The George C. Lin Foundation

Oops!

2011-12-28T09:28:00.000-08:00

We're having domain issues with the georgelinfoundation.org address, so we're temporarily reverting back to the georgelinfund.blogspot.com domain for now until the problem is fixed. Thanks for your patience and have a Happy New Year everyone!

Go out and attend the 12th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival!

2011-10-14T17:36:00.000-07:00

Help us raise $2,000 today

2011-10-14T08:08:00.000-07:00

Lee Ann Kim, Dan Matthews and the SDAFF crew have helped to organize a fundraiser for the GCL Memorial Fund. In 36 hours they've helped to raise over $1,000 among Facebook friends and SDAFF supporters and our goal is to reach $2,000 on the anniversary of George's passing, which was today 3 years ago. We are floored by the response and thank all of our friends and supporters! Please consider donating to the Fund via this link. Here is just one of the comments that friends are sharing on Facebook:

"Today is George Lin Day in San Diego. In 2009, I made a 90 second short tribute for George with the help of many good friends. George was a big part of many of our film festival experiences, and he was there since the beginning of mine. Sadly, George past away from a rare type of cancer. The film fest is raising $2000 for his memorial fund before midnight. Please give if you feel led to do so. Thank you for your time. Thank you, George. ♥" - Karin Anna Cheung

DC APA winner of The George C. Lin Emerging Filmmaker Award announced

2011-10-12T21:36:00.000-07:00

This past Sunday DC APA Film announced the winner of the 2011 George C. Lin Emerging Filmmaker Award to director S. Casper Wong in consideration of her documentary film The LuLu Sessions. The film is an intense and at the same time emotionally tender story about the special relationship between two best friends brought together under unique and ultimately human circumstances. More coverage on the award will follow, but in the meantime here is an excerpt and the trailer from the film:

"LuLu is unlike anyone you’ve ever met. A hard-living, chain-smoking rebel with a tender heart. A poet with a potty mouth. Farm girl. Former cheerleader. World-class cancer researcher. Beloved professor. Dr. Louise Nutter, or LuLu has just discovered a new anti-cancer drug when she finds out she is dying of breast cancer herself at 42. Shot during those last 15 months of LuLu’s life, The LuLu Sessions is a raw, intimate, yet surprisingly humorous story about the filmmaker showing up for her best friend, and together, testing the limits of their bond while taking on life’s ultimate adventure."

The LuLu Sessions Teaser from OO on Vimeo.

A general donation of $2,000 was made this year to DC APA Film by the Memorial Fund, of which a $500 cash prize was awarded to the filmmaker along with a sculpted bronze made by Chin Wen Chuang. Our thanks to Tad Doyle, Wyman Lee, Ron Sanchez and the entire DC APA crew for all of their hard work, unwavering support and friendship. If you're in the DC area it's not too late to check out the festival in its last weekend running through Sunday, October 15th.

Goodness

2011-08-16T08:56:00.000-07:00

Yusef Komunyakaa, Susie Ibarra and George collaborated on a performance piece and opera called Shangri-la which was performed in New York City during 2005. Yusef wrote this poem for George when he passed away in 2008 and Roberto Rodriguez (Susie's husband) read the poem at the memorial service. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that the poem was published in the Fall/Winter 2009-10 literary journal of the Cerise Press and wanted to share it with you all. Thank you Yusef. Happy Birthday George.

Goodness
by Yusef Komunyakaa

Sometimes, if we’re halfway lucky
we may stumble & glimpse goodness
in a face, peering around a corner
or sharp turn in the labyrinth.
We arrive, staring over our shoulder
at pawprints the snow leopard left
on a trail circling back to the most fierce
hunter, back to the uncoiled loop’s
double roundel. How many paths
do we dare seek the spun gold knot
beneath the plum tree bent down
with blooms in the middle kingdom?
We brainstormed over bowls of water
spinach, Chinese broccoli, crispy fish,
& Szechuan beef. I can still see
stations of the cross we walked
through the Village, as if taunted
by springtime. Weren’t we in Shangri-la
for happy hour? With so much laughter
in your eyes & mouth, I didn’t know you
could foresee crocuses in the snow
as those perfect nocturnal beings
wrestled day & night to the ground.
George, I’d love to believe nature
is never truly unkind, that she
only wills the tiger bee its stinger
to guard the rally of honeysuckle
climbing the rusty iron-spiked gate
where mercy pulled all the fruit
down to the lowest branches.

