Boston, Dec. 31, 2016, — Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center (BCNC) employee Lai Chan is recognized by Blue Hills Bank as one of the 2017 Hometown Heroes. Lai Chan (pictured below) will be featured in the Bank’s fifth annual Hometown Hero Calendar, which honors 12 groups or individuals who go above and beyond to make our community a better place to live and work.
“Our Hometown Hero calendar is a tribute to the amazing individuals who contribute to the vibrancy of our communities,” comments Blue Hills Bank president and CEO William M. Parent. “It is an honor to recognize these hardworking, selfless individuals each year.”
Lai Chan has been working at BCNC’s Acorn Center for Early Education and Care for 35 years.
Since Lai arrival in Boston’s Chinatown in 1974, Lai has provided valuable services to the local Chinese community. She began her career as a teacher at Kwong Kow Chinese School and BCNC. Lai was instrumental in securing city funding for community nonprofits. Lai has touched the lives of thousands of children through her commitment to their education and her 35 years of passion for helping her community make her a role model in Chinatown.
“Lai Chan is a role model for all of us at BCNC,” said executive director Giles Li. “Now the first children she taught are grown up, and bringing their kids back to Lai’s classroom. Most of us do not get to meet truly inspirational people in our lifetime; I am so lucky to get to work with Lai Chan every day.”
Along with this honor, each hero receives a $1,000 donation from the Blue Hills Bank Charitable Foundation for one of their favorite charities. Lai Chan nominates BCNC as her favorite charity.
The recipients of 2017 Blue Hills Bank Hometown Hero Awards represent various Greater Boston‐area neighborhoods and are: Antoinette Hemphill, Catholic Memorial School, Lai Chan, Officer Darryl Owens, Dr. Jean Bonnet, Scott Batey, Kalsie King, June Cooper, Tony Andreotti, Michelle Williams, Pete Downing and Kimberly Jones. Calendars are free, while supplies last, and are available at all Blue Hills Bank branches beginning December 1st.
About Blue Hills Bank:
Blue Hills Bank is a full‐service community bank headquartered in Hyde Park, MA. With assets of more than $2.3 billion, the bank serves customers in Eastern Massachusetts and Nantucket online and through its 18 branches and loan offices. Founded in 1871 as Hyde Park Savings Bank, the Bank is celebrating its 145th year in business.
About Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center:
Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center (BCNC) is the largest nonprofit social service provider dedicated to Asian families in the Greater Boston area, supporting over 2,000 children, youth, and adults each year at three locations in Boston and Quincy. The mission of BCNC is to ensure that the children, youth, and families we serve have the resources and supports they need to achieve greater economic success and social well-being. BCNC helps families access the resources and services available to them, provide opportunities for them to learn and acquire skills, and create a community of mutual support and encouragement. For more information, go to www.bcnc.net.