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| | Spring Highlights
April and May flew by as we celebrated AA & NHPI Heritage Month with events across the country. From author events to sponsorships and coast-to-coast book donations, it was a season full of connection and impact.
Here’s a quick look back—and a few things to keep an eye out for this summer and fall! |
| | | Vicky Nguyen Book Tour Celebration As part of her national book tour, journalist and author Vicky Nguyen made a special visit to St. Louis, sharing her debut book Boat Baby with students and community members. Before the main event, Vicky visited two schools in the St. Louis area as part of the May Book Project. She kicked off the day at St. Francis Cabrini Elementary School, where she met with the 8th grade class for an inspiring author talk and Q&A. Each student even received a signed copy of her book. She then visited Webster Groves High School for another engaging session with students. |
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| In the evening we partnered with OCA-St. Louis, the St. Louis Vietnamese Community and Gateway Korea Foundation to host a community reception at the Clark Library. Vicky connected with members of local Asian American organizations and guests enjoyed delicious food from Mai Lee, a beloved local restaurant owned by a legacy Vietnamese family. To close out an eventful day, the St. Louis County Library Foundation hosted an author talk led by Michelle Li. Vicky shared details about her career in journalism, her personal refugee story and why she chose to write a book about her experiences. We're grateful to Vicky for sharing her story and creating unforgettable moments throughout the day! |
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| | St. Louis Health Summit: AANHPI Pulse Check A coalition of St. Louis-based Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AA & NHPI) organizations hosted AANHPI Pulse Check – Evaluating Our Health, a first-of-its-kind summit tackling significant health disparities in the region. The event followed the American Cancer Society’s 2024 Cancer Facts & Figures for AANHPI Communities, which reveals cancer as the leading cause of death among Chinese, Filipino, Korean, and Vietnamese populations. Despite being the fastest-growing racial group in the U.S., Asians and Asian Americans remain underrepresented in health research. The AA & NHPI diaspora includes diverse communities with unique risks and care barriers. Local organizations, healthcare providers, and industry leaders gathered to share knowledge, raise awareness, and develop strategies for better outcomes and a long-term health action plan in St. Louis. AANHPI Pulse Check was possible through a collaborative effort led by the American Cancer Society, Washington University, SSM Health, St. Louis Integrated Health Network, World Wide Technology, Makan Consulting, OCA-Advocate St. Louis, the Asian American Chamber of Commerce, and the Very Asian Foundation. |
| | | May Book Project East Coast As part of our May Book Project, we donated over 100 books to two schools in the DMV area. Co-founder Michelle Li and Executive Director Soogi Hong connected with school administrators, librarians, and students, joined by an incredible team of volunteers. |
| Among them were author Ellen Oh, Avalon Bay CEO Ben Schall, Chef Pamela Yee (Executive Director of Chefs Stopping AAPI Hate), journalist Melissa Kim, Howard University head football coach Larry Scott, and two Georgetown football players. |
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| Together, our volunteers brought stories to life, reading to 28 classrooms and sharing meaningful conversations with students. Older students even enjoyed a special author talk and Q&A with Ellen Oh. We’re deeply grateful to our community for helping us create joyful, memorable learning experiences for students and promoting diversity in schools and libraries across the country. |
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| West Coast Co-Founder Gia Vang and Soogi Hong visited Ramona Elementary School for a special book donation and author visit. In celebration of their book, Martee Dares to Dance, dancers and actors Shelby Rabara and Harry Shum Jr. met with students for a book reading and assembly. The room was filled with energy and excitement as students, faculty, staff and volunteers danced with Shelby and Harry, learning new moves and embracing the book’s message to be fearless when trying something new. Special thanks to our sponsor Avalon Bay for helping make this event possible. |
| | | The Very Asian Foundation proudly sponsored Reflection, Resilience, Reimagination: 50 Years of Southeast Asian American Journeys, a powerful commemoration of the resilience and cultural richness of Southeast Asian American communities. Marking five decades since the end of the Vietnam War, the Secret War in Laos, and the fall of Phnom Penh, this special program, presented by the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center, featured short film screenings and an intergenerational panel discussion with community leaders. Through storytelling and dialogue, the event honored the lived experiences and enduring contributions of those displaced from Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam who have shaped American society in vital ways. |
