Celeste's Fundraiser for Anti-Asian Violence
Donation protected
***UPDATE***
I cannot believe that just a month ago I began this fundraiser with the hopes of raising $1,500 and have now crossed the goal of $10,000. To have been able to double my fundraising target time and time again has been an extreme privilege and I am so fortunate to know that my family, friends, and extended community support this effort. With a little over two weeks before my race I would like to be incredibly ambitious and double my current goal with the hopes of raising $20,000. Thank you, again, for your generosity and encouragement.
***Thank you!***
Asian New Yorkers and the Asian American and Pacific Islander community at large have faced tremendous challenges over the past two years. The pandemic has brought severe economic hardship and a seemingly never-ending wave of hate, violence, and abuse towards the AAPI community. In the wake of the recent deaths of Michelle Go, Christina Yuna Lee and a series of hate crimes committed in a spree of violence affecting 7 Asian women, I believe that bringing as much attention to this issue is as important as ever.
I cannot believe that just a month ago I began this fundraiser with the hopes of raising $1,500 and have now crossed the goal of $10,000. To have been able to double my fundraising target time and time again has been an extreme privilege and I am so fortunate to know that my family, friends, and extended community support this effort. With a little over two weeks before my race I would like to be incredibly ambitious and double my current goal with the hopes of raising $20,000. Thank you, again, for your generosity and encouragement.
***Thank you!***
Asian New Yorkers and the Asian American and Pacific Islander community at large have faced tremendous challenges over the past two years. The pandemic has brought severe economic hardship and a seemingly never-ending wave of hate, violence, and abuse towards the AAPI community. In the wake of the recent deaths of Michelle Go, Christina Yuna Lee and a series of hate crimes committed in a spree of violence affecting 7 Asian women, I believe that bringing as much attention to this issue is as important as ever.
On May 21, 2022 I’ll be running my first half marathon to raise awareness around anti-Asian violence and funds to support a group of non-profits I believe are helping to make a positive impact within AAPI communities in New York City.
I’m looking to raise $20,000 to support the following organizations:
($10,000) Asian American Federation: The AAF was established in 1989 with the mission of increasing the well-being of the pan-Asian American community through research, policy advocacy, public awareness and nonprofit support. It is the largest umbrella leadership organization in New York, serving diverse Asian American communities that make up the fastest-growing population in the city, state, and country. As part of their 2022 policy priorities, their Hope Against Hate Campaign lays the groundwork for long-term prevention work in the AAPI and ally communities. As part of the campaign, dozens of Asian American-serving organizations are implementing a range of proven community-centered safety strategies, ranging from upstander trainings to safety ambassador programs, to building more robust victim support services. I want to contribute to AAF to support this campaign and ensure that the results of this initiative are sustained and widespread.
($5,500) Welcome to Chinatown : Welcome to Chinatown offers probono resources to Manhattan, Chinatown small businesses by focusing on building relationships with small business owners and community members and providing a diverse range of skills toward already resilient and adaptive establishments inherent to immigrant communities. Launched in July 2020, Welcome to Chinatown's Longevity Fund is the only small business relief program for Manhattan Chinatown with equitable access in mind. Awarded on a monthly basis, The Longevity Fund will provide assistance in the form of monetary grants to assist Manhattan Chinatown small businesses with recovery and improvements.
($5,500) Welcome to Chinatown : Welcome to Chinatown offers probono resources to Manhattan, Chinatown small businesses by focusing on building relationships with small business owners and community members and providing a diverse range of skills toward already resilient and adaptive establishments inherent to immigrant communities. Launched in July 2020, Welcome to Chinatown's Longevity Fund is the only small business relief program for Manhattan Chinatown with equitable access in mind. Awarded on a monthly basis, The Longevity Fund will provide assistance in the form of monetary grants to assist Manhattan Chinatown small businesses with recovery and improvements.
($2,250) Soar Over Hate : A NYC-based non-profit supporting the AAPI community in the face of escalating anti-Asian violence. Donations support the purchase of personal safety devices (personal alarms, whistles, and pepper spray), community events where volunteers distribute these devices and other community resources; centering joy, healing, health and safety, therapy fund for victims of anti-Asian hate incidents, and need-based scholarships for AAPI youth.
($2,250) Think!Chinatown : Think!Chinatown: Think! is an intergenerational non-profit based in Manhattan’s Chinatown with the mission to foster inter-generational community through the intersection of neighborhood engagement, storytelling, and the arts. The organization aims to shape better policies and programs that define Chinatown's public spaces, to celebrate cultural heritage, and to innovate on how collective memories are represented.
I hope that with this small effort, I’m able to make New York City a safer place for New Yorkers in general but especially for those in the AAPI community. If you cannot donate today, I would encourage you to reach out to someone you know who is a member of the APPI community and check in with them. Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Celeste
Organizer
Celeste Matsui
Organizer
New York, NY