A Local Philanthropist Couple Honored With National Recognition
Kalamazoo residents Lynn Chen-Zhang and Charles Zhang will be honored with the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, considered one of the nation's most prestigious awards. The couple will receive recognition for their decades of contributions to business, public service and philanthropy in the Southwest Michigan region.
We are very fortunate and very lucky to receive this award and very humbled, and after all those extraordinary people who did so much for this country, and we're glad we received this award
Charles Zhang said at a news conference.
The Ellis Island Medal of Honor is awarded by The Ellis Island Honor Society and recognizes inspiring Americans whose selfless contributions strengthen the country and its people. The award has been presented since 1986 and notable past recipients include Rosa Parks, eight U.S. presidents, Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor and Muhammad Ali.
The Zhangs Memorialized Through Community Namesakes
If their names sound familiar, it is because their philanthropy is memorialized throughout the Kalamazoo area. Community landmarks include the Charles & Lynn Zhang Portage Community Senior Center in Portage, The Zhang Financial Room at Western Michigan University, and the The Charles and Lynn Zhang Skylark Ridge at Binder Park Zoo.
A soon-to-be opened Portage Zhang Farmers Market building will also bear their name.
The couple also supports the next generation through scholarships, fellowships and development sponsorships at Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo College, Kellogg College and the University of Michigan Ann Arbor.
Millions Committed to Southwest Michigan Prosperity
The Zhangs own Zhang Financial and are deeply rooted in West Michigan. Both are Western Michigan University graduates.
To us, it's a journey of building a business with integrity and to contribute to the success of other people, and also giving back to the community because we have passion for education, for arts, for healthcare, and for animal welfare, and for the underprivileged
Lynn Chen-Zhang said.
The couple volunteers their time at the Bread of Life Food Pantry and the SPCA of Southwest Michigan. They support Roof Sit, which celebrates 28 years raising funds to prevent child abuse in Southwest Michigan.
Individual Recipients, Joint Impact
Though their names are often said in conjunction, and their community service done jointly, Lynn Chen-Zhang and Charles Zhang are individual recipients of the medal. This emphasizes their independent accomplishments and impact.
The couple will be honored at the official medal gala in New York on Friday in Ellis Island's Great Hall.
I think that award is for our family, friends, our clients, our incredible team, our community, and everyone who has supported us along the way to get where we are
Chen-Zhang said.
The Ellis Island Medal of Honor is entered into the Congressional Record annually and has become one of the country's most recognized honors for civic leadership and philanthropy.