1973
Beverley Yip founds Union of Pan Asian Communities (UPAC) in response to the need for basic services among the impoverished, ill and limited English-speaking Pan Asians.
UPAC begins as a coalition of organizations from the Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Korean, Gumanian and Samoan communities. | 1974
UPAC incorporates as a private, non-profit organization. The City and County of San Diego award UPAC an initial grant of $36,000 to provide language and cultural adjustment assistance.
Vernon Yoshioka becomes the first chairman of the Board of Directors.
Lamb Chevrolet sponsors the Pan Asian Bulletin, UPAC's first newsletter. | 1975
Southeast Asian refugees arriving at Camp Pendleton participate in cross-cultural adjustment programs developed by UPAC.
UPAC moves to 2459 Market Street.
Mental health services begins with a $100,000 grant from the County of San Diego.
UPAC begins critical services to the Pan Asian elderly, including nutrition education, the congregate meal program , and in-home assistance to prevent institutional care. |
1977
UPAC receives its first corporate donation of $1,600 from Convair.
 | 1979
A model of parent education services for Pan Asian families is developed to prevent child abuse and neglect.
 | 1981
UPAC moves to its present headquarters in Golden Hill. The purchase of the building was made possible by generous donations from the Yip family, UPAC board of directors, community supporters and staff members. |
1984
Thanks to federal funding, the Southeast Asian Developmental Disabilities Program begins assisting families with infants at risk.
UPAC becomes a certified United Way agency, eligible for funding from its annual community fund-raising campaign. | 1985
Hahn Sanders and Gil Ontai co-chair the First Annual Dinner, raising $9,404 for UPAC. | 1989
Margaret Iwanaga-Penrose joins UPAC leadership and becomes the President & CEO in 1990.
SDG&E produces a UPAC video to illustrate the agency's services.
The San Diego Bilingual Telecommunications Project begins providing consumer education on telecommunication issues to Southeast Asians and Hispanics. |
1990
Amy Tan, the renowned author, is the keynote speaker at the Fifth Annual Dinner chaired by Mitsuo Tomita with committee members Junko Cushman, Kathy Chin, Katherine Nakamura and May Toy.
The Pan Asian Drug Program begins educating the Southeast Asian and Filipino communities on the impact of drug use and abuse.
Bank of America Education Fund enables Southeast Asian communities to access banking services. | 1991
Founding Executive Director Beverley Yip passes away and the Golden Hill building is dedicated in her honor.
The Alcohol Prevention Program educates the Pan Asian communities on alcohol use and abuse.
Southeast Asians become licensed child care providers and obtain licensing for day care homes through the Refugee Child Care Provider Training.
The County of San Diego selects UPAC to provide mental health services in New Beginnings, an innovative multi-service collaboration.
Pan Asian High Risk Youth Project receives $611,700 to reduce substance abuse, delinquency and gang involvement. | 1992
The Asian Pacific Islander Communities Against Tobacco Project addresses the high-risk use of tobacco through health and cessation education.
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1993
UPAC receives the C. Everett Koop National Health Award for the ground-breaking Samoan Community Exercise for Better Health Project.
Home-School Partnership programs increase parent involvement in their children's academic progress. The SDSU Foundation, San Diego City Schools, Pacific Telesis and the Edna McConnel Clark Foundation lend financial support. | 1995
The Refugee Family Self-Sufficiency Program reduces welfare dependence and increases self-sufficiency.
UPAC begins a long and rewarding collaboration with the San Diego Police Department to create the Indochinese Community Crime Resistance Project. The project provides substance abuse education for Indochinese youth.
High cancer risk among Southeast Asians is addressed with the inception of the Southeast Asian Health Care Access Project which increases access and utilization of cancer prevention and treatment services. | 1996
The ground-breaking Teen Suicide Prevention Program begins to assist high-risk Filipino youth thanks to a San Diego Foundation grant. A teen suicide prevention manual is also produced with funding from the Fieldstone Foundation.
The Alcohol and Drug Treatment program becomes one of two programs statewide to address chemical dependency in the Southeast Asian communities. Wells Fargo funds drug-free social and recreational activities. |
1997
Susan Lew chairs the Development Circle.
The Yip family establishes a scholarship fund for future community leaders.
The Multicultural Economic Development program begins providing small business technical assistance and training to Asian entrepreneurs. Mary Louise and Charlie Robins lend their support.
 | 1998
Tom Fat & Jack McGrory co-chair the 14th Annual Dinner, raising over $100,000 for UPAC.
Former board member Haru Reischauer passes away.
SDG&E funds Teen Speak to train Pan Asian youth on media and community advocacy.
The San Diego Foundation awards UPAC an unprecedented $92,400 for its intergenerational City Heights mentorship program.
The homeownership outreach and education program begins with Fannie Mae Foundation support.
Alliance Healthcare Foundation supports assistance to Hoover High School students and families in need of mental health services. | 1999
The ground-breaking Teen Suicide Prevention Program begins to assist high-risk Filipino youth thanks to a San Diego Foundation grant. A teen suicide prevention manual is also produced with funding from the Fieldstone Foundation.
The Alcohol and Drug Treatment program becomes one of two programs statewide to address chemical dependency in the Southeast Asian communities. Wells Fargo funds drug-free social and recreational activities. |
| 2000-present UPAC Hosts Domestic Violence Summit East Wind Program celebrates 20th anniversary
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