LOS ANGELES – The spirit of giving continues despite the recession. This is exemplified by the 3rd Annual Giving for All Seasons Fundraising Gala of the Asian Pacific Community Fund (APCF) presented by Southern California Edison at the Grammy Museum Terrace at LA Live last Thursday.
“Community grants of this nature, no matter how big or small, are vitally important to community based organizations like ours,” declared Debra Fong, executive director of APCF. “Today’s economic challenges have seriously impacted the ability of smaller organizations that provide vital and basic need services, especially to ethnic communities in need,” Fong stressed. “It is critical that organizations like APCF continue to carry on their fundraising even in these difficult financial times.”
APCF, true to its mission, distributed grant checks amounting to $157,000 to 29 affiliate agencies that provide basic health and human services to Asian Pacific Islander and other ethnic communities throughout Los Angeles County, including Filipino American Service Group, Inc. (FASGI), and Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA), Fil-Am non-profit organizations that have received grants from APCF in the past.
The event, hosted by Channel 7 Eyewitness News anchor David Ono, also recognized two honorees – Assembly Member Mike Eng and the Edison Chinese Connection – for their considerable charity work and influence that have benefited APIs. “To be able to leverage these dollars for the betterment of the entire community is something for which I am completely and totally grateful, and I want to express that gratitude to number of people here,” shared Los Angeles Council Member Jan Perry of the 9th District.
“We all know how important it is to maintain a social service network to take care of people who are at greatest need: seniors, meal programs, people who are frail and disabled. To be able to give them a hand and to be able to keep the community going, growing, and create a sense of community,” Perry said.
In 20 years since it was founded, APCF has raised and distributed $1.5 million to more than 30 different non-profit organizations. Those funds were raised from individuals through workplace giving programs and direct donations. One of these workplace giving programs is called the Edison Chinese Connection, which received the Spirit of Giving Award last week. Assembly Member Eng, who was presented with the Visionary Award, said it was “an incredible honor; a great honor.”
Assembly Member Eng’s was honored for his efforts which led to a legislation granting over $75 million for community colleges; $42 million in legislation for a busway in El Monte, and $10 million in potential funding for clean up of polluted water in the San Gabriel Valley, some districts of which he represents.
Says APCF Board President Robert Yap: “In these difficult times I’ve asked my board members and our staff to really double their efforts. I challenge you to do the same, if not for the benefit of the APCF, which would be great, and for other non-profits, even with your dollars and your time.”
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