Being raised in Malaysia, which was then considered a Third-World country, provided countless opportunities for my parents to pioneer causes in a community that was otherwise deprived of the basic of human services. I was therefore taught from an early age to embrace and express the philanthropic spirit that exists in each of us.  Although there are many causes that I have supported throughout the years, I have focused on one in particular - helping children, young adults, and their families who live with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD).

The motivation to support this cause came shortly after my young nephew was diagnosed with DMD in 1998.  My husband and I, along with our close friends, founded Duchenne San Diego, a volunteer-operated 501(c)(3) Charity Organization whose mission is to raise funds for DMD for the purposes of furthering research, and to assist and support local San Diego families. There are several fundraising events facilitated by DSD throughout the year but most notable is our signature annual event – the Kick for a Cure Soccer Tournament & Festival. Such events allow us not only to make a difference in the world of Duchenne, but also to form meaningful alliances with local businesses, groups, and individuals who believe in our cause and in the principle of contribution to the community.

Being a source of learning and inspiring others to be of service for the greater good, is also a "cause" that is close to my heart. For the past several years, I have been a professor at Alliant International University’s Graduate School of Education. My students are future School Psychologists and I have been honored to instruct them in courses ranging from Child & Adolescent Psychopathology to Counseling Models & Theory. Although I enjoy teaching other individuals how to help themselves through life’s challenges through the use of psychotherapy, I find that teaching future school professionals how to teach others these skills will inevitably help even more people.