Woman of Distinction: Ms. Haney Ho

Haney Ho is the Vice President of Brooklyn Chinese-American Association (BCA), a multi human services and community development organization serving the Asian-American communities of Brooklyn.

Born in Hong Kong, Ms. Ho received two Masters Degrees in Education from the University of California at Los Angeles and the Chinese University of Hong Kong. In Hong Kong, she worked as a high school teacher and Coordinator of the School Guidance and Counseling Program. In 1992, Ms. Ho arrived in New York City as a new immigrant and soon joined the Brooklyn Chinese-American Association. Since then, she has been working closely with the agency’s President/Chief Executive Officer to transform the agency into a multi human services organization and community development organization to address the various community needs.

Currently, with approximately 400 staff members, BCA serves over 3,000 families daily at its 22 service sites in Sunset Park, Bay Ridge, Boro Park, Bensonhurst and Sheepshead Bay communities. BCA’s services include bilingual social services, early childhood education programs, youth services, adult education programs, senior services, community economic development projects, crime prevention and victim services, naturalization assistance services, as well as other community activities.

Ms. Ho initiated the first Asian adult education program in southwest Brooklyn and has since expanded BCA’s adult education services to assist over 1,200 immigrant adults yearly. Ms. Ho has been the key person in developing BCA’s Early Childhood Education Program and securing government funds to expand the program. In 1995, when she initiated BCA’s first day care center, it enrolled only 15 children. In the current school year, BCA’s fully funded full day early childhood education programs include Head Start, UPK and ACS Early Learn Programs and serve more than 650 children at eight day care centers. Ms. Ho also helps develop numerous youth programs to serve thousands of youngsters during after school and summer hours.

From preschoolers to 100-year-old senior-center participants, from crime victims to newly arrived immigrants, Ms. Ho has enhanced their quality of life through a wide array of human services and has helped to make Brooklyn a better place for all.