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Ally Lee
Washington
Hero Story
Dr. Ally Lee is an Asian Hmong American educator, entrepreneur, information technology (I.T.) professional, and community leader/philanthropist.
Dr. Lee opened the Orchid Thai Restaurant in Campus Martius in downtown Detroit in 2005. The restaurant closed its doors in 2023, but left a positive impression on the community. Dr. Lee is a philanthropist who continuously worked to help strengthen her community. She was a regular donor to local food pantries and homeless shelters. At the height of the pandemic, Dr. Lee provided over 3,000 meals through the Orchid Thai Restaurant to frontline staff such as the Detroit Police Department, Detroit Fire Fighters, homeless shelters, and local hospitals.
While managing the Orchid Thai Restaurant, Dr. Lee hired, managed, and mentored almost a hundred employees during her 18 years in business. Five percent of her former staff have become successful business owners. Ten percent graduated from college.
Dr. Lee continuously promoted education. Dr. Ally Lee has taught, mentored, and inspired hundreds of students varying from Detroit Public Schools grades K-12, to undergraduate college students at the University of Phoenix, to graduate students at Purdue University Global. She is a strong supporter of STEM. She served as a mentor for Hacking Health Windsor in Detroit. Dr. Lee was a volunteer faculty for the DAPCEP Program. She served as a virtual judge for the U.S. Army’s eCybermission STEM program since 2022, and is still supporting the program. Ally is a member of the Michigan Council of Women in Technology, and served as a judge for the organization’s scholarship Committee. Dr. Lee currently teaches Health Information Systems to graduate students at Purdue University Global.
Dr. Lee donated hundreds of hours in volunteer work. She was President of the Michigan Hmong Women’s Association. During her tenure as president, she dedicated over 300 hours to various initiatives to empower the Asian American Community. She focused on promoting Asian cultural awareness, and on promoting civic engagement within the Asian community. To help with relief efforts during the Russian/Ukrainian War, Ally volunteered at St. Mary’s Orthodox Church to send supplies to Ukraine. She also donated to organizations that support Ukrainian orphanages. Dr. Lee provided supplies, through the Orchid Thai Restaurant, to the Ukrainian Free Store, to refugees in Michigan. Dr. Lee volunteered at Michigan Shine’s Fundraiser for Autism, and she served as a speaker at the WYN Organization’s March Against Asian Hate.
Ally Lee
Washington
Hero Story
Dr. Ally Lee is an Asian Hmong American educator, entrepreneur, information technology (I.T.) professional, and community leader/philanthropist.
Dr. Lee opened the Orchid Thai Restaurant in Campus Martius in downtown Detroit in 2005. The restaurant closed its doors in 2023, but left a positive impression on the community. Dr. Lee is a philanthropist who continuously worked to help strengthen her community. She was a regular donor to local food pantries and homeless shelters. At the height of the pandemic, Dr. Lee provided over 3,000 meals through the Orchid Thai Restaurant to frontline staff such as the Detroit Police Department, Detroit Fire Fighters, homeless shelters, and local hospitals.
While managing the Orchid Thai Restaurant, Dr. Lee hired, managed, and mentored almost a hundred employees during her 18 years in business. Five percent of her former staff have become successful business owners. Ten percent graduated from college.
Dr. Lee continuously promoted education. Dr. Ally Lee has taught, mentored, and inspired hundreds of students varying from Detroit Public Schools grades K-12, to undergraduate college students at the University of Phoenix, to graduate students at Purdue University Global. She is a strong supporter of STEM. She served as a mentor for Hacking Health Windsor in Detroit. Dr. Lee was a volunteer faculty for the DAPCEP Program. She served as a virtual judge for the U.S. Army’s eCybermission STEM program since 2022, and is still supporting the program. Ally is a member of the Michigan Council of Women in Technology, and served as a judge for the organization’s scholarship Committee. Dr. Lee currently teaches Health Information Systems to graduate students at Purdue University Global.
Dr. Lee donated hundreds of hours in volunteer work. She was President of the Michigan Hmong Women’s Association. During her tenure as president, she dedicated over 300 hours to various initiatives to empower the Asian American Community. She focused on promoting Asian cultural awareness, and on promoting civic engagement within the Asian community. To help with relief efforts during the Russian/Ukrainian War, Ally volunteered at St. Mary’s Orthodox Church to send supplies to Ukraine. She also donated to organizations that support Ukrainian orphanages. Dr. Lee provided supplies, through the Orchid Thai Restaurant, to the Ukrainian Free Store, to refugees in Michigan. Dr. Lee volunteered at Michigan Shine’s Fundraiser for Autism, and she served as a speaker at the WYN Organization’s March Against Asian Hate.