Dong Koo Kim – Founder
Mr. Kim first became aware of the value of education as a young child in South Korea in the early 1950s. As North Korean forces moved into his homeland, he and his family, along with many others, were forced to leave their homes in Seoul, the country’s capital city. Leaving all of their assets behind as they fled during the invasion, his family moved from one village to another, continually seeking refuge. Temporary schools and shelters were available, and he, along with many others, gratefully received the benefit of these educational opportunities. He leads his life in appreciation of the efforts of the dedicated teachers that opened doors for him throughout his life.
In 1986, Kim began BP Industries, Inc., a company specializing in the international trade of consumer products. His corporation became a rapid success, and is now one of the premier home-décor vendors in the U.S. In 2003, to further his desire to help those in need of assistance to accomplish their life goals, Mr. Kim founded the D.K. Kim Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization. As others had helped him in the past, Mr. Kim was driven by a strong desire to support students who wished to fulfill their potential through higher education.
Mr.Kim considers his gifts to scholars and educational institutions to be investments in the future. “My ultimate goal is to improve human life through higher education. I believe that giving is an investment in society where returns can be broadly maximized.”
Fostering the development of the next generation of world leaders is a task that is monumental, but not impossible. As a Christian businessman, D.K. Kim’s vision is to help develop the kind leaders who will impact society and foster healthy, responsible leadership to positively impact the future. Mr. Kim is dedicated to the effort of preparing students — generation after generation — for the tasks of today and the challenges of tomorrow.
Bryson Ishii – Chairperson
Bryson Ishii is currently an Executive for Starlight Industries, an investment and special projects arm for a HNW individual. Previously, Bryson held a Principal position at Growth Factor Ventures, a Los Angeles based venture investment firm specializing in healthcare, biotechnology, and consumer products opportunities. Through his time with Growth Factor Ventures, Bryson oversaw firm operations, deal process, and worked with portfolio companies to advance them through a variety of developmental phases, ranging from start-up to larger going-public transactions. His previous experience also includes serving as the Associate Director for the Fred Kiesner Center for Entrepreneurship at Loyola Marymount University, and prior to that as a Management Executive overseeing operations and strategic investments for Rigo International, an import company servicing national retailers.
During his free time, you can find him cycling through the streets of Los Angeles, sailing off the coast in the Pacific Ocean, or playing Hawaiian music on his ukulele.
Bryson received his BS in Accounting and BA in Entrepreneurship from Loyola Marymount University.
Kathy Bihr, EdD – Secretary
With over 30 years in education working in both K-12 public schools, higher education and the nonprofit sector, Dr. Bihr is Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Academic Solutions Group, LLC an education consulting collaborative that provides strategy and coaching to school districts, administrators and educators worldwide. Dr. Bihr’s expertise ranges from program development and leadership to creating sustainable and equitable learning environments for youth, with a focus on serving students from high needs communities.
Jeanne HuangLi, JD – Treasurer
Jeanne HuangLi is an Executive Director for Principal Gifts & Strategic Initiatives at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business. Advancing international outreach, strategic initiatives, principal and major gift development efforts. She has been involved in establishing faculty chairs and endowments; scholarships and fellowships, and helping to achieve successful capital building campaigns. Her career spans academia; business; public policy, nonprofits and philanthropy.
Her current focus is in strategy for principal and major fundraising priorities for the Haas School of Business and through this, she has worked with the top administrators, faculty, alumni and donors for campus. Her legal background has been useful from a due diligence and reporting standpoint.
Jeanne has worked with a start-up community foundation aimed at promoting strategic philanthropy and
social entrepreneurship and has worked successfully with diaspora immigrant communities on philanthropy.
At the Asia Foundation, an international development organization working in over 20 countries in Asia, she
was responsible for developing successful private fundraising initiatives and agency infrastructure.
Jeanne holds a J.D. (Juris Doctorate) from Santa Clara University School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in
Asian Studies and English from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She recently completed the
certification to be a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP).
Julie Borchard Young – Board member
Since 2005, Julie and her husband, Robert, have been co-owners of BY Experience, the leading global distributor of alternative content and events to cinema screens. BY Experience offers cultural, entertainment, educational and inspirational content producers the opportunity to reach audiences in an innovative, communal manner through satellite distribution of live high-definition digital events to over 3,000 cinemas and performing arts centers in 75+ countries. www.byexperience.net
BY Experience has distributed over 250 unique events to cinema audiences globally, including the three leading series in cinemas, The Met: Live in HD (from 2005 to the present), National Theatre Live (ex-UK, and China, from 2009 to the present), Bolshoi Ballet in Cinema (North America, from 2014 to 2022).
Previously, Julie spent over 18 years in the recorded music/entertainment industries: Sony Music (New York), Sony Music Europe (London), Columbia Records (New York), and Capitol Records (Los Angeles) where she and her teams executed artist’s release campaigns, marketing initiatives, and artist development within domestic and international marketing.
Julie enjoys running, volunteering, attending opera and other live cultural events, traveling, and spending time with her husband and three boys.