Biography

Born in 1947 in Bogalusa, Louisiana, YUSEF KOMUNYAKAA served in the United States Army from 1969 to 1970 as the managing editor of the Southern Cross and as a correspondent during the Vietnam war. He is the author of Warhorses, Poems (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2009); Taboo: The Wishbone Trilogy, Part 1 (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2004); Neon Vernacular: New & Selected Poems 1977-1989 (Wesleyan, 1993), which received the Pulitzer Prize and the Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award; and Dien Cai Dau (Wesleyan, 1988), among other collections, including the book of prose, Blues Notes: Essays, Interviews & Commentaries (University of Michigan Press, 2000). Elected a Chancellor of The Academy of American Poets in 1999, Komunyakaa is currently Distinguished Senior Poet in New York University’s graduate creative writing program.

Reprinted from the Ceres Press:
http://www.cerisepress.com/01/02/goodness

Chin Wen Chuang and the George Lin Award Featured in Taiwan News

2011-07-21T06:49:00.000-07:00

Chin's bronze work on the George award for both the San Diego Asian Film Festival and D.C. Asian Pacific American Film Festival was just featured in the Taiwanese news. Here is a link to the article. We're thrilled for Chin and if you watch the video below, you'll see a mention of Nadine Truong (one of last year's winners along with Gerry Balasta). There is a rumor that as a result of Chin's good work here that she is now collaborating with the Taipei Film Festival for a prize featuring her sculpture & design work. Congratulations to Chin!

Happy Lunar New Year!

2011-02-09T14:02:00.000-08:00

It's been a long time since we last posted, but better late than never to wish all of our friends and family a safe, healthy and prosperous 2011! Here's to all the lucky rabbits out there...

Congratulations to Nadine Truong

2010-10-27T17:09:00.000-07:00

The San Diego Asian Film Foundation and The George C. Lin Memorial Fund are pleased to announce Nadine Truong, director of two short films, Eggbaby and Shadow Man, as a recipient of the 2010 George C. Lin Emerging Filmmaker Award.

Nadine is a young and talented filmmaker currently residing in Los Angeles. From her biography:

Nadine Truong, a German-born Vietnamese filmmaker worked at various production companies and additionally gained valuable experience in talent representation prior to her education at AFI. She has co-produced multiple short films and has worked as art director, first assistant director, and script supervisor. Nadine's directorial credits include CHOPSTICKS, THE MUSE, ONE NEVER KNOWS, MINE, and SUSHI. She was one of eight recipients of the "Armed with A Camera" grant under the Visual Communication for Asian Pacific fellowship program. During her first year at AFI, Nadine was appointed the representative of the Directing Fellows on the Fellow Advisory Committee at AFI. Additionally, Nadine is the proud recipient of the Mary Pickford Scholarship for Excellence in Directing. One of only three female directors in the program, she wrote and directed a second thesis film SHADOW MAN. Nadine received her BA degree in Anthropology from UCLA in 2003.

For more about these two films, we invite you to read her interview by Philip Lorenzo at the SDAFF blog:

http://sdasianfilm.blogspot.com/2010/09/sdaff-talks-with-up-and-coming.html

Eggbaby

Shadow Man

Nadine receives a $1,000 grant from The George Lin Memorial Fund, as well as a bronze sculpture made by the artist Chin Wen Chuang.

In consideration of the Award and our on-going support of the San Diego Asian Film Foundation, the Fund made a $2,500 total donation, inclusive of the grant amount for the Award.

