Chinatown Health Clinic Foundation to Honor Co-Founder Marie Lam at 2024 Annual Gala

The Chinatown Health Clinic Foundation (CHCF) held its Annual Gala on Thursday at Tribeca 360°, located in lower Manhattan.

This year's gala held special significance as CHCF and the Charles B. Wang Community Health Center (CBWCHC) honored one of its co-founders, Marie Lam, for her decades of dedicated service to the community. Marie has been an integral part of CBWCHC's journey since the very first Chinatown Health Fair in 1971.

"Marie has been involved in bringing health care and health education to this community since the very start," said Dr. Raymond Fong, president of the Chinatown Health Clinic Foundation. "As a board member for both CHCF and CBWCHC for many years, Marie is the glue that holds the Foundation, the Health Center, and our community together, and we were thrilled to honor her and her legacy at this year’s Gala."

The gala featured a diverse program, including remarks from speakers like Kaushal Challa, CEO of CBWCHC, and Dr. Robert E. Fullilove, Associate Dean of Community and Minority Affairs at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. The evening culminated in the award presentation to Marie Lam.

“When we started this journey in 1971, our goal was simple: to ensure that every member of our community had access to quality health care, regardless of their background or circumstances,” said Lam after receiving her award. “I am deeply honored to have been recognized at this year's Annual Gala, but the honor belongs to all of us—to every volunteer, staff member, and supporter who has helped the Charles B. Wang Community Health Center fulfill that mission.”

The Annual Gala serves as a testament to the Health Center’s ongoing commitment to providing culturally competent and high-quality care to all members of the community, regardless of their immigration history, ability to pay, or language spoken. Proceeds from the event will support CBWCHC's mission of improving access to healthcare for underserved Asian Americans and other vulnerable populations.

About Marie Lam

Marie Lam is one of CBWCHC’s founders, a longtime CBWCHC board member, and current CHCF vice president. Marie’s dedication and advocacy for the community cannot be overstated. Few of those who built the Health Center have had more of an impact than Marie, who gave generously and inspired many others to support its mission. Born in Hong Kong, Marie came to New York in 1968 and worked as a social worker at the Chinatown Planning Council. Starting from when she helped organize the 1971 Chinatown Health Fair, Marie has remained an active volunteer leader for the Health Center for decades. She translated ideas into words and transformed those words into action, ultimately influencing community health for the better. Marie received the 2000 Distinguished Community Service Award from the United Hospital Fund and the 2023 Dorothy Kartashevich Award from the Community Health Care Association of New York State for her remarkable contributions.

About the Chinatown Health Clinic Foundation

The Chinatown Health Clinic Foundation (CHCF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit established by health care professionals and compassionate individuals. The CHCF raises funds through events and other giving initiatives to improve access to quality health care for underserved Asian Americans and other vulnerable populations. These funds support community-based health care services provided by the Charles B. Wang Community Health Center. For more information, visit www.chinatownhealth.org.

About the Charles B. Wang Community Health Center

For more than 50 years, the Charles B. Wang Community Health Center (CBWCHC) has been a leading health care provider dedicated to delivering high-quality, affordable health care to underserved communities in Manhattan and Queens, with a focus on Asian Americans. Open seven days a week, CBWCHC offers comprehensive primary care services to children and adults at six locations in Manhattan and Queens. CBWCHC’s legacy of excellence is nationally recognized with its commitment to ensure equitable access to health care for all, regardless of ability to pay, language spoken, or immigration history. For more information, visit www.cbwchc.org.