Charlie Zhang has lived the American dream — an against-the-odds journey that began in the hardship of a Chinese reeducation camp and has led to a life filled with family, purposeful days and the joy of giving back. Through it all, he has followed a few guiding principles: fierce ambition, a love of the arts and resounding hope.
The founder of Pick Up Stix restaurants and two other successful enterprises, Charlie — along with his wife, Ling — recently made a generous gift to City of Hope Orange County to support Orange County’s only cancer specialty hospital, opening this year in Irvine. In recognition of their support and their passion for the arts, City of Hope Orange County named the art gallery on the first floor of City of Hope Orange County Lennar Foundation Cancer Center in their honor.
For Charlie and Ling, the true reward lies in helping shape the future of their community — bringing more healing, comfort and inspiration.
We need to set an example and a pattern for the next generation,” Charlie says. “Maybe someone will say, ‘Charlie contributed to that,’ and want to do the same. Everyone can give on some level — this is what I’ve taught my children and grandchildren.”
Charlie’s story is rooted in resilience and powerful persistence. Xianghua “Charlie” Zhang was born in Shanghai. One of nine children, his world shifted dramatically when his father, a middle-class coffee roaster, was imprisoned for political dissent.
At age 17, Charlie was also sent to the countryside as one of the millions of young people forced into “reeducation” by the Chinese Communist Party during the Cultural Revolution. He spent seven years of forced hard labor working in rice paddies. However, it was his prized clarinet that not only helped him endure those difficult times but also sparked a lifelong appreciation for music and the arts.
Eventually freed, Charlie applied for and received a music scholarship to Pasadena City College. Arriving in the United States speaking only Chinese and possessing just $20 and his beloved clarinet, he was determined to pursue a better life as a professional musician. While he perfected his art, he washed dishes in a Chinese restaurant – a minor detour along the way to fulfilling his dreams, he thought.
Everything changed again when he suffered a serious hand injury while at work. Unable to afford the medical care he needed, Charlie was devastated when he discovered he could no longer play the clarinet. Slow and sustained notes were achievable, but he lost the dexterity to navigate the rapid, intricate passages — those notes that once played effortlessly under his fingers.
“The door was closed, and for a moment, I thought I didn’t have anything I could do. Yet, I knew I had to keep going. I had to find something,” he says.
Charlie channeled his relentless drive into a new dream: building something of his own. After 20 years of rising through the restaurant ranks to management, he uncovered his true calling — entrepreneurship. This led to the launch of Pick Up Stix, a phenomenally successful Chinese food restaurant chain he later sold to TGI Fridays in 2001.
He went on to two other thriving businesses: Zion Enterprises, a real estate development firm, and Aseptic Solutions USA, a bottling company for organic beverages. His success has allowed him and Ling to spend their later years surrounded by family and devoted to their lifelong passions: supporting the arts and giving back to the community.
The Zhangs are generous supporters of organizations such as the Pacific Symphony, Ellis Island Medals of Honor and Israel Archeology, as well as numerous health care institutions, schools and churches — both locally and around the world.
The couple was introduced to City of Hope through the Southern California Food Industries Circle (SCFIC), one of the City of Hope’s largest industry volunteer groups and a major philanthropic supporter. Charlie and Ling attended the gala where they were recognized with the Spirit of Life® award. They were immediately impressed with what they learned about City of Hope’s lifesaving mission.
"We had a tour of the Duarte campus, and I put supporting City of Hope on my bucket list," Charlie says. A presentation by City of Hope Orange County President Annette Walker, M.H.A., turned his attention to the Irvine campus.
The Zhangs were in the audience when Walker received the Excellence in Executive Leadership Award from California State University Fullerton’s Center for Leadership. Impressed by Walker’s vision and impact, the couple was thrilled to learn that City of Hope was bringing advanced cancer care to Orange County, close to their home in Laguna Niguel.
“Orange County is an unbelievable place to live, and soon we will have this beautiful City of Hope hospital in our backyard, shining like a diamond. It shows that people who believe in something can do anything — including beating cancer.” Charlie says. “Ling and I are proud to have a part in supporting this work.”
Charlie and Ling say they are deeply honored to have an art gallery at City of Hope Orange County bear their name. Designed to showcase local artists and bring comfort to those facing cancer, the space now also pays tribute to the couple's extraordinary generosity, devotion to the community and incredible journey — rooted in ingenuity, persistence and remarkable hope.