The Making of the 2010 George Lin Emerging Filmmaker Award by Chin Wen Chuang

2010-10-18T21:01:00.000-07:00

Here are photos of the "Georgie" sculpture that Chin posted prior to its long journey from Taipei to Washington D.C. The rest of the album is here:

The Making of the Georgie sculpture

It's truly amazing to see this come to "life" through Chin's own hands. Another one just like it is being hand carried by Chin to the San Diego Asian Film Festival starting October 21.

Thank you Chin for all your hard work and generosity.

Mountain Thief Director Honored to Win Lin Award

2010-10-18T20:37:00.000-07:00

From the DC APA Film blog:

After the screening of his feature film The Mountain Thief, director Gerry Balasta was a bit stunned by the silence inside the theater. Did the audience not like his film? Did they sneak out of the theater?

Turns out it was the opposite: They were so moved by his first feature film that some were wiping away their tears.

“I want to tell stories that move people, stories that show our humanity and our commonality as human beings. My intention is to make movies that has the possibility of inspiring change,” said Balasta, the 2010 winner of the George C. Lin Emerging Filmmaker Award.

The Mountain Thief revolves around a father and son who move to the garbage-collecting town of Payatas to seek refuge and redemption from war. The film’s cast are graduates of the town’s only acting workshop – a workshop founded by Balasta in December of 2004.

“I can still smell the sickening stench coming from the country’s largest dumpsite. To this day, I am haunted by this memory, because I knew back then that people were born, lived and died in those monstrous mountains of trash,” Balasta states on the film’s website.

The filmmakers decided to make a difference. They created the Mount Hope Project to help the scavengers who acted in the film. Thanks to the supporters and fans of The Mountain Thief, two of the children involved in the film received medical care, including surgery for one child with a club foot deformity. Balasta shows the compelling footage of his recovery as the end credits roll.

Balasta and The Mountain Thief reflect the spirit of adventure and inventiveness in filmmaking that George C. Lin admired so much.

“I was at a film festival in France and I was so thrilled when I got the news. It feels good when your work gets recognition, but this award is very special in that it is conceived in memory of a truly great man and it also recognized my possibilities as a filmmaker,” said Balasta.

The Lin Award was established in 2009 to recognize young and talented filmmakers that have shown an exemplary commitment to filmmaking within the Asian and Asian American film genre. The award commemorates the life of George C. Lin, who died on October 14, 2008, at the age of 37. From 2000 to 2003, George served as Founding Executive Director of D.C. APA Film.

“From what everyone told me, my impression is he’s a truly amazing man, for having accomplished so much in his life, especially in dedicating his life so that filmmakers like myself will have an opportunity to share their work,” said Balasta. “He is so well loved by everyone and I really wish, I had the privilege of meeting him. It really is an absolute honor to get the GCL award and Georgie, and I intend to honor him back with my work.”

Go to FLICKR to check out all the great photos from the 11th Annual DC APA Film Festival

The 2010 George C. Lin Emerging Filmmaker Award Winner: Gerry Balasta, The Mountain Thief

2010-10-04T16:38:00.000-07:00

APA Film has just announced their list of 2010 Award Winners for this year's film festival.

D.C. APA Film Announces 2010 Award Winners

From the link:

D.C. APA Film and The George C. Lin Memorial Fund have chosen Gerry Balasta, director of the narrative feature, The Mountain Thief, as the recipient of the 2010 George C. Lin Emerging Filmmaker Award. In creating a fictional film starring the actual residents of a garbage collecting town in the Philippines, Balasta has brought attention to a long-neglected community. Through his compassion for his subjects, we come to realize their essential humanity

“Thank you so much, it is an absolute, absolute honor to receive this award and will only help us in our social cause and in the true spirit of George Lin’s lifework,” said Balasta.

Balasta and his film reflect the spirit of adventure and inventiveness in filmmaking that George admired so much.

