The CACCC was formed in December 2005 to address the lack of linguistically and culturally appropriate end-of-life information and training available to the Chinese community and those who serve it. The CACCC incorporated in 2007, and achieved 501c3 tax-exempt status in the same year. A Board of Directors – all dedicated volunteers – sets policy for the organization. It uses the facilities of its member organizations for trainings and meetings. The coalition’s focus is helping Chinese Americans with advance care planning, assisting with palliative care and pain management, providing respite and hospice volunteer training, targeting education for members of the Chinese-American community, and meeting the critical need of educating health care professionals who serve Chinese Americans.
Timeline
2026
May 2026
CACCC Founder Sandy Chen Stokes, RN, MSN, stepped down as executive director, will serve as Senior Advisor and continue her volunteer work in program and curriculum development. CACCC Board Members Alex Tsao, PhD and Cynthia X. Pan, MD appointed as Co-Executive Directors, in a volunteer capacity.
April 2026
CACCC received Behavioral Health Community Agency Hero Award for Suicide Prevention Program.
April 2026
CACCC received $1,000 Sponsorship Grant from Kaiser Permanente.
2025
September 2025
CACCC receives $19,076 grant from Silicon Valley Community Foundation (SVCF) in support of its mission and core programs and $10,000 from Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group Community Health Care Endowment Fund for Suicide Prevention.
August 9, 2025
CACCC celebrated its 20th anniversary at Milpitas Community Center on 8/9. The theme of the celebration was “Compassion in Action: Embracing Caregiving with Human-Centered AI” featuring keynote speakers Dr. Jonathan H. Chen, Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Stanford Center for Biomedical Informatics Research, and Peggy Sheng, former Chief Operating Officer of Coalition of Asian-American IPA (CAIPA).
August 2025
CACCC Celebrated 20 years of services by hosting a series of in-person or vitual workshops, seminars, healthcare professional forum from 8/9 – 8/21. The celebration and fundraising activities raised over $200,000.
May 2025
Led by CACCC volunteers Arnold Leung, Jen Chen and Jenny Luo , the first “Heart to Heart Café” event was successfully completed in Hong Kong on April 14.
March 2025
CACCC held virtual Speaker Bureau Training. The training was conducted by four lecturers: Alex Tsao, PhD, Sandy Chen Stokes, RN, MSN, Jean Yih, MBA, and Hongyan Yang, PhD. 10 people participated this training.
March 2025
To better serve CACCC’s global audienceall CACCC weekly Wednesday forums began held at 4:30 pm Pacific Time; 7:30 pm Eastern Time, and 7:30 am (Thursday). The new schedule:
Week 1: Doctor Talk
Week 2: Spiritual Talk
Weeks 3, 4, & 5: Compassionate Care Forum
February, 2025
Lillian Don Dong Yang Lirong generously donated a portion of the proceeds from her book launch of “Ink Dyeing Beauty – Lillian Calligraphy Art” to the CACCC.
2024
November 2024
CACCC announced 20th Anniversary Art Design Contest for Compassion in Action: Empowering Caregiving with Human-Centered AI, a fundraiser and a series of educational programs to celebrate two decades of service and the future of caregiving. Art design winner, Athena Zhang, was announced in December.
September 19-October 2, 2024
CACCC’s Medical Team Gary Lee, MD; Sandy Chen Stokes, RN, MSN; Esther Luo, MD; Janet Lee, PT, Feldenkrais Practitioner, and Nancy Chiang, RN, visited Wuhan and Beijing, China at the invitation of Director Dong Wei, the Wuhan Office of Project HOPE, participated in various conferences and ELNEC master training courses on palliative care.
September 2024
the Department of Health Care Services and the California DOJ’s Department of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse commissioned the California Hospice and Palliative Care Association (CHAPCA) to collaborate with CACCC to produce a Chinese-language campaign on “Preventing California Chinese from Fraud by Using Hospice Care Services”.
