In the middle of a pandemic, it’s great to know that the organizations that exist to benefit the Korean American community are stepping up and finding creative ways to continue to push their missions forward.
Most of these organizations are reliant on annual galas to raise the funds they need and while we can’t gather live, a few have gotten creative to put together a virtual program that we can enjoy in the comfort of our own homes.
With a star studded lineup of guests and honorees including Daniel Dae Kim and BTS, and dinner delivered overnight by Michelin starred Korean Steakhouse Cote, the 2020 gala season might just be the silver lining we’ve been needing.
Here are all the great virtual galas we are looking forward to this season. Please give generously if you are able and join us as we enjoy the events in the comfort of our gala pjs!
Korean American Community Foundation, 9/23/2020
Mission: The Korean American Community Foundation (KACF) provides grants and organizational development support to nonprofit groups working to address the most pressing needs in the Korean American community and beyond. This is possible through our work to foster philanthropic giving among Korean Americans, corporations and foundations, and we provide our supporters with an effective vehicle to magnify the impact of their giving.
Why we support KACF: Having served on the Grantee Committee last year, I saw first hand what some of the dire needs are in the Korean American community. The stellar leadership and board are comprised of highly capable and caring individuals who are all about offering hands on, long term assistance to those organizations that are on the ground assisting the most vulnerable.
For questions or information regarding sponsorships, please email kacfgala@kacfny.org.
Korean American Story, 9/12/2020
Mission: Korean American Story’s mission is to capture, create, preserve and share the stories of the Korean American experience by supporting and promoting storytelling in all forms that explore and reflect the ever evolving Korean American story. We seek to be an inclusive hub that bridges gaps between communities and helps to instill cultural awareness and pride among the Korean American community.
Why we support KAS: Korean American Story is the only organization we know of that is dedicated to collecting and archiving the amazing stories of the Korean diaspora in the US. We love the great stories that are given a platform with KAS, but we especially love how KAS is a bastion of inclusion for all who identify with the Korean American experience.
Korea Society, October 7, 2020
Mission: THE KOREA SOCIETY is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) organization with individual and corporate members that is dedicated solely to the promotion of greater awareness, understanding, and cooperation between the people of the United States and Korea.
The Annual Gala Dinner is the Korea Society’s premier event of the year, celebrating the U.S-Korea relationship as well as honoring those who work towards maintaining this special alliance. This year, in light of health and safety concerns regarding COVID-19, we have decided to “recreate” our Annual Gala as a virtually-celebrated event on Wednesday, October 7, with the theme “Enduring Alliance, Expanding Horizons”.
VAN FLEET AWARD HONOREES:
- U.S. Korean War Veterans
- Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry
- BTS
Why we support Korea Society: Korea Society traces its roots to 1957 and always has interesting programming that highlights and promotes the Korea and Koreans. Even now as we shelter at home, Korea Society continues to provide virtual programming with experts on a wide range of topics such as KPop and BTS to politics and relations with North Korea.