The George C. Lin Emerging Filmmaker Award will be presented in person to Balasta at the screening Wednesday October 13th at 7 p.m. at Goethe Institut.

Click here to buy tickets for this screening

About the Award

The George C. Lin Memorial Fund on behalf of The San Diego Foundation, Asian Pacific American Film of Washington, D.C., and The San Diego Asian Film Foundation established The George C. Lin Emerging Filmmaker Award in 2009 to recognize young and talented filmmakers that have shown an exemplary commitment to filmmaking within the Asian and Asian American film genre.

The George C. Lin Emerging Filmmaker Award is given on an annual basis by the co-sponsoring organizations at their respective film festivals in Washington, D.C. and San Diego, CA. Each recipient will be gifted a cash prize of $1,000. The award commemorates the life of George C. Lin, who died Tuesday, October 14, 2008, at the age of 37. From 2000 to 2003, George served as Founding Executive Director of the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit Asian Pacific American Film. To this date the organization has held its 11th annual consecutive film festival in Washington, D.C., for Asian Pacific American and Asian Diaspora films.

The GCL Memorial Fund Donates $2,500 to APA Film

2010-10-04T16:30:00.000-07:00

As an update to our charitable activities, we're proud to announce a $1,500 donation towards this year's 2010 George C. Lin Emerging Filmmaker Award for the 11th Annual DC Asian Pacific American Film Festival as well as a $1,000 general donation to APA Film. Here's the press release from APA:

Lin Family Donates to APA Film

Technically, all the credit goes to YOU for your generous support that has made this donation possible. Thank you all for your very kind and generous support!

As you know DC APA film was George's original baby. Over the past couple years, we've gotten to know the entire crew at APA Film. These are wonderful, hard-working people who, in addition to their daytime jobs, work tirelessly to bring the most amazing Asian-American films to Washington D.C. for your viewing entertainment and appreciation. We want to do everything possible to help this non-profit running for many years to come and happy to be a part of their activities this year through the giving of the 2010 George C. Lin Emerging Filmmaker Award.

If you can and if you are in the DC area, please attend the film festival which takes place NOW from October 7 - 16. Please go out and support APA!

The 11th Annual DC APA Film Festival Schedule and Blog

Imerman Angels

2010-09-27T21:06:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Aya Ibarra for the heads up on a really fantastic, unique non-profit organization called Imerman Angels. From the website:

Imerman Angels carefully matches and individually pairs a person touched by cancer (a cancer fighter or survivor) with someone who has fought and survived the same type of cancer (a Mentor Angel). Cancer caregivers (spouses, parents, children and other family and friends of fighters) also receive 1-on-1 connections with other caregivers and survivors. These 1-on-1 relationships inspire hope and offer the chance to ask personal questions and receive support from someone who is uniquely familiar with the experience. The service is absolutely free and helps anyone touched by any type of cancer, at any cancer stage level, at any age, living anywhere in the world. Imerman Angels is a federally registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.

Imerman Angels: One-On-One Cancer Support

Please take a look and share with your friends, colleagues and family.

2010 Mid-Year Update

2010-07-07T21:09:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone. My apologies for the radio silence since the end of last year. I expect to update the site in the coming weeks regarding our charitable activities for 2010. Hope everyone is having a wonderful summer!

Here's a commentary from Karin Anna Cheung on the making of her first short film "Boom" dedicated to George and played last year at the San Diego Asian Film Festival. Thank you Karin.

Cancer: Big C to Little c

2009-12-01T18:57:00.000-08:00

A nice editorial from George's friend Toan Lam. Please click on the link to read more...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/toan-lam/cancer-big-c-to-little-c_b_354453.html

Digital Tribute to George -- 2009 San Diego Asian Film Festival

2009-12-01T18:34:00.000-08:00

If you weren't able to see the films at the festival, the SDAFF crew was kind enough to post them all online (except for Julie Kim's film - Julie?). Thanks to all the filmmakers and friends who made the evening of October 19, 2009 a very memorable one.