April 24-May 7, 2024
To celebrate CACCC 19th Anniversary, CACCC hosted a series of in-person seminars “When East Meets West: A Bridge to End-of-Life Care” , featuring Dr. Guijun Lu, Director of Pain Management of Tsinghua Changgung Hospital , and Dr. Esther Luo, head of the outpatient palliative care program at Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara.
2023
November, 2023
Archstone Foundation and The Aging & Public Health Section of The American Public Health Association presented CACCC with 2023 Award for Excellence in Program Innovation in Atlanta GA.
June & July 2023
In June, CACCC received $10,000 grant from Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group for CACCC initiatives. In July, Friends and Family of Yi-Lee Don Raised $20,665 for CACCC.
May 2023
The Wednesday virtual Seminar series “Mindful Caregiving Stress Reduction” was renamed to “Weekly Forum on Compassionate Care”.
March 2023
CACCC introduced a new virtual Loss & Grief Workshop.
February, 2023
El Camino Hospital and the CACCC successfully completed the Patient Ambassador Volunteer Training.
January 2023
CACCC launched new virtual Spiritual Talk: “What Ultimately Matters at the End of Life”. The inaugural series features respected spiritual leaders from the U.S., China and Taiwan to address timely spirituality matters at end of life.
January 2023
CACCC, in collaboration with Mettle Health and a grant from the Stupski Foundation, announced the completion of a series end-of-life care videos that address culturally taboo topics and interventions with the goal of improving end-of-life conversations with Chinese American people .
2022
December 2022
CACCC Received $10K from SCAN Health Plan’s Independence at Home. Funds will support new 2022-2023 Coping with Grief and Loss Workshops to benefit Chinese Community.
October 2022
the first post-pandemic pre-care planning seminar in the Bay Area of Northern California was held at the Golden Crane Senior Center.
August 20, 2022
Virtual Celebration of 17 Years of Compassion in Action: What Matters Most at the End of Life, Keynote speaker: BJ Miller, MD, Author of A Beginner’s Guide to the End, hospice and palliative care physician, and co-founder of Mettle Health.
June 2022
CACCC announced release of NHPCO’s New Chinese American Resource Guide Edition 2022.
May 2022
CACCC Malaysia Heart to Heart Café volunteer facilitators hosted the first in-person Heart to Heart Cafés.
May 2022
CACCC provided a six-hour training session for 32 social workers in hospices of the Li Ka Shing Foundation in 22 provinces in China to teach them how to use Heart to Heart Cards to discuss issues related to birth, aging, illness and death with patients and their families.
May, 2022
Dr. Shu-Ju Yang, a recipient of Cigna’s 2022 Community Ambassador Fellowship program, partnered with CACCC to lead an ACP project. This project attracted 455 participants in Taiwan.
March 2022
UCSF and CACCC announced Completion of Video Project: “Improving Advance Care Planning for the Chinese American Community.
February 2022
In collaboration with The Conversation Project, CACCC translated the Chinese version of What Matters to Me-A Workbook for People with Serious Illness.
2021
In 2021, CACCC held a total of 253 virtual and in-person events, reached 9,015 participants. Over 49,779 unique users came to CACCC’s website for information.
September 2021
On 9/18 and 9/25, CACCC successfully hosted online webinar of End-of-Life Conversations with Multigenerational Chinese American families and Heart to Heart Café.
July 2021
CACCC receives $10,000 donation from the Chinese Cancer Memorial Foundation.
June 2021
The Stupski Foundation recognized CACCC’s contribution to improving quality of life for people with serious illness and provided an unrestricted contribution of $10,000 in support of CACCC’s mission.
May, 2021
In recognition of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, Calvary Hospital acknowledged CACCC Founder Sandy Chen Stokes, RN, MSN for her dedication to educate the Chinese American community about their end-of-life options.
March 2021
CACCC launched virtual Doctor Talk: “Redefining What Matters”. The inaugural series features renowned doctors from the U.S., China and Taiwan to address timely matters of importance at end of life.
February 2021
In collaboration with The Conversation Project, CACCC produces six new Chinese version of the Conversation Guides.
