Three Denver-area residents who are wonderful examples of immigrants living the American dream were recognized for their accomplishments at a gala dinner benefiting the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival.
Dr. Susanna Choi, the festival’s honorary chair, along with honorary patrons Linda and Jimmy Yip, accepted their accolades by recalling the early days in a new land they now embrace as home.
Choi, an obstetrician-gynecologist, moved to the U.S. with her family from their native South Korea when she was 10. Like the Yips – Linda is from Taiwan, while Jimmy hails from Hong Kong – she initially didn’t speak a word of English.
Today, Choi has patients from around the world and leads mission trips to developing countries.
Jimmy Yip first settled in New York, and worked in the restaurant business even though he had a degree in engineering.
He met Linda two months after arriving in Colorado 28 years ago, “and she never let go,” he said. “As first- generation immigrants, we struggled with the language and worked hard to make ends meet,” Jimmy recalled. “Linda and I worked day and night, and didn’t have any kind of social life until 1996 when we attended an Asian Performing Arts of Colorado dinner. It lasted six hours, and our son fell asleep, but the food was good, and we met many fine people.”
Tragically, the Yips’ son, their only child, was killed in an automobile accident several years later, but they turned their grief into something positive by starting the Nathan Yip Foundation, which builds schools in impoverished areas of China, Mexico and Africa.
“Linda and Jimmy are loving, caring people who would give you the shirts off their back,” noted Starz Encore founder John Sie, who with his wife, Anna, had been honorary patrons of the 2006 Dragon Boat Festival. “They have worked hard and achieved great success, and they share that success by giving so much to the whole world.”
The Dragon Boat Gala, held at the Donald R. Seawell Grand Ballroom, was chaired by Jim Fore, chairman- elect of the festival board. His committee included John Chin, Bei-Lee Gold, John Wright, George Yoshida, Celeste Merrigan and Ding Wen Hsu, the festival’s director. Kim Nguyen of 7News was mistress of ceremonies.
The 270 guests included Diana Lee with husband Roy Stahlgren; Kristin and Tom Lau; Wei and Mike Forbus; Michelle Sie and hubby Tom Whitten; CH2M Hill exec Faye Tate and her mom, Irene Wilson; Sassy Radio’s Gloria Neal; Martha Liao; Celeste Fleming; Leah Eveleigh; Carl and Lisa Williams; Roger Hara; and Gayle and Gary Ray.
The Dragon Boat Festival, expected to attract 100,000 guests, is July 28 and 29 at Sloan’s Lake Park.
Society editor Joanne Davidson can be reached at 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com.
More online: See additional pictures from the Dragon Boat Gala..