Eric Byler
Caroline Pho & John Lopez
Patricio Ginelsa & A.J. Calomay
Karin Anna Cheung & Grace Su
Josh Tucker
Mark Arbitrario
Roman Cortez
Julie Kim

Electronic Letters from George

2009-12-01T18:08:00.000-08:00

Here is one of the short films created for the film tribute to George that took place at October's SDAFF Film Festival. Many thanks go out to the filmmakers Patricio Ginelsa and A.J. Calomay for creating this beautiful and personal film. More films will be posted in the coming days...

Electronic Letters From George (George Lin Tribute Video by Patricio Ginelsa & A.J. Calomay) from Kid Heroes on Vimeo.

From Patricio's website:

for George Lin
by Patricio Ginelsa & A.J. Calomay

Music: Jonathan Wandag
Sound Mix: Ryan Frias

Produced by Kid Heroes Productions/Xylophone Films
for the San Diego Asian Film Foundation
George Lin Digital Slam Tribute

OUR TRIBUTE TO OUR AVID SUPPORTER GEORGE...
On 10/19/09, the San Diego Asian Film Festival hosted a special tribute to SDAFF Associate Festival Director George Lin, who passed away last year from cancer. The festival staff asked us to join other filmmakers in creating a short video that honored George and his taste for "bad movies". The video tribute theme: "You know you're watching a bad movie when..."

A.J. Calomay and myself came up with this short piece called "Electronic Letters From George". To understand this video is to understand the kind of support George gave us as filmmakers. George was an avid supporter of our work and always programmed our music videos into the film festival, one of which won us our first ever award. He even convinced us to create the "YOUR POWER" PSA spots not too long before he passed away. I'll even admit that a small reason I jumped back into making our current crop of music videos was because of George's love for the medium.

Thank you, George and thank YOU!

More coverage on George Lin Day in San Diego

2009-10-20T17:12:00.001-07:00

Thanks to Ron Sanchez and DC APA Film for writing this very touching article:

http://www.apafilm.org/blog/george-c-lin-day-in-the-city-of-san-diego/

The proclamation by San Diego City Council can be found in the City's video archive:

http://granicus.sandiego.gov/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=3&clip_id=3542

Happy Birthday to DC APA Film

2009-10-13T16:47:00.000-07:00

Ten years ago George founded DC APA Film and it was a pleasure to return this past weekend to where it all started for George and to help celebrate the closing night of Asian Pacific American Film's 10th Anniversary Festival in Washington, DC. Double screenings of Children of Invention as well as a director and producer Q&A session were held followed by a reception where the Award was presented to filmmaker Tze Chun. Afterward, a screening of Susie Ibarra and Roberto Rodriguez 's Electric Kulintang music video was dedicated to George and played overhead. It was no coincidence that it was George who introduced uber-talented musicians and friends Susie and Roberto to another friend, music director/producer Karen Lin, known for the music videos she produced for Snow Patrol, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, etc. An extra big thanks goes out to Tad Doyle, Anna Petrillo, Christian Oh and the rest of the DC APA Film staff for letting us be a part of this memorable evening. Happy 10th Birthday to DC APA Film!

DC APA Film Blog: Chun Receives Award, George Lin Honored

Dear Friends -

2009-10-06T20:24:00.000-07:00

This site was created in tandem with George's Facebook tribute page. Here you will be able to find updates on the charitable activities of The George C. Lin Memorial Fund. For our supporters, I encourage you to send us an email if you would like to be included on our electronic mailing list. We would love to update you from time to time. Just write "Please include me" on the subject line of your email and send it to georgelinfund@gmail.com

Thank you for kind generosity and support.

