Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation

JAISOHN COMMUNITY WELLNESS PLAZA - ZONING APPLICATION APPROVED! For our organization and the Asian American community in Montgomery County, it was a historical moment. With the support from Upper Gwynedd Township commissioners (President Kathryn Carter, Vice President Rebecca Moodie, etc.), solicitor, and township staff (Sandra Zadell, Megan Weaver, E Van Rieker, etc.), the zoning board easily passed our zoning application. Our zoning lawyer Kate Harper and I presented the case front of the Board. The Solicitor delivered the support message from Commissioners for the record (4/8 decision). Community neighbors Suren & Grace Pakhtigian also were present in support of this application. Commissioner Rebecca Moodie was present until the end. Our staff included Grace Kim, Jung Kang Lee, and Kyunghee Seo. It was a great DAY for our organization and our community!

JAISOHN INTERNSHIPS AND SCHOLARSHIPS! College and graduate students still have opportunity for internships and scholarships.

We’re excited to share that we’ve received a $2 million gift from the Yield Giving Open Call! The #YieldGivingOpenCall – managed by Lever for Change – focused on elevating organizations working with people and in places experiencing the greatest need in the United States. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/gWNYQb5q #YieldGiving #SocialImpact #OpenCall 

Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation attended the Montgomery County Immunization Coalition's (MCIC) meeting in early March where our President & CEO Jungsoo George Choe and Program Manager at MCIC Beth Till had the opportunity to meet Naimah Covington, Quality Improvement Officer from Quality Insights (organization funded by CMS). We discussed potentials for partnership opportunities in order to improve the health and wellness for our local communities.

On March 11, we joined State Representative Patty Kim at the Charles Library at Temple University. There was a packed student audience to her speech "The Role Model Effect and Asian American Women's Leadership" and discussion of her pathway into politics and legislative career. Our own Kristen Lee got a photo with Representative Kim. We attended State Representative Patty Kim's event, "The Role Model Effect and Asian American Women's Leadership," at Temple University's Charles Library on March 11. The event drew a large crowd of students eager to hear about her journey into politics and legislative accomplishments. Our own Kristen Lee had the opportunity to take a photo with Representative Kim after the event. Representative Kim also had an interview with the Korea Times Philadelphia afterwards.

Our joint colloquium on Korean American empowerment hosted by the James Joo-Jin Kim Center for Korean Studies and the Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation was a success! Hosted by Hyunjoon Park and featuring Nydia Han, 6abc TV anchorwoman, the conversation included Nydia talking about her childhood experiences and career development journey. She offered valuable advice to the college students, shared her personal encounters with Asian hate, and highlighted her #ThisisAmerica digital series. Thank you to everyone who attended.

The third Montgomery County AAPI Community Needs Assessment meeting was led by Shauna Zhang and Henry Shen at the Guanghua Cultural Center in Blue Bell. Our President & CEO Jungsoo George Choe went to listen in as the Chinese American community leaders split into two groups for English and Chinese.

The Filipino American Focus Group discussion for the Montgomery County AAPI Community Needs Assessment was held at the Lyn and Bing Javier House on March 1. Thank you to Lyn Javier for organizing the group discussion and preparing meals for your community leaders!

Abington Hospital - Jefferson Health recently hosted its annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Annual Service, commemorating the life and enduring impact of Dr. King while recognizing individuals who contribute to their hospital and community. We are so proud of our own President & CEO Jungsoo George Choe, who received the "Courage to Make a Difference" Award, which underscores his unwavering commitment to enhancing health, human rights, and welfare within the diverse Asian American and all underserved communities. We extend our gratitude to all of our partners in racial relations across Montgomery County, Philadelphia, and Delaware County (Upper Darby). We also would like to express our appreciation to all of the organizations and individuals who have supported and collaborated with us in various events and programs. This award is a testament to the collective efforts of everyone involved. Congratulations to all of the other winners too!

In mid-February, Teri Wassel, Registered Dietitian with the Montgomery County Office of Public Health, came into Jaisohn Wellness Center to teach our Korean seniors how to make healthy Italian Wedding Soup.