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10/02/2018. Despite his humble upbringings, John Long has managed to make a name for himself as a business leader in the Southern California real estate industry, a prominent Chinese American philanthropist and as a Chair and key donator to two University of California institutes. Feeling increasingly compelled to contribute and give back to society as his private wealth grew, John, in 1992, decided to establish the Long Family Foundation, which he manages together with his wife Marilyn. The Foundation's projects have quite quickly grown in number as well as scope since then. With earlier projects including the aforementioned institutes – The UCLA real estate institute and UC Irvine Long US-China Institute – the recently-founded Global Chinese Philanthropy Initiative (GCPI) is a particular point of pride for John. With Asian Americans being characteristically quite low profile with regards to making charitable donations, they are often perceived as not being as engaged in philanthropy as a group. GCPI was set up, initially, to once and for all dispel that myth by means of conducting groundbreaking academic research into the matter. GCPI also aims to bridge the gap between the US and China by bringing American-Chinese and Chinese philanthropists together to forge a bond and help both countries evolve for the better.

07/25/2018. On June 28th, the GCPI –Tsinghua Forum kicked off in Beijing which featured the release of the first comprehensive research report on global Chinese philanthropy. The report focuses on the donation trends, motivations and influences of American Chinese and Chinese philanthropists living in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao. Vice President of Tsinghua University, Yang Bin indicated at the event that China and the US have excellent opportunities to jointly further the development of philanthropy in both countries. He also predicted that Chinese philanthropic giving will continue to grow strongly in the future. UCLA Chancellor Gene Block meanwhile pointed out quite how quickly Chinese philanthropy was developing, emphasizing that philanthropy is certainly worth investing in. Jointly organized by the Center for Chinese Entrepreneur Studies, Tsinghua University and the UCLA Asia Pacific Center, the forum was aimed at enhancing the spirit of Chinese philanthropy, promoting corporate social responsibility for Chinese businesses and to encourage cooperation among Chinese and overseas Chinese philanthropists.

07/17/2018. Stewart Kwoh, a renowned American Chinese lawyer and civil rights advocate founded the nonprofit organization Asian Americans Advancing Justice in 1983. The organization is America's largest organization that focuses on protecting the legal and civil rights of Asian Americans. Yearly, it provides legal education and other services to over 15,000 Asian Americans. Stewart originally took up the torch as civil rights advocate in 1982 after an Asian American man was beaten to death by a white father and son. Ultimately, the two were sentenced to a mere 3 years probation along with a $3000 fine, which prompted widespread anger and protests by Asian American groups. Stewart offered legal consultation on the case. While an effort to prosecute the pair for a hate crime later failed, the ordeal did kick off Stewart's unrelenting drive for civil rights and was the beginning of his decades-long track record of being a strong voice for the Asian American community. In 1998, he was the first Asian American lawyer to ever win the MacArthur Award. He also received an honorary doctorate of law at the May 2018 UCLA graduation ceremony.

07/02/2018. Over 200 guests and participants from diverse backgrounds attended the GCPI-Tsinghua Forum, which took place at the Tsinghua University campus in Beijing this June. Participants were invited on account of their individual contributions to the development of Chinese philanthropy in China and abroad with the guests including philanthropists, academic experts, foundation leaders, government officials and so on. The forum's main goal was to raise the profile of Chinese philanthropy and promote its development. At the same time, the forum facilitated the exchange of ideas and best practices among like-minded philanthropy stakeholders to great avail. Co-chaired by Professor Long Denggao, Director of the Center for Chinese Entrepreneur Studies, Tsinghua University, and Professor Zhou Min, Director of the UCLA Asia Pacific Center, the forum's opening ceremony featured speeches by prominent academic leaders Tsinghua University Vice Chancellor Bin Yang, UCLA Chancellor, Gene D. Block and Vice Minister of the CPC Central Committee's United Front Work Department Tianxing Tan. Subsequently, preceding the forum's three high-level dialogues, dean's panel and academic presentations, Stewart Kwoh, President of Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Los Angeles, presented GCPI's report on Chinese philanthropy. The report is the world's first comprehensive research report mapping the focus, motivations and impact of Chinese philanthropy in Greater China and the US.

06/30/2018. On June 27th and 28th, the GCPI - Tsinghua Forum was held at Tsinghua University's Schwarzman College. The forum aims to promote the Chinese charity spirit and Chinese business social responsibility, and provide opportunities for interaction and cooperation for people from all walks of life who have an interest in Chinese charity. Tan Tianxing, deputy director of the United Front Work Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, said in his speech that there are about 25,000 overseas Chinese and overseas Chinese charity foundations globally and that the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council will continue to support the development of overseas Chinese communities their philanthropy initiatives. The forum was fruitful and featured the release of the first ever research report on global Chinese philanthropy initiatives, which laid a solid foundation for the follow-up on the forum. This follow up, in the form of a ‘Global Chinese Charity Alliance' will build upon the research results and establish an interactive platform for the sustainable development of philanthropists in China and the United States, enabling them to jointly address challenges and problems as they go along.

06/29/2018. On June 27-28, the GCPI – Tsinghua Forum was kicked off at Tsinghua University. With the attendance of over 200 guests and the participation of high-level figures such as Tsinghua Vice Chancellor Yang Bin, UCLA Chancellor Gene Block, Hongkang Life Insurance Chairman, Lu Dezhi, Hang Lung Properties Chairman, Ronnie Chan, Chairman of the Beijing Lao Niu Xiongmei Foundation, Niu Ben and many others who have made significant contribution to Chinese philanthropy, the forum was widely seen as a a great success. President Gene D. Block highlighted the rapid growth rate of Chinese and American Chinese charity in his speech. During 2008-2014, Chinese donations have increased fivefold. From 2000 to 2014, the Chinese Foundation has grown from 300 to 1300. Vice Minister Tan Tianxing in turn, pointed out that there are currently 100,000 charity organizations including 25,000 overseas Chinese charities active in China with more than 65 million volunteers and about 100 billion Yuan in donations each year.

06/29/2018. On the 28th, the GCPI – Tsinghua Forum was held at the Schwarzman Academy in Beijing, symbolizing the achievements of past Sino-US cultural exchanges. Tsinghua University Vice Chancellor Yang Bin, UCLA Chancellor Gene D. Block and Vice Minister of the United Front Work Department of CPC Central Committee Tan Tianxing delivered the opening speeches. Yang Bin said: Chinese culture has a long history of philanthropy, and individual Chinese philanthropists around the world have made important contributions to their local communities. Chancellor Block indicated in his speech that Chinese UCLA alumni have been actively committed to the development of philanthropy for quite a few years. They have generously funded many UCLA students and research institutions, and have even influenced policy makers in the United States and China. In his speech, Vice Minister Tan spoke highly of the forum, arguing that it reflects the traditional Chinese virtues of giving and benevolence, as well as that philanthropy is becoming increasingly important in the minds of Chinese people. The forum advanced international cooperation and mutual learning, celebrating the contributions of Chinese philanthropists and scholars, entrepreneurs, and promoted the spirit of Chinese philanthropy and corporate social responsibility in China.