Welcome back to the Sunstone Way, and help me wish our founder, John Shen, a very happy birthday!
John and I are great friends – which is exactly why I’m not going to tell you how old he will be on Jan. 23. I will tell you, though, that you don’t need to worry about getting him a gift.
That’s because John enjoys giving much more than he likes receiving.
Giving Back
When John talks about life balance in his great book Crossing The Swamp, he says he finds great pleasure in “the joy of being successful and deciding to spread some of your wealth and generosity to charities that need financial assistance. Being a successful entrepreneur puts you into a special category of people who demonstrate exceptional thinking skills, leadership and management skills, and a grasp of business trends.
“I believe it behooves you to contribute back to the society that has created the conditions for your success.”
John and his wife and partner Stella Zheng have walked the talk since the beginning of American Lending Center, then Sunstone Management. So far, John has launched three charitable foundations – Stella has been a partner in the last two, and has done more on her own at her alma mater, UCI.
John and his brother Steven Shen founded A Perfect Love Foundation to support American families adopting Chinese children with disabilities. That charitable effort continues today.
Helping Others Help Themselves
Then Stella and John launched a donor-advised fund account – the ALC Innovative Ecosystem Fund – at the National Philanthropic Trust. John has always tried to help startups – that was a primary reason for writing Crossing The Swamp – and this fund supported innovation and entrepreneurship nationwide by sponsoring and funding activities in the startup community.
Then in 2022, the Sunstone Community Fund (SCF) was created, again with John and Stella as the founding donors. SCF also is a donor-advised fund administered by the National Philanthropic Trust, focusing primarily on entrepreneurship in Long Beach and the rest of Southern California.
For example, the Sunstone Community Fund was a partner in the creation of the Long Beach Accelerator, a training center for diverse founders of startup companies. SCF sponsors Pitch Competitions, Demo Days and other activities at the accelerator, the California State University system and other universities in the Southland.
“This is only a start,” John says in his book. “I will keep donating and funding activities in the future.
“I hope you will choose a charity whose cause resonates with you. Providing financial and/or other forms of support will add to your sense of balance in life.”
Come Partner With Us
Now in its fourth full year of operation, the Sunstone Community Fund is more than a family charity. It has partnered with multiple individuals and organizations, including the Annenberg Foundation.
One way many people support SCF is by participating in the annual Irvine Dream Run. The 2026 edition – the third – will be on May 9 in the Great Park.
Last year, we had 583 runners register. There were 17 sponsors, led by American Lending Center and Sunstone Management. Another 13 partners helped make the day a success despite rainy weather.
There will be a 5K run and a 3K fun run/walk at this year’s Dream Run. The signup page is already active at runsignup.com/Race/CA/Irvine/DreamRunCA.
We’re also recruiting sponsors for the 2026 event. There are many benefits to being a sponsor, starting with being part of the Dream Run.
For more information, go to https://runsignup.com/Race/DreamRunCA/Page-4, or email Jayro Sandoval at Jayro.Sandoval@sunstonecities.com.
And yes, John Shen plans to be there with his running shorts on!
A Gift for All
John Shen has been a gift to many people, on his own, through his work, and through the Sunstone Community Fund. It is a true effort through Investment, Entrepreneurship and Community to make our world a better place.
I can’t think of a better way to say that’s the Sunstone Way.
Remember, always be a Sunstone.
John Keisler
CEO & Managing Partner
Sunstone
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Sunstone Investment Group, headquartered in Southern California, is the holding company for the Sunstone family of entities, including: Sunstone Investment Management Services, responsible for administrative services; Sunstone Advisors, an SEC-registered investment adviser, which oversees Sunstone Venture Partners LLC, a private capital fund manager; Sunstone Cities, a government economic development consulting firm; and Sunstone Community Fund, a charitable organization that supports entrepreneurship. Sunstone is dedicated to enriching lives through investment, entrepreneurship, and community. Email us at contact@sunstoneinvestment.com.
©Sunstone, 2026