Warm wishes,

The Lin Family

The "Georgie"

2009-10-05T19:53:00.000-07:00

By Chin Wen Chuang

Tze Chun to Receive Lin Emerging Filmmaker Award

2009-10-02T23:10:00.000-07:00

http://www.apafilm.org/press/chun-to-receive-lin-emerging-filmmaker-award/

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In conjunction with the 10th anniversary of its festival, D.C. Asian Pacific American Film announced that filmmaker Tze Chun has been selected the award recipient of the first ever George C. Lin Emerging Filmmaker Award in recognition of his feature length film, Children of Invention. The film is a timely narrative of economic and family hardship about two children forced to fend for themselves when their mother gets embroiled in a pyramid scheme and disappears. The award recognizes the director for his talent and exemplary commitment to filmmaking within the Asian and Asian American media & arts genre.

“I’m touched and humbled to receive the 2009 George C. Lin Emerging Filmmaker Award,” said Chun upon hearing the news. “I didn’t have the pleasure of knowing George when he was with us, but his memorial fund serves as a reminder to filmmakers that we are only one part of a community of Asian American artists, audiences, and those rare connectors like George, that are so important in bridging that gap.”

Chun will be officially recognized as recipient of this award on October 10th, 2009, at the D.C. debut of Children of Invention, and will be awarded a cash prize and an original bronze sculpture from the artist Chin Wen Chuang.

“Children of Invention captured our hearts and imagination, showing us a depth of character, a portrayal of responsibility, compassion, spirit and wit,” said Tad Doyle, Programming Director of APA Film. “Mr. Chun’s commitment to this film embodies the spirit in which The George C. Lin Emerging Filmmaker Award is being given. It is envisioned by DC APA Film that the award be given to a young ﬁlmmaker whose work at the festival not only shows talent but also the independent voice that George so embraced.”

Chun, 29, has already won numerous awards this year and recently was named one of the “25 New Faces of Independent Film” by Filmmaker Magazine.

Ten years ago, George Lin founded and served as Executive Director of Asian Pacific American Film, Inc. George made a lasting mark on the Asian and Asian American film community through his involvement with D.C. Asian Pacific American Film and thereafter the San Diego Asian Film Foundation, having served as program director and Associate Festival Director. Additionally, George was an active and important figure in the Asian and Asian American media & arts community and played a key role as a spokesperson for Asian and Asian American recognition across the spectrum of film, media, art and education. Unfortunately, in October of last year, coinciding with the run of both the D.C. and San Diego Asian film festivals, George passed away from a lifelong illness at the age of 37.

Children of Invention will screen on Oct. 10th at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. at the Goethe Institut. A Q&A and reception follows both shows. The DC APA Film Festival takes place from October 1 through 10. Visit www.apafilm.org for more information.

Before We Close and George Lin Tribute at the San Diego Asian Film Festival

2009-10-01T21:49:00.001-07:00

At 6pm, Monday, October 19th, 2009, a special film tribute to George is being held to celebrate his apparently notorious taste for bad films. The tribute will be a collage of short films put together by five filmmakers, including many San Diego Film Festival alumni. The free tribute and reception, supported by the generosity of the San Diego Asian Film Foundation, are both open to the public. Before We Close, a film by Joshua Tucker, which George produced and which was completed just before his passing, will be screened at 7 pm, after the reception. All proceeds from ticket sales of Before We Close will benefit the George C. Lin Memorial Fund.

Here's the trailer for Before We Close:

Boom directed by Karin Anna Cheung - a sneak preview of one of the films playing at the George Lin Tribute

George Lin Day in the City of San Diego - October 13, 2009

2009-10-01T21:40:00.000-07:00

I’m pleased to announce that the City of San Diego has declared Tuesday, October 13th, 2009, George Lin Day. This declaration will be made by Councilmember Carl DeMaio on 10am that day at the City Council meeting. We are both pleasantly surprised and humbled by the recognition of George by his community. We especially feel an enormous gratitude to the City of San Diego. Our family and George’s friends will show our support by attending that City Council meeting. I invite you to come join us for this very special day. Also, at this time, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Lee Ann Kim and the City Council of San Diego for putting forth this idea and making it happen.

