On May 10, the Korean American Community Foundation (KACF) held its Annual Gala themed “The Power of Jeong” at Cipriani Wall Street, emceed by ABC News’ Nightline’s Juju Chang.
ABC News’ Nightline Anchor Juju Chang. Photo by Lia Chang
Gala Co-Chairs Edward J. Lee, Sarah Min and Lisa Kim. Photo by Lia Chang
The sold-out event, which brought together 700 Korean American philanthropists and community leaders, raised over $2 million in support of the Foundation’s work to build safe, strong, and thriving communities. “Jeong” is a Korean word that describes the deep bonds formed through shared experiences that underpins why people stay rooted in their communities, connected to one another, and inspired to give back together.
KACF President Kyung B. Yoon. Photo by Lia Chang
“We have been able to grow a significantly bigger philanthropic pie by and for our immigrant community,” said KACF President Kyung B. Yoon, reflecting on the significance of what the Foundation has achieved over the past two decades. “KACF has become a trusted grantmaker, connector, and hub of Korean American philanthropy that lifts up community needs and the great work of our nonprofit partners.”
Honoree Kathleen Kim, Seongwon Kim, KACF Board Chair Jeannie Park and KACF President Kyung B. Yoon. Photo by Lia Chang
In its latest grantmaking cycle, the Foundation awarded nearly $2 million in grants to 21 nonprofit organizations tackling issues facing the most vulnerable Korean and Asian Americans, reaching a milestone of over $12 million in cumulative grantmaking since its founding in 2002.
Kyung B. Yoon also announced three key initiatives KACF has launched as part of its strategy to scale its impact nationally, such as:
● seeding networks in other cities to galvanize philanthropic investments in local communities;
● investing in building grassroots capacity for advocacy to unlock more federal funding; and
● tackling issues that are national in scope, which includes commissioning the first-ever national research on the evolving needs of the Korean American aging population.
KACF Board Chair Jeannie Park, Honorees Teo Yoo, Joon H. Kim, and Kathleen Kim; Gala Co-chairs Lisa Kim, Edward J. Lee and Sarah Min, Commissioner, White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians & Pacific Islanders; and KACF President Kyung B. Yoon. Photo by Lia Chang
The Foundation also honored three individuals for their impact in championing representation for Korean Americans in their respective fields: Joon H. Kim, Partner at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton and former Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York (Honoree); Kathleen Kim, the puppeteer behind Ji-Young, the first Asian American muppet on Sesame Street (Trailblazer Award); and Teo Yoo, actor and star of Past Lives (Trailblazer Award).
KACF honorees Joon H. Kim, Partner at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton and former Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York; Kathleen Kim, the puppeteer behind Ji-Young, the first Asian American muppet on Sesame Street (Trailblazer Award); and Teo Yoo, actor and star of Past Lives (Trailblazer Award). Photo by Lia Chang
Highlights of the evening included:
● Kathleen Kim’s emotional remarks about the significance of Ji-Young, the first Asian American muppet on Sesame Street that she helped bring to life and what it has meant for her to be the representation on television that she did not have growing up;
Kathleen Kim, the puppeteer behind Ji-Young, the first Asian American muppet on Sesame Street (Trailblazer Award). Photo by Lia Chang
KACF President Kyung B. Yoon, Honoree Kathleen Kim and KACF Board Chair Jeannie Park. Photo by Lia Chang
Honoree Kathleen Kim. Photo by Lia Chang
Honoree Kathleen Kim. Photo by Lia Chang
● Joon H. Kim reflecting on his time representing the United States as an acting U.S. Attorney and what it means to belong in America as an immigrant;
Honoree Joon H. Kim, Partner at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton and former Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. Photo by Lia Chang
● Teo Yoo speaking about his experience growing up in Germany as a child of Korean-German immigrants; and
Teo Yoo, actor and star of Past Lives (Trailblazer Award). Photo by Lia Chang
Honoree Teo Joo and Juju Chang. Photo by Lia Chang
Teo Yoo, actor and star of Past Lives (Trailblazer Award). Photo by Lia Chang
● Seongwon Kim, a program manager at KACF’s grantee partner organization, the MinKwon Center for Community, sharing her story as an undocumented immigrant and speaking about the impact of the Foundation’s funding in helping to build belonging and support for the most marginalized immigrants.
Seongwon Kim. Photo by Lia Chang
● Seongwon Kim, a program manager at KACF’s grantee partner organization, the MinKwon Center for Community, sharing her story as an undocumented immigrant and speaking about the impact of the Foundation’s funding in helping to build belonging and support for the most marginalized immigrants.
Seongwon Kim and KACF President Kyung B. Yoon. Photo by Lia Chang
Dan Joo, Susan Choi, Honoree Kathleen Kim, Sarah Park, Christine Song, Christine Byun, Eugena Oh, Phillip Lee. Photo by Lia Chang
KACF Board of Directors (from left to right): Richard Park, Chul Pak, Alex Chi, James Seo, Cathy Oh, David H. Lee, Lisa Kim, Jeannie Park, Edward J. Lee, Michael K. Chung, Judy H. Kim, Jumee Song, Chris Park, David K. Park, S. Steven Yang. Photo by Lia Chang
James Rhee, Honoree Kathleen Kim, Art Chang. Photo by Lia Chang
Honoree Kathleen Kim, Sesame Street Producer Janet S. Kim and CACF Co-Executive Director Vanessa Leung. Photo by Lia Chang
ABC News’ Nightline Anchor Juju Chang, Trevor Shapiro and KACF President Kyung B. Yoon. Photo by Lia Chang
Trevor Shapiro, Juju Chang and Honoree Teo Yoo. Photo by Lia Chang
ABC News’ Nightline Anchor Juju Chang. Photo by Lia Chang
Guests at KACF’s Gala at Cipriani Wall Street in New York on May 10, 2023. Photo by Lia Chang
About the Korean American Community Foundation (KACF): Since 2002, the Korean American Community Foundation has awarded over $12 million in grants to promote the economic security of low-income Korean and Asian Americans. Alongside its grantmaking, KACF helps to build stronger nonprofits by training and deploying Korean-speaking management consultants who work with our grantee partners to improve their organizational effectiveness. Equally important, we have steadfastly advanced a culture of giving among Korean Americans, mobilizing the power of community philanthropy for positive change. www.kacfny.org
Lia Chang. Photo by Kalin Ivanov
Lia Chang is an actor, a multi-media content producer, activist, documentarian and an Award winning filmmaker and co-founder of Bev’s Girl Films making films that foster inclusion and diversity on both sides of the camera. Lia is also the host and Executive Producer of BACKSTAGE PASS WITH LIA CHANG, an Arts and Entertainment and Lifestyle program that airs on Sundays at 1:30pm and 6:30pm on FIOS 34, RCN 83, Spectrum 56/1996 and streams on MNN2. Lia was recently profiled on Asian American Life. BGF collaborates with and produces multi-media content for artists, actors, designers, theatrical productions, composers, musicians and corporations. www.liachang.com www.liachangphotography.com
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