Tim Dang ’92 and twin brother, Nick Dang ’92, recently made “twin gifts” to Punahou, each establishing family financial aid funds that will help students for generations to come. About a quarter of the School’s students now receive financial aid.
The Timothy Dang ’92 and Jana-Lynn Kam ’95 and Nicholas Dang ’92 and Lois Chiu endowed financial aid funds were created in honor of the brothers’ 30th Reunion this June.
The gifts came about after Tim, who lives in Northern California, volunteered last fall to lead the Gift Committee for the Class of 1992 Reunion. Joining the group, which meets virtually, allowed him to reconnect to Punahou despite living away from the Islands.
“While I was happy for Nick when he moved back to Hawai‘i many years ago, I admit I have experienced envy watching him re-engage with the Punahou community – getting back in touch with high school friends, participating in career forums and volunteering at the malasada booth,” Tim said. “If the pandemic has a silver lining, it’s the ability to participate in activities I care about even when I’m not physically in the same location.”
As a parent volunteer at his son’s California public elementary school, Tim saw firsthand that the learning experience is enriched not in spite of diversity but because of it. This understanding inspired him to want to support financial aid at his alma mater. “I hope the endowed fund can offer opportunities to economically disadvantaged students and contribute to a richer learning environment at Punahou,” he said.
Nick, meanwhile, has two daughters at the School, Ella ’26 and Addy ’28. He considers it an “enormous privilege” for them to “walk the same paths” he and Tim did three decades ago. “Whenever I reflect on what life experiences have been most fulfilling, I instinctively return to my time at Punahou,” he said. “This is where deep, lifelong friendships were forged, along with boundless opportunities, and the strongest sense of community.”
Nick said he was thrilled to have the opportunity to make a Reunion gift that would provide tuition assistance to current students. He said he and his brother created the endowed funds to share the gift of a Punahou education with talented students who need the support.
To find out more about endowed funds at Punahou, contact Tara Olney at tolney@punahou.edu