2020
October 2020
CACCC virtually Celebrates 15 Years: “A Year to be Mindful”, featuring Cynthia Pan, MD, Chief of Geriatrics and Palliative Care Medicine NewYork-Presbyterian Queens and Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College.
May 2020
CACCC introduced Mindful Caregiving Stress Reduction program, virtually.
April, 2020
CACCC helped medical institutions and partner organizations by donating Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) including 5,000 surgical masks; additional 9,000 masks; 60 eye masks sent to New York; 500 protective clothing to partner organizations.
March 2020
COVID-19 and the global pandemic happened. CACCC suspended its patient ambassador services.
February 2020
CACCC introduced the Heart to Heart Cards, provided end-of-life education and held a Heart to Heart (HTH) Café in Taiwan.
2019
Held 33 Heart to Heart® Cafes, conducted 17 volunteer meetings and trainings, participated in 17 professional healthcare trainings and forums, held 13 AHCP presentations, and participated in 11 health fairs.
October 2019
Conducted 3 successful Heart to Heart® Cafés with AHCD introduction at UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center during Reimagine San Francisco.
October 2019
Partnered with Zen Caregiving Project (formerly Zen Hospice Project) to develop a Chinese Mindful Self-Care for Caregivers Training curriculum.
September 6, 2019
Partnered with AACI to present a professional healthcare workshop: Advanced Care Planning: How to Start the Conversation.
September 2019
CACCC Founder Sandy Chen Stokes, RN, MSN, named one of the 12 “Next Avenue’s 2019 Influencers in Aging”.
July 2019
Conducted a 30-hour Hospice and Palliative Care Volunteer training and hosted When East Meets West, a Professional Cultural Competency Forum in New York.
June 2019
Invited by the Project HOPE to conduct trainings and attend workshops in Wuhan, China.
May 2019
CACCC, one of four charitable organizations supported by the Chinese Cancer Memorial Foundation, received $125,000 from the proceeds from Tsai Chin concert.
April 13, 2019
CACCC in honor of National Healthcare Decisions Day, held an Advance Care Planning program: Starting the Conversation in Mountain View CA, which included AARP’s “What’s your end-of-life wish?” video, The Conversation Project Starter Kits and CCCC Decision Aids.
April 2019
CACCC Founder Sandy Chen Stokes was invited to present at the National Academies’ Public Workshop on Improving Access to and Equity of Care for People with Serious Illness in Washington DC.
March 2019
Partnered with Alhambra Hospital to launch a new Patient Ambassador Program in Alhambra CA.
2018
Held 22 Heart to Heart® Cafes, participated in 5 Health Fairs, held 9 ACP presentations, conducted 24 volunteer meetings and trainings, participated in 8 professional trainings, hosted 4 professional forums and held 2 fundraising dinners.
October-November 2018
Participated in the Reimagine New York Event, as well as conducted one Heart to Heart® Facilitator Training and hosted 5 Heart to Heart® Cafes.
October 2018
Hosted 2 Professional Forums: Compassion in Action – When East Meets West – in Sacramento and San Francisco.
September 2018
Partnered with AARP-AAPI’s Vulnerable Conversation Series: End of Life Storytelling Campaign to produce five videos that were released on AAPR/AAPI Facebook in October and November.
July 2018
Provided ACP presentation and Heart to Heart® Cafe to Zen Hospice Project volunteers. In return, CACCC volunteers received Mindful Caregiver Education at Zen Hospice Project.
April 2018
Invited by Project HOPE to conduct trainings from April 22 to 24 at Hubei Cancer Hospital, Wuhan Union Hospital, and Wuhan Tongji Hospital. Two Heart to Heart® Cafes were held at the Hubei Cancer Hospital.
March 2018
Conducted its Healthcare Professional Training and Heart to Heart® Café Facilitator Training at Boston Senior Home Center, Boston MA.
