Interview with Bill S. Kim, Business & Community Leader

Bill S. Kim, Founder & President, Kizan International, Inc., was elected as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Give2Asia earlier this month. Give2Asia is a U.S. based public charity that facilitates private giving for causes in the Asia-Pacific region.

Mr. Kim came to the U.S. in 1964 from South Korea. He founded Kizan International, a diversified manufacturer and distributor of men’s apparel. Kizan’s products are available in over 8,000 stores nationwide, including Macy’s, Target, Kohl’s, Mervyn’s, JC Penney, Sears, and other department stores in the U.S. and Canada, under the nationally known brand "Louis Raphael."

President Chun Do Hwan of the Republic of South Korea presented Mr. Kim the Presidential Honorary Award from for his role in promoting Korean bilateral trade and economic cooperation with the U.S. He also received the “Businessman of the Year” award from the Korean American Chamber of Commerce of Santa Clara in 1986.

In addition to his new position as Chairman of Give2Asia, Mr. Kim also chairs the Korean American Chamber of Commerce of the North Pacific Coast and was appointed Commissioner of the Asian Art Museum in 2004. Mr. Kim is a founding member of the Korean-American Chamber of Commerce in San Francisco and he and his wife, Mary, are active fundraisers in many other community organizations.

Mr. Kim attended El Camino College, the University of California in Los Angeles and Stanford University's Executive MBA program.

Last week, Mr. Kim hosted a dinner-party to thank Mr. Sandy Calhoun for his work as Chairman of Give2Asia the past few years. I had the honor of attending the event and I can't express how compassionate and generous folks like Mr. Kim are. He even agreed to answer a few questions:

1. Dien: You came here with $50 in your pocket. That must have been difficult. Why did you come to the U.S and did you have problems adjusting to your new life?

Mr. Kim: The opportunity for an education was my goal in coming to America.  I was 18 when I came, just old enough to know what I wanted for my life. Adjusting to the new life wasn’t easy but America is a multi-cultural and multi-racial nation. I found Americans to be very open minded people relative to other countries.

2. Dien: What have been the keys to your success?

Mr. Kim:  America is truly a nation full of opportunities. But it takes initiative and hard work. Basically, I have a positive attitude, which is my strength. When I start something (business), I conduct careful research and evaluate the success rate, but staying with the conviction that carries me to the success. In any business, there are ups and downs. I am not the type who made it rich “over night”. Honestly, it took more perseverance. But most importantly, I enjoy my work and that’s what kept me focused.

3. Dien: How do you and your wife, Mary, decide which charitable organizations to work with?

Mr. Kim: Our interest and involvement with the Asian Art Museum was based on our interest in Asian Art and supporting our community. The local hospital we support is the community hospital we go to and local schools are where our children attended.

But my Give2Asia involvement is little different. The generosity of Americans is not well known throughout the world and in many ways is under represented. On the other hand, millions of Asian have supported our growth through trade and cost competitive exports. As with my company, I am indebted to thousands of Asian workers who have put their hard earned sweat into goods being sold in the U.S. today.

Give2Asia is a way for me to help foster a better understanding in our hemisphere and facilitate a greater cause.

4. Dien: How much money does Give2Asia raise to support charitable organizations in Asia?

Mr. Kim: In our 2007 fiscal year, we helped individuals, foundations, and corporations facilitate over $29 million to charitable causes. Our goal is to reach $85 million in total new giving by 2010.

5. Dien: Why do you think Give2Asia has been so successful in working with donors?

Mr. Kim: Give2Asia prides itself upon a very personal approach to helping and facilitating donors who are conscientious about Asia. It is very donor-driven, that is, we help donors give to causes that are meaningful to them. And, we aim to support this process with high integrity and credibility.

6. Dien: What are some of your goals as Chairman of the Board?

Mr. Kim: Give2Asia’s mission is to facilitate and encourage charitable giving to meet needs in Asia by providing personalized services to donors and recipients. My goal as Chairman is to duly carry out the mission and make Give2Asia number one in its sphere of expertise. We can only achieve that by having a great team, integrity within our systems, excellence in execution, and professionalism at all levels.

7. Dien: Korea is very dear to you and you have been back to visit. What are some of the issues you see in Korea? How can those here in the U.S. help?

Mr. Kim: South Korea achieved its economic success in recent years, and they are living relatively well now. But they still face many social problems, which may have resulted from an un-cohesive approach to those who did not participate in the economic growth miracle.

I think there is more that can be done. I personally started a donor advised fund for North Korean refugee students in South Korea. There are over ten thousand North Korean refugees in South Korea and 30% are under 18 years old. They need special attention to adjust in the new society and support as they try to transition into a new homeland.

8. Dien: You’ve also done some work with the Korean community here in the Bay Area. Why is it important to you to be active in the Korean American community also?

Mr. Kim: I am currently Chairman of Korean American Chamber of Commerce NPC. The members consist mostly of second generation Korean Americans and professionals. I like to work with the next generation of Korean-Americans and see if I can help them. They remind me of myself when I was younger as they try to succeed in the workplace and in their lives.

9. Dien: Are your children also involved in the community? How have you and your wife, Mary, pass along this value?

Mr. Kim: I think they have strong values and are involved in the community. Yes, we will encourage them, by example.

10. Dien: Besides your business, charitable work, and time with your family, what do you do for fun?

Mr. Kim: I like to travel on holidays to places that probably are not what you would call typical “vacation spots” like beaches in Hawaii.

I rode a train through the western deserts of China to Tibet with my wife and hiked the Himalayas on our way to Bhutan. I’ve been to the countrysides of Bangladesh, where poverty was redefined for me. In every developing country that I visit, I’m thankful for my life in America and feel fortunate enough to have the opportunity to give back to society – no matter what religion, race, or nationality.