| | General Updates
Act to Change Act to Change is a national 501(c)3 nonprofit organization working to end bullying for the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. The organization leads educational programming for K-12 youth and provides resources and support for educators and caregivers. This year, the Very Asian Foundation had the pleasure of partnering with Act to Change on their Youth Ambassadors Program. The program aims to empower and engage Asian American and Pacific Islander youth to effectively combat bullying in their communities through meaningful conversations and engagement with faculty and school administrators. As a partner in the program, we supported four students with projects that support our mission and their efforts as part of the ambassador program. In May, VAF Community Relations Director Danny Poon and May Book Project Co-Chair Ali Koe met with the Act to Change team in New York City for an ambassador Graduation and Showcase, where ambassadors presented their projects to funders, community leaders, and partners. Partnering with Act to Change has been an amazing opportunity to engage with passionate youth leaders and expand the impact of our organization’s mission. For more information about Act to Change and their Youth Ambassador program, click the link below. |
| | On Leong Way
Last June, the St. Louis Board of Alderman voted to pass an ordinance authorizing a portion of 8th street to receive the honorary name, On Leong Way. In May, the new street sign was officially installed. This name recognizes the On Leong Merchants and Laborers Association, a group that not only served Chinese workers in the city but also became a gathering place for the community.
On Leong means many things (including peace and benevolence), but this recognition honors the people who lived, thrived, and contributed to St. Louis in the 1800s up until the 1960s.
On Leong Way is here. It was made possible by a tremendous community effort by volunteers, leaders, journalists and more to acknowledge our shared history.
Want to show your support? Visit our merchandise shop to view our Reclaiming Chinatown series. |
| | | May Book Project Essay Contest
This year, as an extension of the May Book Project, the Very Asian Foundation hosted an essay contest to explore what representation means to AA and NHPI students. We wanted to hear their reflections on representation’s importance and how our community can promote it.
Each applicant shared powerful experiences and stories of representation. Congratulations to our winners:
6th - 8th Grade Division: Adele Kim Ethan Yu Silbica Basaula Honorary Mention: Beatrice Lynch
9th - 12th Grade Division: Lily Tao Aryaleela Misra Melanie Ho Honorary Mention: Anahat Singh
Stay tuned for the 2026 essay contest launching this fall! |
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| 2025 Creators Grant: Applications Under Review We’re excited to share that over 200 applications were submitted for the 2025 Creators Grant. Our dedicated review committee is hard at work going through each proposal with care. With so many inspiring ideas and creative visions, the selection process is no easy task. We look forward to announcing the grant recipients soon - stay tuned! |
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| Sunday Funday Luncheon 2025 We are thrilled to announce that our third annual Sunday Funday benefit luncheon will be held on Sunday October 19th at the W Bellevue in Bellevue, Wash. The Very Asian Foundation Sunday Funday Luncheon celebrates our #VeryAsian community, recognizes our 2025 Creators Grant recipients, and celebrates our local Seattle community leaders. Proceeds from this fundraiser will go towards advancing VAFs mission to amplify AA and NHPI voices and stories to help grow our programs.
For more information about sponsorship opportunities and/or questions about the event, please contact Michelle Rigell at MRigell@veryasianfoundation.org. |
| Support our Artists Also check out our new artist merch series, thanks to our creative director Claire Nipper. We’ll be highlighting them here and throughout the year. Support our Artists Series here. Suerynn Lee is a cartoonist and illustrator based in Brooklyn. Her clients include GANNI, the New Yorker, the New York Times, and others.
When asked about the inspiration behind her cave writing design, Lee said, “I liked the idea of cave people discovering mark making as a way of communicating and then immediately using it to claim being very Asian. It’s also a way to avoid depicting stereotypical imagery with the intention of flipping it on its head since I have no confidence in my ability to subvert it while also perpetuating it.” |
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Find us on social and check out our website and shop Want to volunteer? Reach out contact@veryasianfoundation.org
Every dollar counts! We are in unprecedented times, and we are still a startup non-profit run by immigrants, moms, refugees, and adoptees.
A $25 donation will buy one book for a school each month. Will you consider making an impact on our kids? Click here to donate! |
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