At the Dow Fund Dinner held on December 2, 2016, AALAM presented the 2016 AALAM Community Service Award to former AALAM board member, Geoffrey G. Why, whose dedicated service to the Boston Asian community truly embodies the spirit of giving back. 

In addition, AALAM announced a new tradition of making a donation to a charity of the Community Award recipient’s choice in recognition of the recipient’s work and in hopes of inspiring future generations of lawyers to give back. 

Geoff has decided to split this $500 donation between two organizations: the Asian Community Development Corporation and the Dow Fund.  Please see below a note of thanks from Geoff.

Dear AALAM, 

First and foremost, I want to thank AALAM and its board for the 2016 Community Service Award.  I am truly honored to be recognized for my service.

I am so happy to share this award and its generous gift to two organizations that I have worked with closely.

I am a board and executive committee member of the Asian Community Development Corporation (ACDC).  ACDC is the leader in developing and preserving affordable housing in Greater Boston where Asian Americans, live, work, and play.  Since 1987, ACDC has built over $110 million of new mixed income, mixed-use real estate developments that are home to more than 1000 residents.

I am also a board and executive member of the Dow Fund which was established to provide resources to ensure access to the legal system for Asian Americans who are deprived of justice because of barriers such as language, race, culture, poverty, or immigration status.  Over the past 30 years, the Dow Fund has launched numerous projects, including: Anti-Asian Violence Education Project, Asian Battered Women Project, Asian Immigrant Rights Initiative, Cambodian Outreach Project, Chinatown Stabilization Project, and Community Internship.

Geoffrey G Why