Maggie Ip

Maggie Ip was born in Shanghai, but moved to Canada in order to earn her Master's Degree in education from the University of Ottawa. During the late 1960’s, she moved to Vancouver with her family and husband, Kelly Ip. As a full time mother, Maggie Ip volunteered on the board of the YWCA. She mainly worked with new immigrants in the Strathcona and Chinatown area who were highly educated, such as lawyers, doctors, and professors. With the overwhelming number of immigrants coming from Hong Kong, and not enough resources to aid everyone, she realized that there was an urgent need in Vancouver to provide assistance to these individuals in order to help them adjust. Thus, Mappie Ip decided to found SUCCESS, the Society of United Chinese Enrichment Social Services. With the help of approximately 15 other like-minded individuals, Maggie was able to receive long term funding from the government's Department of Health and Welfare. In 1973, SUCCESS was registered as a non profit organization and by 1974 they opened their first office in Vancouver, on Main Street.

Today, SUCCESS continues to strive to promote the well being of all Canadian immigrants. The organization provides assistance in every way including employment, health, education, training, social services, family aid, and community involvement. With strong support from the Chinese community, the organization has expanded to form a MultiCare Society in 1995, and the SUCCESS foundation in 2001. Thirty six years later, SUCCESS has over 20 offices in the Lower Mainland and has gone overseas with offices in Seoul and Taipei. Through SUCCESS, Maggie has strongly impacted the Chinatown area with her tremendous community involvement, and endless volunteering.

“Volunteering has become a part of our lives, just like shopping or chores. It is a lifestyle”