Aloha and welcome!
We are a 501(c) (3) private
family foundation in Hawai‘i
promoting positive social change.
Founded in 2021 by C. Q. Yee Hop's grandchildren and great-grandchildren and guided by his lifelong interests, we support projects and programs that further his legacy of improving the lives of the people of Hawai‘i.
Areas of Giving
We are particularly interested in supporting projects and programs in Hawai‘i with a focus on:
- Chinese arts, culture, history and language
- Conservation and biodiversity
- Democratic values
- Education
We review grant applications once a year, with applications typically opening in August with a deadline at the end of September.
Previous Grantees
A Better Chinatown Association
Association of Chinese University Women
Bamboo Ridge Press
Chinatown 808
Chinatown Improvement District
Chinese Chamber of Commerce Foundation
Hāmākua Youth Foundation
Hawai‘i Chinese History Center
Hawai‘i Foodbank, Inc.
Honolulu Civil Beat
‘Iolani School
Kona Historical Society
Mun Lun School
Pālehua Conservation Initiative
Pālolo Chinese Home
Sui Wah School
The Nature Conservancy of Hawai‘i
United Chinese Society
University of Hawai‘i Foundation
Weed and Seed Hawai‘i, Inc.
About C. Q. Yee Hop
C. Q. Yee Hop was a businessman and entrepreneur who was a pillar in Honolulu's Chinese community.
Born in 1867 in Gong Bui village in Zhongshan district, Guangdong province, China, he left at the age of 19 to seek economic opportunity in what was then the independent Kingdom of Hawai‘i.
He started as a butcher and opened his first business, the Yee Hop Meat Market. The market eventually grew into one of Hawai‘i's first multi-department, multi-service supermarkets.
During his life, he was involved in dozens of businesses including a restaurant, brewery, cattle ranch, logging, furniture-making and real estate development.
He co-founded the Chinese Merchants Association (the forerunner to today's Chinese Chamber of Commerce) and financed the operation of three Chinese language newspapers (The New China Daily, Chinese World and The Humanity Weekly). He also helped found the Mun Lun School, which at one time was the largest Chinese language school in America. Along with other kinsmen, he raised funds to build Gong Bui primary school in his natal village.
He had 16 children and died of natural causes in 1954.
Leadership
The Board of Directors is comprised of descendants of C. Q. Yee Hop.
- Kimberlee Bassford, President and Treasurer
- Amber Chun, Vice President
- Amanda Lau, Secretary
- Joey Bortfeld
- Alex Chun
- Laura Chun
- Nicholas Chun
The C. Q. Yee Hop Foundation is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization
(Federal Tax ID #87-4106770). All donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Inquiries can be emailed to:
Kimberlee@CQYeeHopFoundation.org
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