September 2024 Update

September was a month full of community and connection!

Autumn Adventures View in Browser September Highlights September was a month full of community and connection! We kicked things off with successful May Book Project events, donating 100 books to two Bay Area schools. As we gear up for October, we look forward to partnering with the Vincent Chin Institute for our Bridging News Media and AANHPI Communities event in Madison, WI and making final preparations for our Sunday Funday luncheon. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue shining a light on Asian experiences through advocacy and celebration. Bay Area Book Drops On September 10th, two Bay Area elementary schools received a generous gift of 100 books from the Very Asian Foundation, in partnership with Avalon Bay. The donated books are authored and/or illustrated by Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) writers. Students at John Yehall Chin Elementary School in San Francisco were met with a special guest volunteer. Four-time Olympian Alex Massialas met with students, read to them, signed autographs, and shared stories about his career. Earlier that day, the May Book Project team visited College Park Elementary in San Mateo, where 16-year-old fashion designer and activist Ashlyn So made an exciting guest reader appearance. So is an alumna of College Park and a rising start in both fashion and activism. We were honored to have her involved with the May Book Project, helping to inspire the next generation. We'd like to extend a special thanks to our sponsor, Avalon Bay. The organization has been a sponsor of the May Book Project for two years now and their contributions have helped impact thousands of students across the country from Washington, D.C., Arlington, Boston, Seattle, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and more. The May Book Project is a youth literature project to help schools and libraries build and maintain robust Asian American youth literature collections for all readers. The May Book Project programs includes book lists with more than 320 books, an academic rubric for librarians, and a community guide. It was inspired by high school students and has impacted more than 70,000 students across 15 states in its first two years of giving. The FBI recognized it for a way to fight anti-Asian hate. Other New and Exciting VAF Events Bridging News Media and AANHPI Communities The Very Asian Foundation is partnering with the Vincent Chin Institute to host a free, exciting afternoon aimed at fostering greater understanding between the AANHPI community and the media. This interactive gathering in Madison, WI will feature breakout sessions and exercises with local journalists, offering attendees the chance to engage directly. Special guests include Helen Zia, Founder of the Vincent Chin Institute and Michelle Li, Co-Founder of the Very Asian Foundation. Guests will also have the opportunity to vote, thanks to our community partner Freedom, Inc.! Special thanks to our partners: AAPI Coalition of Wisconsin, News 3 Now, Madison Magazine and Madison College. Sunday Funday Benefit Luncheon Join us at our Sunday Funday Luncheon honoring JoySauce founder Jonathan Sposato and our 2024 Creators Grant winners! Snag prizes from Asian American businesses, hear inspiring stories, and support the Very Asian Foundation's programs. Tickets are on sale until October 14th. General admission tickets are $100. A limited number of VIP tickets are also available for $150 and include swag donated by over a dozen AAPI-owned businesses. Don’t miss out on this wonderful event! For questions about sponsorship opportunities and/or about this event, please contact Michelle Rigell mrigell@veryasianfoundation.org. Visit our website to learn more! As always, thank you for being a part of our journey as we continue to champion the voices and stories of AA and NHPI communities. We look forward what the upcoming months have to offer and cannot wait to share more with you! Copyright (C) 2024 Very Asian Foundation. All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website. Our mailing address is: Very Asian Foundation11939 Manchester Rd.Suite 303Saint Louis, MO 63131-4502USA Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe

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