For brothers Ed and Sam Chan, generosity was an unfamiliar ingredient in the family recipe for success. But as both have acquired a taste for giving, their company has been transformed. See why they’re so excited to use their food-import business as a powerful force for good.
As hard-working Taiwanese immigrants, Ed and Sam’s parents started out simply, importing bamboo shoots and water chestnuts to the U.S. with one warehouse in Los Alamitos, California. “We were a scrappy company, just trying to make it,” Ed says.
Over the next 40 years, C. Pacific Foods grew to become one of the largest American importers of Asian foods. Despite their financial success, their work environment wasn’t very encouraging. The focus was on profits, not people, and morale was low.
“The word we used a lot was ‘militaristic,’” Sam says. “Our corporate culture was very militaristic.”
When Ed and Sam took the reins of the company, they knew something had to change. “When we took over in 2014, our most defining moment was when Ed said, ‘Even I don’t want to work for us. I don’t like the culture. I can’t imagine that people would want to continue to work here,’” Sam says.
Ed’s dissatisfaction at work was reflective of a growing unease in his spiritual life. He’d been a churchgoer for 20 years, but he had no idea how to integrate his faith and his work. “Once Sunday afternoon was over and Monday came around, I put on a totally different hat,” Ed says. “It was like a split personality. And it was making me extremely unhappy.”
Finally, in 2017, his conflicting feelings came to head, and Ed decided to truly follow Jesus. Soon after, Sam had the same conviction. And through the eyes of their new faith, their perspective on work completely changed.
“I realized my values didn’t align with my work,” Ed says. “And I learned the biblical concept of being a steward, not an owner. Eventually, Sam followed me in that thinking.”
Since then, the brothers have set a course to incorporate generosity into every aspect of their lives and their business. But it hasn’t been easy. “Our journey is still somewhat new, and we’re just learning how to live it out,” Sam says.
3 key ingredients
Ed and Sam believe three key ingredients have been instrumental in their journey toward a more generous business:
1. Convening with like-minded community
One of the most pivotal aspects of their business transformation came about when Ed’s pastor introduced him to Convene, a community forum for Christian business owners. Through Convene, both Ed and Sam learned to see their work as a ministry, which gave them a renewed sense of purpose. They also found a like-minded community where they could share openly and be held accountable.
“My monthly Convene meeting gives me a place to discuss and solve issues with a God-centered focus,” Ed says. “If you don’t have brothers or sisters who have a kingdom-minded moral compass and focus to walk alongside you, you’re going to be lost.”
2. Giving away a portion of their business
Another important change was sparked by a care package that Convene CEO Greg Leith sent Ed. The package contained a small book that made a big impact. It was Stanley Tam’s God Owns My Business.
“The gist of it was something I had never read,” Ed says. “Stanley said if you are truly a Christian, you need to make God your partner in business. And he started giving away pieces of his business.”
Stanley’s message hit home, but it was also quite a challenge.
“I love money!” Ed says. “Growing up, I was that kid who loved spending time handling my money and organizing my bills. The first few bills I earned were my prized possession. So, it’s very hard for me part with money.”
As their CFO, Sam also struggled with letting go. “Whenever money is going out anywhere, my senses go up. Is this the right choice? Are we doing the right thing? I’m very, let’s just say, miserly when money goes somewhere.”
But the influence of Tam’s book was unshakeable. And when a mentor introduced them to the National Christian Foundation, Ed and Sam learned how they could make a non-cash gift of privately held stock in their business. Eventually, they made the decision to give away five percent of their company with NCF’s help, empowering them to maximize their giving like never before.
“We wanted to be generous givers,” Sam says. “But the business consumed all the cash. It seemed like there was never much cash available to give.” So, they donated a portion of their company. Now, as their business grows, a portion of the income produced becomes available for giving. And when the company sells, a portion of the net proceeds will flow into their Giving Fund at NCF, so they can recommend grants to support the causes they care about.
“Working with NCF was great,” Ed says. “NCF is a tool for greater generosity, and it’s a ministry. I like to tell people, don’t set up a private foundation. You don’t need it. Just use a Giving Fund at NCF, especially if your giving is faith-based.”
3. Valuing their people, not just profits
Investing in their employees has also been a game changer. One significant way they do this is through Marketplace Chaplains, a program that provides a caring, confidential pastoral resource for them.
“It’s been a real blessing, because they just love on the team,” Sam says. “One of our employees was so touched that someone remembered to say, ‘Hey, are you taking care of yourself?’”
They’ve also introduced company-wide volunteer initiatives like meal-packing events for Kids Around The World, a charity that helps impoverished families. Together, their team of 29 employees has packed nearly 400,000 meals over seven years. Nearly 100+ volunteers have participated in each event, including employees, spouses, kids, and even vendors, like their banks. Ed and Sam support the staff’s efforts by compensating volunteer time with time off work.
“I think our place is to figure out how to care for our team,” Sam says. “To make sure that they’re continuing to prosper as well. I want God’s blessings on us to overflow to everyone around us.”
Creating your own blend of generosity
Ed and Sam hope that the testimony of how they moved from reluctant owners to sold-out stewards is an encouragement to anyone who is curious about creating their own blend of corporate generosity. While they’re still finding their way, they’ve realized that God has prepared them for something bigger than the bottom line.
“More and more, I want to really grasp the concept that this is all God’s,” Sam says. “I don’t want to get in the way with my thoughts of, this doesn’t make business or financial sense.”
“This company is a platform for us to take and to multiply, to do more with it,” Ed says. “And it’s a blessing to have a brother who I can partner with to do that.”
Learn how NCF comes alongside business owners with our free resource, Building a generous business.
