17 Apr Kheir Clinic’s 40th Anniversary Gala Honors USC President Beong-Soo Kim, Former SoCalGas CEO Maryam Brown, and NASA Astronaut José Hernández
(LOS ANGELES, CA – April 17, 2026) Kheir Clinic, a nonprofit Federally Qualified Health Center anchored in Koreatown, hosted its 40th Anniversary Gala on Thursday, April 17, at the InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown.
Emceed by Rob Fukuzaki, ABC7 sports anchor and inductee of the Southern California Sports Broadcasters Hall of Fame, the celebration drew more than 480 corporate executives, elected officials, health care professionals, and community leaders for an evening marking four decades of growth and mission-driven impact. The gala reflected Kheir’s journey from a single office into one of Los Angeles’s most distinctive safety-net health systems, built on an enduring commitment to culturally and linguistically responsive care for the region’s most vulnerable residents.
The gala recognized three leaders whose careers reflect the values of access, service, and equity at the heart of Kheir’s mission.
- Beong-Soo Kim, USC’s 13th president and the first Asian American to lead the university in its 145-year history, received the Vanguard of a New Generation Award for his visionary leadership in higher education, his dedication to expanding access and innovation, and his work deepening connections between universities and the communities they serve.
- José Hernández, NASA astronaut, received the Vanguard Leadership Award for his extraordinary journey from farmworker to astronaut and his lifelong dedication to education and service, which stands as a powerful example of expanding opportunity and representation in science and technology for communities across Los Angeles and beyond.
- Maryam Brown, Former President and CEO of SoCalGas, the nation’s largest natural gas utility, received the Trailblazer Award for her leadership in advancing equitable access to essential services, strengthening critical infrastructure, and championing initiatives that uplift underserved communities and promote long-term sustainability.
Special guests Byron Scott, Lakers legend and former head coach, and Cece Scott, health care professional and philanthropist, offered remarks on the profound impact of community investment in organizations like Kheir.
Kheir Clinic was founded in September 1986 by the late Colonel Young Oak Kim, a decorated World War II hero. Convinced that no one should be denied healthcare because of language, national origin, or financial hardship, he launched the Korean Health Education Information and Research Center. Now known as Kheir Clinic, the organization operates as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) with six clinic sites, a pharmacy, two Adult Day Health Care centers, and a Family Medicine Residency Program welcoming its inaugural class in July 2026.
Kheir is the only FQHC in the United States to offer fully integrated services in five languages: English, Bengali, Korean, Spanish, and Thai, reflecting a patient population of whom more than 66% are best served in a language other than English. Proceeds from the gala will support critical assistance to those newly diagnosed with cancer.
“Illness does not ask about income, and cancer does not ask about where you come from.” said Erin Pak, CEO of Kheir Clinic. “We are not strangers to one another; we are brothers and sisters, and we have a responsibility to leave no one behind. Thanks to the support of our community, early diagnosis and treatment are possible, allowing patients and their families to regain precious time.”
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About Kheir: Since 1986, Kheir Clinic has provided culturally and linguistically sensitive health care and human services to medically underserved communities in Southern California. Now a Federally Qualified Health Center, Kheir delivers comprehensive services across four areas: Health Care, Social Services, Adult Day Health Care, and Affordable Housing. Kheir is the only FQHC in the nation offering a full suite of services in English, Bengali, Korean, Spanish, and Thai.