The Chinatown Service Center (CSC), founded in 1971, has been deeply rooted for over fifty years. Since taking on the role of President and CEO in 2013, Peter Ng, an entrepreneur, has injected a spirit of business into community service, leading CSC towards comprehensive multi-ethnic integration. The organization, which was once mired in financial difficulties, has developed into a community development powerhouse, winning the honor of “2025 California Nonprofit Organization of the Year”.
Peter Ng immigrated to Los Angeles from Hong Kong at a young age with his parents. After working in banking and then transitioning to real estate and various business ventures, he has upheld the belief that “doing the right thing with the correct approach will yield good results”. He has applied business management techniques to community organization operations, improving efficiency and service quality, guiding CSC from resource scarcity to steady development.
According to CSC official data, under his leadership, the organization reaches over 30,000 people annually with approximately 150,000 service interactions and revisitations. With an annual budget exceeding tens of millions of dollars, CSC serves diverse language groups including Chinese, Spanish, Vietnamese, English, and more.
Despite being named “Chinatown”, under Peter Ng’s leadership, CSC is committed to cross-cultural integration. The service is no longer limited to the Chinese community; other Asian ethnicities, African-Americans, Hispanic individuals, and other Caucasian groups can also receive assistance. He emphasizes that regardless of ethnicity, CSC will lend a helping hand to anyone facing difficulties.
Peter Ng often says, “We are not just givers, but companions.” With the gradual expansion of CSC’s service locations, he frequently steps out of the office to visit different centers, listen to volunteers’ feedback, and provide various support to frontline service providers.
Under Peter Ng’s planning and promotion, CSC opened a new facility in Alhambra at the end of 2024, covering an area of over 43,000 square feet. The facility includes a community medical center offering internal medicine, dentistry, ophthalmology, mental health services, as well as a pharmacy, social services, a coffee area, and a PACE center providing comprehensive care programs for the elderly.
This state-of-the-art facility not only serves as a medical hub for the community but also demonstrates CSC’s outreach beyond Chinatown, touching a wider range of people.
Peter Ng stated, “CSC’s mission has always been to help immigrants integrate into American society, maintain family integrity, and promote multicultural harmony.”
With the footsteps of Southern California’s Chinese migration, the center has expanded to the San Gabriel Valley area, including cities such as Monterey Park and Hacienda Heights. With seven locations in the greater Los Angeles area, CSC is fully responsive to community needs.
Peter Ng, a former chairman of the Los Angeles Chinese Chamber of Commerce, is not only a leader in traditional overseas Chinese organizations but also a practitioner of community integration, professional management, and cultural heritage. He is often described as “the entrepreneurial soul of CSC”. Under his leadership, CSC has evolved from a small volunteer-based social welfare organization into a highly praised vital community hub in Southern California.
Drawing on years of experience in banking and various business management roles, Peter Ng has infused efficiency and modern management concepts into CSC, leading the organization to overcome the challenges of funding shortages and aging structures. He has also nurtured a new generation of social workers and management teams to carry on the organization’s mission.
Peter Ng stated, “I believe non-profit organizations also need professional management to truly achieve long-term development. Our goal is to not only help the community survive but also live with dignity and hope.”
In the diverse cultural melting pot of Southern California, the Chinatown Service Center not only guides new immigrants but also provides a warm support for vulnerable populations. As time progresses, this long-standing institution rooted in Chinatown remains true to its original mission of “people-centered, serving the community”, reaching into every corner in need.