WHY THEY CALL ANNI CHUNG THE “MOTHER TERESA OF CHINATOWN” 

What does it mean to spend a lifetime showing up for your community? 

For Anni Chung, President and CEO of Self-Help for the Elderly, it has meant more than four decades of helping older adults, immigrants, and families across San Francisco navigate the challenges of aging with dignity and independence. Which is why we are honoring Anni as Community Ally Award Honoree at A Night of Impact on November 5. 

It’s also why she has earned a remarkable nickname: the “Mother Teresa of Chinatown.” 

In a recent feature, The San Francisco Examiner takes a closer look at Anni’s extraordinary life of service and the deep impact she has had on San Francisco’s Chinatown and beyond. 

READ THE SAN FRANCISCO EXAMINER’S PROFILE OF ANNI CHUNG

We are honored to celebrate Anni Chung as LAE’s 2026 Community Ally Award Honoree at A Night of Impact on November 5. 

Her story reflects something we see every day in our own work at LAE: lasting change happens when people show up for one another—again and again, especially when someone is facing a moment of uncertainty or vulnerability. 

We hope you’ll join us at Terra Gallery as we celebrate Anni, her remarkable legacy, and the community of people working to make San Francisco a place where everyone can age with dignity, security, and independence.