Our Story

In 1977, David and Diana Sun immigrated from Taiwan to America as a young married couple in pursuit of a new life with greater opportunity. Shortly thereafter, they settled in Orange County where they put down roots and raised their two children. For the past 40 years, they have proudly called Orange County their home.

In 1987, David co-founded Kingston Technology, which became the world’s largest independent manufacturer of computer memory products. Kingston still operates today with its corporate headquarters in Fountain Valley, California and manufacturing facilities and offices across the globe.

In 1999, David and Diana founded the Sun Family Foundation (the “Foundation”) with the vision of sharing their good fortune with the local communities that have supported their family and business ventures.

Since the Foundation’s inception, it has primarily focused on providing educational opportunities for underserved youth. The focus on education was inspired by David’s late mother, 戴廣源 (“Guang Yuan”), who was a beloved and popular high school biology teacher in Taichung, Taiwan. Guang Yuan served as a confidant and trusted advisor to thousands of students throughout her 30 year teaching career, while also raising three children as a single mother. In 2011, in his mother’s memory, David and Diana formed the Guang Yuan Charitable Foundation in Taiwan, which has provided over 7,000 scholarships to underprivileged elementary, junior high school, senior high school, college and vocational students across the country of Taiwan.

The Foundation is now run by two generations of family members, with its next generation now holding leadership positions and helping to shape the Foundation’s future strategy towards philanthropy and grantmaking. In recent years, the Foundation has expanded its grantmaking to support not only education, but also organizations that provide services to underserved individuals and communities. The Suns envision using the Foundation to bring the family closer together across generations and to pass on David and Diana’s legacy of philanthropy.

David and Diana Sun in San Francisco, California, 1977

David and Diana Sun in San Francisco, California, 1977

David and Diana Sun in San Francisco, California, 1977

David and Diana Sun in 2021

Our Story

In 1977, David and Diana Sun immigrated from Taiwan to America as a young married couple in pursuit of a new life with greater opportunity. Shortly thereafter, they settled in Orange County where they put down roots and raised their two children. For the past 40 years, they have proudly called Orange County their home.

In 1987, David co-founded Kingston Technology, which became the world’s largest independent manufacturer of computer memory products. Kingston still operates today with its corporate headquarters in Fountain Valley, California and manufacturing facilities and offices across the globe.

In 1999, David and Diana founded the Sun Family Foundation (the “Foundation”) with the vision of sharing their good fortune with the local communities that have supported their family and business ventures.

Since the Foundation’s inception, it has primarily focused on providing educational opportunities for underserved youth. The focus on education was inspired by David’s late mother, 戴廣源 (“Guang Yuan”), who was a beloved and popular high school biology teacher in Taichung, Taiwan. Guang Yuan served as a confidant and trusted advisor to thousands of students throughout her 30 year teaching career, while also raising three children as a single mother. In 2011, in his mother’s memory, David and Diana formed the Guang Yuan Charitable Foundation in Taiwan, which has provided over 7,000 scholarships to underprivileged elementary, junior high school, senior high school, college and vocational students across the country of Taiwan.

The Foundation is now run by two generations of family members, with its next generation now holding leadership positions and helping to shape the Foundation’s future strategy towards philanthropy and grantmaking. In recent years, the Foundation has expanded its grantmaking to support not only education, but also organizations that provide services to underserved individuals and communities. The Suns envision using the Foundation to bring the family closer together across generations and to pass on David and Diana’s legacy of philanthropy.

  • 1925
  • 1977
  • 1987
  • 1999
  • 2011
  • 2011
  • 2019
  • 2020
  • 2021
戴廣源’s Legacy
戴廣源’s Legacy
戴廣源 (Kuan-Yuan Tai), David Sun’s mother, was born in Anhui, China. After fleeing a civil war in China, Kuan-Yuan resettled in Taiwan and raised David and his two sisters as a single mother. For 30 years, Kuan-Yuan worked as a high school biology teacher, impacting the lives of hundreds of students who came through her classroom. Upon her retirement, she immigrated to the United States and spent the last 20 years of her life living in Irvine where she enjoyed being an active community member and spending time with her 3 children and 4 grandchildren.
Orange County Roots As a young couple, David and Diana Sun immigrate from Taiwan to America. The Suns establish roots in Orange County where they have now lived for over 40 years.
Kingston Technology
Kingston Technology
David cofounds Kingston Technology, which is now the world’s largest independent manufacturer of computer memory products. Kingston still operates today with its corporate headquarters in Fountain Valley, California, and manufacturing facilities and offices across the globe.
The Founding of the Sun Family Foundation
The Founding of the Sun Family Foundation
David and Diana establish the Sun Family Foundation with the goal of giving back to the local communities that have supported their family and business.
Guang Yuan Charitable Foundation and Sun Scholars Program
Guang Yuan Charitable Foundation and Sun Scholars Program
David and Diana establish the Guang Yuan Charitable Foundation in Taiwan, named in honor of David's mother. Each year, Guang Yuan Charitable Foundation provides hundreds of scholarships to underprivileged students across the country of Taiwan. The program is unique in that scholarship recipients are chosen by teachers and school administrators and are based on a student's character and determination, not just top grades.
Guang Yuan Charitable Foundation and Sun Scholars Program
Guang Yuan Charitable Foundation and Sun Scholars Program
In the same year, the Sun Family Foundation establishes the Sun Scholars Scholarship Program (formerly known as the Kingston Scholars Program) in partnership with AVID, the Orange County Department of Education, and Orange County Community Foundation. The Sun Scholars program, which is in the process of being sunsetted, has awarded over $9 million in college scholarships to underrepresented, first-generation students in Orange County.
A New Mission
A New Mission
The Foundation’s Board and next-generation staff members undergo strategic planning and change the Foundation’s mission. The mission of the Sun Family Foundation is to advance educational opportunities and the well-being of the underserved.
The Sun & Simon Families Join Forces
The Sun & Simon Families Join Forces
The Foundation proudly partners with the Simon Scholars Program to help them expand their college access and scholarship program to 8 new high schools in Orange County.
2021 National Philanthropy Day
2021 National Philanthropy Day
The Foundation is a recipient of the prestigious National Philanthropy Day Outstanding Philanthropist of the Year Award.