APCF 2024 Annual Gala

Thursday, June 13th, 2024 at Vibiana, Los Angeles

Honorees

Corporate Philanthropy Award

Philanthropy Leadership Award

Paul Chen

Paul Y. Chen is a practicing CPA and the managing partner Chen & Fan Accountancy Corporation, with 35+ years experience specializing in financial audits, advisory, and income tax compliance for U.S. businesses and individuals. Paul has a MBA degree — Paul Y. Chen is a practicing CPA and the managing partner at Chen & Fan Accountancy Corporation. Paul received his MBA from USC and his BS from UCLA. He has over 35 years experience specializing in financial audits, advisory, and income tax compliance for U.S. businesses and individuals.
In addition to his professional career, he has been an active volunteer in various community and nonprofit organizations. Currently, Paul holds the honor of being an appointed commissioner of the Overseas Community Affairs Council of Taiwan. He is a visionary leader and is a sought after board member and officer of various organizations, including Genesis LA Economic Growth Corporation, STUF (Share, Trust, Unity, and Family) United Fund, Taiwanese American Scholarship Fund, Taiwan Center Foundation of Greater LA, San Gabriel Taiwanese Lions Club, the Rosemead Chamber of Commerce and the Taiwanese American Chamber of Commerce. As President of the Taiwan Center Foundation of Greater LA for the past 4 years, Paul spearheaded a capital campaign which has raised over $13 million dollars to date with the total project goal of $17 million dollars. It is hopeful that construction will start in the spring of 2025. Paul is committed to lending his expertise to serve organizations whose mission is close to his heart. He is grateful for the positive connections he has encountered throughout his career and is dedicated to sharing his experience with younger members of his affiliated associations in a mentor capacity.
Paul strives to balance work and family life. Though he is busy with his career and civic responsibilities, the role that brings him most joy is dad to a teenage daughter.
He is proud to be a longstanding supporter of APCF for the last 8 years and is grateful to be recognized by APCF for the Philanthropy Leadership Award.

Spirit of Giving Award

Asian Americans in Public Finance (AAPF) was founded in 2003 and strives to enhance,

develop and promote the professional lives and careers of dedicated Asian Americans in public

finance. AAPF provides a platform to provide training, education, and mentoring to Asian

Americans within the public finance industry. The organization encourages and promotes an

open forum to raise awareness pertaining to Asian Americans within the public finance industry.

AAPF also sponsors the Matt Fong Asian Americans in Public Finance Scholarship for college

students interested in a career serving the public sector, which APCF hosts and administers.

This scholarship honors the memory of former California State Treasurer Matt Fong for his

dedication to public service, active involvement in state politics and direct impact he had in

opening up opportunities for Asian Americans. APCF recognizes the AAPF Board and all its

members for the inspirational way that they strive to encourage Asian Americans to give back to

the community by serving in the public finance field.

Special Guests

John Chiang serves as a member of the board of directors of Apollo Medical Holdings, Inc., Zeuss Technologies and Aegis Systems. In addition, he serves on the corporate advisory boards of Pasadena Private Finance, Calyx Peak, Adept Development and Faraday Future.

From 2015 until 2019, John Chiang served as California's 33rd State Treasurer. As the state's banker, he oversaw trillions of dollars in annual transactions, managed a $75 billion investment portfolio and was the nation's largest issue of municipal bonds.

Prior to being elected Treasurer, Chiang served as State Controller from 2007 through 2014. During the Great Recession, he took steps to preserve cash to meet obligations to education and bond holders. His cash management decisions - which included delaying payments and issuing IOUs - were instrumental in keeping the state's credit rating from plunging into junk status, and his actions saved taxpayers millions of dollars. Additionally, Chiang aggressively used his audit programs to identify more than $9.5 billion of fraud, waste and abuse in government programs, the most by any Controller in California's history.

In 1998, he was elected to California's Board of Equalization and served two terms, including three years as Chair.

John Chiang serves as Co-Chair of California Forward, member of the Board of Councilors at the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy, Treasurer of the California State Guard Foundation and Chief Financial Officer of the Committee of 100.

Chiang served as an Aspen Institute Rodel Fellow, Hunt-Kean Leadership Fellow and USC Center for the Political Future Fellow.

Chiang is a graduate of the University of South Florida and Georgetown University Law Center.

John Chiang
Former California State Treasurer

Tiffany Chang serves as this year’s Miss Asia USA and is currently a sophomore studying at Stanford University, pursuing a degree in Engineering Management & Human-Centered Design. Fluent in four languages, Tiffany embodies a cultural mosaic, representing the diverse tapestry that contributes to the fabric of America.

Tiffany's commitment to philanthropy goes beyond the realms of pageantry, as she is recognized for her profound dedication to making a positive impact. Notably, she is the founder of Madhatter Knits, a 501(c)3 international nonprofit organization. This initiative is focused on supplying knit hats for premature babies in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) globally, with a broader mission to empower pregnant women and improve child and maternal health on a global scale. Tiffany also extends her advocacy into the realm of mental health wellness, particularly for seniors where collaborates with the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health emerging as a passionate advocate for senior mental health.

Tiffany’s advocacy for women in STEM fields is not just a passion but a mission. Tiffany stands as a beacon of inspiration and advocacy, particularly for women in the fields of STEM. She recognizes the critical need for more female representation in these male-dominated professions and hopes to use this platform as a means of inspiring other young girls to venture into fields that might appear daunting or challenging.

Tiffany also serves as a leader in various clubs on-campus, such as Stanford Women in Business, Taiwanese Cultural Society, organizer of Stanford’s premier global entrepreneurship society ASES, and the campus manager for Intuit’s Turbotax. In addition, she is a health economics research assistant at Stanford’s Asia-Pacific Research Center, and last summer, she worked as a Business Development & Data Science Intern at an AI company, Intumit Inc.

Inspired by her journey as the 2022 Miss Taiwanese American, Tiffany is driven to help young women find empowerment through self-worth. Her leadership skills, honed through prestigious engagements as a seasoned emcee and moderator, have graced events attended by dignitaries like the President of Taiwan and esteemed brands like Chanel. Her impactful endeavors have garnered widespread recognition, with numerous media outlets, news stations, and websites, such as LA Times, ABC News, CNA News, World Journal, and LA Weekly Asia, featuring her inspiring journey. Through these platforms, Tiffany's dedication to advocacy and fostering inclusivity has resonated widely, reaching diverse audiences across various mediums. Tiffany’s profound journey has allowed her to delve deeper into her cultural roots and identity, fostering a greater understanding of her heritage. This exploration has been instrumental in shaping her values and goals, enabling her to become a source of inspiration and empowerment for others, especially those who often feel unheard or marginalized.

Now, with an even larger platform as Miss Asia USA, she continues to leverage her influence to bring attention to important social issues. As Miss Asia USA, Tiffany embraces the responsibility of being a role model and an ambassador of cultural diversity and inclusion. Her role goes beyond mere representation but about initiating change.

Tiffany Chang
2024 Miss Asia USA