March 2018
Presented Compassion in Action, a series of educational and fundraising events held in Northern and Southern California from March 14 – March 18 in celebration of 12 years of community service. Educational programs included professional healthcare forums, community events and fundraising dinners.
2017
July 2017
CrossingsTV began regularly airing “Community Inspiration: Chinese American Coalition for Compassionate Care,” a 2½ minute introduction to CACCC, which continued throughout the third quarter of 2017.
June 2017
UChannel TV aired informative interviews in Chinese with CACCC Founder and Board Chair Sandy Chen Stokes regarding end-of- life issues including the Advance Health Care Directive (AHCD) and the Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) form.
June 2017
CACCC partnered with 9 agencies to provide its 5th 30-hour Chinese Hospice and Palliative Volunteer Training Program in Chinese and English with simultaneous interpretation in Sacramento, CA. There were 23 participants.
May 2017
CACCC began providing one-on- one assistance to Allied Pacific IPA patients and the general public to help them understand their end-of- life wishes, learn how to discuss their wishes with their family and doctor, and receive help in filling out the AHCD through regular office hours at CACCC’s office in El Monte, as well as at Allied Pacific Wellness Centers in Alhambra, Arcadia, and City of Industry. CACCC will also provide Annual Retreat Education for Allied Pacific IPA physicians and will work with Allied Pacific IPA to produce four End of Life TV episodes.
April 2017
CACCC hosted its first “Saying Goodbye With Love” Essay Contest in recognition of National Healthcare Decisions Day (April 16). A total of nine winning articles were selected by the judges for this event.
March 2017
CACCC Founder and Board Chair Sandy Chen Stokes was presented with the 2017 Compassionate Care Innovator Award for her extraordinary role in improving the quality of advance care planning and palliative care in California at the Coalition for Compassionate Care of California (CCCC) 9th Annual Summit held in Sacramento, CA. Sandy was one of the 2017 Summit Leadership Award honorees selected by the CCCC.
2016
Participated in 12 community outreach health fairs, presented at 5 professional trainings, provided 15 Advance Care Planning presentations, conducted 9 volunteer trainings and facilitated 58 Heart to Heart® Cafés.
2016
Held the 2016 Volunteer Appreciation Party in Southern California.
2016
Worked with the Nous Foundation to help them make culturally appropriate videos for the U.S. Mandarin speaking population.
July 2016-June 2017
Received a grant from SCAN Health Plan to do community outreach.
June-December 2016
Completed a grant from the PAMF Community Health Care Endowment Fund to do community outreach.
2016
Held three Kathy & Windy Premieres and Panel Discussions in Mountain View, Sacramento and Rosemead. Kathy & Windy is a documentary film produced by CACCC, featuring a mother and daughter facing death.
2015
Participated in several community outreach health fairs, presented at 10 professional trainings, provided 10 Advance Care Planning presentations, conducted 10 volunteer trainings and facilitated 45 Heart to Heart® Cafés.
2015
Held CACCC’s 10th Anniversary Celebration Fundraising Event. Keynote speakers from Taiwan included Dr. Co-Shi Chantal Chao, RN, PhD and Grace Pao Fang Chang. Other 10th Anniversary Events included Health Professional Forums, Public Forums, a 30-Hour End of Life Care Training, and a one-day Volunteer Training.
2015
Completed grants from the PAMF Community Health Care Endowment Fund, the Coalition for Compassionate Care of California and the California HealthCare Foundation.
2014
Presented at 11 professional trainings, provided 3 Advance Care Planning presentations, conducted 1 volunteer training and facilitated 48 Heart to Heart® Cafes.
2014
Held one 30-Hour Hospice & Palliative Care Volunteer Training at Methodist Hospital in Southern California.
2014
Completed grants from the PAMF Community Health Care Endowment Fund, HealthCare Partners, Methodist Hospital in Southern California and the Saint Francis Foundation.
2013
Participated in 10 community outreach health fairs, presented at 3 professional trainings, provided 9 Advance Care Planning presentations, and conducted 7 volunteer trainings.
2013
Held a fundraising event in the Bay Area.