Here's the statement sent to us by John Ly at Carl DeMaio's office:

“George C. Lin” Day

Presented by Councilmember Carl DeMaio

WHEREAS, George C. Lin was born on August 16, 1971 in Rolla, Missouri; and

WHEREAS, at 18 years old, George C. Lin was diagnosed with pheochromocytoma, a rare and debilitating disease that continuously challenged him throughout his life; and

WHEREAS, in 1999, George C. Lin became the first Executive Director of Asian Pacific American Film, a non-profit corporation in Washington DC; and

WHEREAS, in 2003, George C. Lin followed his passion which led him to San Diego and a post at the San Diego Asian Film Foundation as Associate Festival Director; and

WHEREAS, under the leadership of George C. Lin, the San Diego Asian Film Festival has grown to screen over 150 films and attracts over 12,000 people every year.

WHEREAS, the San Diego Asian Film Festival is entering its 10^th year and first year since George C. Lin’s passing, it is clear that George C. Lin has left an indelible mark on all aspects of the yearly festival; and

WHEREAS, George C. Lin lived his life without the fear of physical and mental challenge, without the envy of good health, and without the fear of death; and

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO that this council, for and on behalf of the citizens of San Diego, does hereby recognize George C. Lin for all contributions to the City of San Diego.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that October 13th, 2009, is hereby proclaimed to be “George C. Lin” Day in the City of San Diego.

The Making of The George C. Lin Emerging Filmmaker Award

2009-10-01T10:58:00.000-07:00

The sculptor of the award Chin Wen Chuang was kind enough to send us photos of the entire molding and casting process in almost real time. The award itself was an endeavor many months in the making and what you see here is an idea that starts with clay and then finally cast in bronze. For somebody like me who knows little about this process, it's truly remarkable to see something grow from just an idea out of thin air into a 7.5 pound work of art. Chin, a friend of George's, was generous enough to donate her creativity, talent and countless hours towards this project to see it to completion. In the first few photos of the album, you get to see some of the clay models that she produced before we decided on the final version. Hope you enjoy the photos.

The Award from start to finish...

A Letter to Our Supporters

2009-09-30T20:30:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends and Family,

This passing year has given us many reasons to pause and reflect upon the course of our lives. Many of us are fortunately blessed with good health, family, friends and a supportive environment. While we try not to take these things for granted, unfortunately, often the experience of a great loss is the only reason for when we choose to seek change and meaning in life. Losing a family member and close friend is devastating. However, it is through these times of chaos that we often begin to find meaning or a sense of renewal in our own lives. Although George is no longer with us, we can still embrace our memories of the past, and at the same time, feel enriched for the life that is still before us. Indeed, not all is lost.

As most of you know already, just under a year ago, we had a vague idea of what was initially envisioned for The George C. Lin Memorial Fund. Today, we have begun to take steps to ensure a long and lasting future for the fund and to preserve George’s memory and legacy. Ultimately, our aim for the fund is to recognize individuals and groups whose passion and commitment in the field of film, media, art or education have a chance to shine as brightly as George’s life and spirit. Specifically, the fund will provide grants to students, educators and professionals in the non-profit media & arts industries. Additionally, the fund will provide grants and other forms of support promoting Pheochromocytoma cancer research, education and awareness.

More importantly, we want to take this opportunity to thank you for your generous support of The George C. Lin Memorial Fund. The San Diego Foundation is helping us to manage these donations for the fund, which will only be used for charitable activities that advance the aims of the fund. Most importantly, above and beyond your generous donations, we appreciate the kindness and support you’ve extended to us throughout the past year.

With that, I leave you with a quote from Charles Kingsley, which reminds us that “All we need to make us really happy is something to be enthusiastic about”. We’re looking forward to keeping George’s spirit very much alive through the future of the fund -- and we hope to include you in that journey.

Warm regards,

The Lin Family