stages of corporate growth, including exits. Joanna received her J.D. from UCLA School of Law and B.A. in Criminology, Law and Society from the University of California, Irvine.
Officer, Hsu Hwa Chao Foundation
Ginger Sun is an active community leader who currently serves on the Advisory Board of the National Asian American Community Foundation. In the past, Ginger has also served on the Advisory Board and Inaugural Gala Committee of Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Orange County, the Parent Association Boards of St Mary’s School and Sage Hill School. She and her husband, Arthur Ong, are active supporters of the Wooden Floor, a dance-based, youth development not-for-profit that is transforming the lives of young people in low-income communities.
Ginger was born in Hong Kong and moved to the United States at the age of 3 but retains a strong Chinese cultural identity. She has always believed in being a liaison between newer immigrants and community institutions. In expressing why she stays so active in the community, Ginger states “It took me a long time to realize how important it is for Asian Americans to have a stronger voice in our society. I want to give back to our community and make sure future generations know they have a voice and can make a difference.
Jack Toan is Vice President and Community Relations Manager for Wells Fargo. He joined Wells Fargo 2002.
As part of Wells Fargo’s Corporate Responsibility team, Jack is responsible for managing over $7 MM of the company’s charitable giving and volunteerism programs in the Southern California Region including Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Imperial counties. He previously led the company’s Military Affairs program for the West Region.
Jack is a dedicated leader who is committed to responsible philanthropic and reputation management practices. Having worked in the field for the last 15 years, he has a proven background in community development and corporate philanthropy. He speaks at various forums and conferences on the topics of philanthropy, volunteerism, branding and cause marketing.
Jack believes in creating social changes through action. His commitment to the community includes serving on the Board of Directors of the Illumination Foundation, Union of Pan Asian Communities and OC Human Relations Council Community Partners among others. He is the past Chairman of the OC Grantmakers, member of Southern California Grantmakers, San Diego Grantmakers, Association of Corporate Contributions Professionals and advisory member of Asian Americans Advancing Justice-OC. He also volunteers weekly to teach martial arts to underserved children in Santa Ana.
Jack holds an MBA from the UCI Paul Merage School of Business and is a graduate of the Southern California Leadership Network. Most importantly, he is a proud father of four beautiful children!
Vivian Long is the Executive Director for the Long Family Foundation (LFF), an intergenerational, private nonprofit organization that funds religious, educational, cultural, and research endeavors. Prior to her current role, she led domestic policy and advocacy efforts at the Joyful Heart Foundation, where she worked to address the national issue of untested sexual assault evidence kits and assisted in the passage of rape kit reform legislation in over 15 states. Vivian received her MPA from NYU’s Wagner School of Public Service and graduated with a BA in International Human Rights from New York University with honors. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for China Institute, NAACF, Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Los Angeles and is a past Trustee for the Pi Beta Phi Foundation.