2013
Began the Kathy & Windy documentary film project.
2013
Published the book Learning to Let Go: Saying Goodbye Peacefully.
2013
Completed grants from the PAMF Community Health Care Endowment Fund, Dignity Health, and Coalition for Compassionate Care of California.
2012
Participated in 5 community outreach health fairs, presented at 12 professional trainings, provided 16 Advance Care Planning presentations and conducted 6 volunteer trainings.
2012
Publishing separate Chinese and English editions of our first book on end of life issues, Learning to Let Go: Saying Goodbye Peacefully.
2012
Revised and conducted extended outreach on using POLST and the Advance Health Care Directive.
2012
Held CACCC’s second Hospice and Palliative Care volunteer trainings in San Francisco.
2012
Completed grants from the PAMF Community Health Care Endowment Fund, Coalition for Compassionate Care of California and the California HealthCare Foundation.
2011
Presented at 8 professional trainings, provided 5 Advance Care Planning presentations, and conducted 3 volunteer trainings.
2011
CACCC conducted its second formal fundraiser, Voices of Life in the Fall, raising over $100,000.
2011
CACCC, one of three charitable organizations supported by the Chinese Cancer Memorial Foundation, received $41,200 from the proceeds of the Tsai Chin concert.
2011
CACCC conducted a 30-hour Hospice and Palliative Care Volunteer training in Northern California at El Camino Hospital in Mt. View and at City of Hope National Medical Center in Southern California – the nation’s first Hospice Volunteer Training Workshops in Chinese. The project was funded by a grant from the California HealthCare Foundation.
2010
Participated in community outreach health fairs, presented at 6 professional trainings, provided 17 Advance Care Planning presentations and conducted 2 volunteer trainings.
2010
AARP Inspire Awards: CACCC founder and Executive Director Sandy Chen Stokes was one of the ten nationwide receiving the award, along with Maya Angelou, Elizabeth Warren, Joy Behar, Tony Danza, and Henry Winkler. The award “salutes outstanding individuals who are using their energy, creativity and passion to make the world a better place.”
2010
Developed the curriculum for the Chinese Hospice Volunteer Training Program.
2009
Presented at 5 professional trainings, provided 3 Advance Care Planning presentations and conducted 1 volunteer training.
2009
Held 4th Anniversary Celebration Fundraising Event.
2009
Completed grant from Stanford Geriatric Education Center.
2009
Produced Hospice Foundation of America’s first-ever Chinese/English Journeys issue, a publication on overcoming guilt related to caring for a dying loved one.
2009
Translated the POLST form into Chinese.
2009
Revised and edited the UCSF Chinese Easy California Advance Health Care Directive Form for immediate use in the Chinese community.
2008
Held 3 community outreach events, conducted 3 ACP presentations and 20 professional trainings.
2008
CACCC, one of three charitable organizations supported by the Chinese Cancer Memorial Foundation, received funding from the proceeds of the Tsai Chin concert.
2008
CACCC received Kaiser’s David Lawrence Community Service Award, an annual national award. The CACCC was one of only four community organizations in the nation to receive this special recognition and the $10,000 award that accompanied it.
2008
Received grant from Stanford Geriatric Education Center.
2008
Completed grant from the Lance Armstrong Foundation and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Endowment Fund.
2007
Participated in 4 community outreach events, provided 14 ACP presentations, presented at 15 professional trainings and conducted 5 volunteer trainings.
2007
Received grant from the Lance Armstrong Foundation.
2007
CACCC was incorporated in California as a nonprofit and received 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, becoming eligible to receive tax-deductible donations and grants.
2006
Held 2 end-of life community outreach events for Chinese Americans in the South Bay.
2006
First Volunteer & Caregiver End of Life Training at Kaiser Medical Center, Santa Clara, conducted under an ACSCCU mini grant. 99 participants attended.
2005
2005
The CACCC was formed in December 2005 to address the lack of linguistically and culturally appropriate end-of-life information and training available to the Chinese community and those who serve it.