MEET OUR DONORS: GEORGE LAI

Empowering Youth Through Independence and Purpose

George Lai lost his sister, Lily, to cancer 12 years ago and has dedicated his life to fulfilling her wish of making the world a better place for children in need. He describes Lily as a “creative entrepreneur who worked hard to build financial stability and intended to create an organization that would give people a sense of purpose and the foundations for building a successful life.” Her vision lives on through the Lily Lai Foundation, and as its president, George Lai, oversees the charitable mission to support the welfare of disadvantaged children, cancer research, education, nutrition for children, libraries, and empowerment of abused women.

Seeking A Deeper Understanding

Through his work with the Lily Lai Foundation, George Lai joined the Board of Directors at Voices for Children, the CASA program for San Diego & Riverside Counties. He explains why it’s so important to help youth in foster care: “Of course, as a Board Member, it started as doing my due diligence to be sure my funds would support a mission I could stand behind. I followed the CASA training, read court reports (that were redacted to protect confidentiality), and got to know CASA staff and volunteers. I realized that volunteer advocacy was a cost-effective model that provided immediate benefits for children who had experienced abuse and neglect. CASAs give their time and get a sense of purpose from the work, and children get a chance to build a brighter future of their own. The CASA plays such a crucial role, not only in the court system by helping the judge make a better-informed decision, but also at the personal level as a trusted friend during a time of crisis.”

Making An Impact Statewide

As a member of the Board of Directors at both California CASA as well as Voices for Children, George Lai hopes to strengthen all 44 local CASA programs through his giving at the state and local level: “My sister was able to achieve financial independence, and this allowed her to start a nonprofit to give back. Even though she wasn’t able to see the work the foundation is doing now, she always realized that good intentions aren’t enough. Nonprofits need enough money to carry out the important work they are doing now and in the future. Without CASAs, there’s a huge gap in the court system. It makes sense that it was originally a judge who noticed that gap and found a way to bridge it through CASA volunteers. This model is strong because it’s based on a human resource. It amplifies every dollar that we contribute to the CASA system. For every dollar I give, there is a CASA giving their time and support to a child in need.”

The Journey to a Brighter Future

George Lai likes to think of what California’s children in foster care might achieve with the continued support of donors like the Lily Lai Foundation making sure there’s a CASA by their side: “When I think about the youth that we support, my dream is for them to become independent and have that sense of security that they can do well in life. My ultimate hope is that they can find a pathway to happiness, create their own healthy families, and contribute to their community with a sense of belonging and purpose. I know that’s exactly what my sister, Lily, would have wanted, too.”

George Lai served as Director of Information Technology at eBioscience, Inc., a biotechnology company in San Diego, California. As President of the Lily Lai Foundation, he oversees the charitable mission to support welfare of disadvantaged children, cancer research, education, nutrition for children, libraries, and empowerment of abused women. Dr. Lai earned a B.S. in Electrical Engineering & Computer Science from the University of California at Berkeley, an M.S. in Electrical Engineering, and a Ph.D. in Engineering from the University of California at Irvine.