Sunday Funday Benefit Luncheon Returns for a Third Year
The Very Asian Foundation’s Sunday Funday Benefit Luncheon is back for a third year in Seattle.
The non-profit’s fundraiser is filled with special guests in a light-hearted and inspiring program to raise money for AA and NHPI causes.
When: Sunday, October 19, 2025
11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Where: W Bellevue
10455 Northeast 5th Place
Bellevue, WA 98004
It’s returned for a third year in a row! The Very Asian Foundation (VAF) is hosting Sunday Funday in the beautiful setting of the Puget Sound region. Sunday Funday is a chance for the non-profit to bring together community members, changemakers, and supporters in joy and celebration as it reflects on the important work that was accomplished this year. The program will include delicious lunch and libations, incredible raffle prizes from AAPI-owned businesses, and a dessert dash.
The organization will also honor five VAF Creator Grant recipients during the event. The afternoon will cap off with a moving fireside chat with Shannon Lee, moderated by actor Rich Ting. Lee is the founder and president of the Bruce Lee Foundation and the CEO and owner of Bruce Lee Enterprises. She is an author, producer, podcaster, and speaker.
“The energy that carried our community forward this year comes from work that is critical - not just here, but across the country - so that every person who is of AA and NHPI descent can feel a true sense of belonging,” said Michelle Li, VAF’s co-founder. “At a time when support for inclusion is being rolled back, our work matters more than ever - because every story, every program, every grantee reminds us that belonging is not optional, it’s essential.”
During the Sunday Funday weekend, VAF will be volunteering and giving hundreds of books to area schools under The May Book Project, which is an Asian American youth literature project for all readers. Many librarians are dealing with budget constraints and recognize the need for books that reflect the communities they serve.
VAF 2025 Creator Grant awardees:
Diana Khong is Viet filmmaker, playwright, and community organizer. Their film Band Practice is a queer romantic comedy following a Black majorette and Viet band geek, set to premiere in 2026.
Kimberly Stahl is a Korean American artist and metalsmith based in St. Louis, MO. Her work blends blacksmithing, jewelry, and knife making to explore identity and transformations.
Schoua Na Yang is a Hmong queer music artist from Saint Paul, MN who goes by the artist name S U N A H. They are a singer, producer, and songwriter. Their work blends music, activism, including No Word for Queer and they co-founded Nplooj Radio.
Rameya Shanmugavelayutham is a Muslim, Indian-American with ancestral roots in the villages of Tamil Nadu. She wades in the liminal space between her identities as a therapist and a creative, unlearning binary to blend science and art, analysis, and intuition while supporting herself and others to reconnect with their bodies.
Upasna Kakroo was born in Srinagar and displaced as a Pandit. Her writing talks about belonging, identity, and roots. She seeks to create inclusive spaces for South Asian storytelling as the CEO of Peerbagh.
Ticket Information:
General Admission Tickets are $100. VIP Tickets are $150 and include swag bags donated by over a dozen AAPI-owned businesses. To get your tickets, visit the Eventbrite page. Sponsorships are welcome.
VAF wants to thank our host committee, Make Us Visible, as well as our corporate sponsors and community partners.
About VAF and the May Book Project:
Founded in 2022 with the help of St. Louis high school students, The May Book Project is an international youth literature project for all readers that fosters literacy and connection. The MBP is a free resource and includes a rubric and a list of more than 330 books to support librarians in the choice and celebration of building a library.
VAF is a journalist-founded nonprofit formed after a viral moment. The mission is to connect people through advocacy and celebration.
Contact: Shelbi Voss, contact@veryasianfoundation.org
