The Giving Back Initiative - renewing a commitment
This initiative was launched in 2014 when members of the Friends of Korea Board expressed support for a more organized approach to service and philanthropy. The goal of this initiative is to move FoK to a deeper level of engagement with the many Korean communities, organizations and institutions active both in the US and in Korea. We are committed to supporting organizations and institutions that provide essential social services to members of the Korean-American community, as well as to institutions and other organizations whose activities foster greater understanding between Americans and Koreans.
In 2020, against the backdrop of the COVID-19 crisis, the Board approved a special grant program knowing that many nonprofits were facing an increased demand for services while, at the same time, facing an uncertain donor environment. Social service organizations which had already received support through this initiative were invited to apply. There were 5 organizations selected and each was awarded $5,000. Each organization submitted a report in early 2021 outlining how the funds were spent and what the organization was able to accomplish.
More than $58,000 has been donated since 2014. Recipients have included:
There are so many ways we can continue to give back to Korea. We can support worthy social service organizations here in the US that are addressing the needs of the Korean immigrant population. We can support the educational aspirations of Korean scholars interested in coming to the US to further their education. We can support young Americans interested in going to Korea to learn more about Korean culture and history. These are just a few examples of what we might consider.
To make a gift in support of this activity, click on the button below -
In 2020, against the backdrop of the COVID-19 crisis, the Board approved a special grant program knowing that many nonprofits were facing an increased demand for services while, at the same time, facing an uncertain donor environment. Social service organizations which had already received support through this initiative were invited to apply. There were 5 organizations selected and each was awarded $5,000. Each organization submitted a report in early 2021 outlining how the funds were spent and what the organization was able to accomplish.
More than $58,000 has been donated since 2014. Recipients have included:
- 2014: Korean American Family Services (Los Angeles)
- 2015: National Assn of Korean American Inter-Cultural Family Mission; the Korean American Senior Citizen Assn (Boston area)
- 2016: Virginia Korean American Disabled People’s Assn (Washington, DC area)
- 2017: The Nam Center for Korean Studies at the University of Michigan
- 2017: Korean Kids and Orphanage Outreach Mission (KKOOM)
- 2018: Korean Community Center Campaign (Annandale, VA)
- 2018: Community Inclusion and Development Alliance; Esther Ha Foundation (New York)
- 2019: Korean War Memorial Foundation (San Francisco)
- 2019: Bronx Charter School for Better Learning
- Special grant awards, 2020: Korean American Family Services; Virginia Korean American Disabled People’s Assn; Community Inclusion and Development Alliance; Esther Ha Foundation; and Korean Kids and Orphanage Outreach Mission
- 2020: East Asian Library of the University of Southern California
- 2021: Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Los Angeles; National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum
There are so many ways we can continue to give back to Korea. We can support worthy social service organizations here in the US that are addressing the needs of the Korean immigrant population. We can support the educational aspirations of Korean scholars interested in coming to the US to further their education. We can support young Americans interested in going to Korea to learn more about Korean culture and history. These are just a few examples of what we might consider.
To make a gift in support of this activity, click on the button below -
