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NAEIL FOUNDATION Impact Report

내일재단 Table of Contents

02 Executive Summary 04 Impact at a Glance Global Pandemic 05 Press Highlights Testimonials

70th Anniversary of the Korean War 09 Press Highlights Testimonials

2020 Census / Presidential Elections 13 Key Initiatives Press Highlights Testimonials 20 Recognition

N A E I L F O U N D A T I O N • 2 0 2 0 I M P A C T R E P O R T 1 Executive Summary

The Naeil Foundation, established at the start of 2020, was founded by second generation .

Its mission is to advance social justice and democratic values in the Korean-American community by advocating for policies and civic engagement that places educational access, preservation of cultural heritage, cross-cultural coalition building, and community prosperity at the forefront. Additionally the Foundation promotes equitable treatment of and outcomes for similarly situated underrepresented and socioeconomically disadvantaged communities across the United States and its territories where the Foundation is a major stakeholder in the community.

2020 was expected to be a watershed year, with the decennial U.S. Census and the Presidential Elections, and worldwide commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the Korean War. It proved to be an earth-shattering year with the global pandemic bringing the world into a standstill and the civil unrest in the United States.

Despite these challenges, the Foundation was able to effectively launch three successful initiatives that not only addressed these historic events but also generated both immediate and lasting positive impacts -- on a regional, national and global scale.

At the onset of the pandemic, the Foundation immediately secured and donated critically-necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) to New York City regional Korean American organizations, , nursing homes, and to Korean War veterans. The donations were crucial in providing essential PPE toward saving lives, while strengthening the good will of the Korean community in the tri-state area.

N A E I L F O U N D A T I O N • 2 0 2 0 I M P A C T R E P O R T 2 Naeil means "tomorrow" in Korean 내일재단

Moreover, recognizing the significance of the 70th Anniversary of the Korean War (June 25, 1950 - July 27, 1953) and its impact on the Korean identity and immigration, as well as the U.S.-Korean alliance, the Foundation funded the creation of a website dedicated to honoring Korean War veterans around the world and in the United States while educating the public about the Korean War. The website will continue to promote global awareness of the veterans’ sacrifices while preserving the history and cultural heritage of Koreans worldwide.

Lastly, to ensure Korean American participation in the 2020 Census and the Elections, the Foundation sponsored the launch of KA Vote, a non-partisan, multi-generational Task Force made up of nearly 60 regional and national Korean American organizations to increase Korean American civic engagement and representation. The collaborative mobilization efforts reached 1 million Korean Americans nationwide through various platforms which resulted in a historic turnout at the polls, while also uniting the Korean American community in an unprecedented scale and cohesion.

For its tremendous work and impact on the Korean community, the Foundation received the “2020 Organization of the Year Award” from the Korean American Association of Greater New York (KAAGNY) during its Annual Gala on Korean American Day, January 13, 2021.

Since the arrival of the first Korean immigrants to the United States on January 13, 1903, Korean Americans have worked tirelessly in pursuit of the American Dream and for the future of their children. The Naeil Foundation is committed to empowering the community so generations of Korean Americans can continue to enjoy a better tomorrow.

And a brighter tomorrow starts today.

N A E I L F O U N D A T I O N • 2 0 2 0 I M P A C T R E P O R T 3 Impact at a Glance

S I G N I F I C A N C E & N A E I L F O U N D A T I O N ' S I M P A C T N E E D C O N T R I B U T I O N S ( S H O R T / L O N G - T E R M )

Critical personal PPE donation - 20,000 Direct essential protection protective coveralls to 5 hospitals, 5 to frontline workers, equipment (PPE) nursing homes, 1 veterans indirectly helped saved during the height home, and 5+ Korean lives of the pandemic in American organizations Goodwill for the Korean NYC community

REGIONAL

Honoring veterans Funded development of a Paying proper tribute to and remembering website featuring stories of veterans and their families the 70th the veterans and their and educating the public anniversary of the sacrifices and promoting Preserving Korean identity Korean War awareness about the and history and significance of the Korean War strengthening alliances

GLOBAL

Increasing Korean Sponsored the launch of KA Outreach to 1 million American civic Vote -a nonpartisan, Korean Americans, engagement in nationwide Task Force of yielding record turnout the 2020 Census Korean American organizations Community and Presidential to enhance participation in the empowerment, coalition Elections Census, and voter registration building and political and turnount representation NATIONAL

N A E I L F O U N D A T I O N • 2 0 2 0 I M P A C T R E P O R T 4 Global Pandemic SIGNIFICANCE & NEED

In March 2020, the New York City region emerged as the epicenter of the pandemic in the United States, soon after the country’s first coronavirus infection was discovered. NYC hospitals and emergency rooms were overwhelmed with fatally-ill COVID-19 patients while facing dire shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) — masks, gloves and gowns — for medical staff and frontline workers. By April, NYC accounted for 25% of COVID-19 deaths in the United States.

Some of the hardest-hit communities included poor and densely-populated neighborhoods in north-central Queens with high immigrant populations, including Korean Americans living in Flushing. Public hospitals like the Queens Center and the Elmhurst Hospital Center became overloaded with patients, operating at over 100% capacity without adequate PPE nor personnel.

N A E I L F O U N D A T I O N • 2 0 2 0 I M P A C T R E P O R T 5 O D D B A L L I M A G I N G S T U D I O FOUNDATION'S CONTRIBUTIONS

Naeil Foundation fulfilled the needs of the greater NYC community by quickly sourcing and purchasing 10,000 highest medical grade coveralls (ASTM F1671 / F1671M certified) from a South Korean manufacturer, in addition to another 10,000 from Taiwan--at a time when they were logistically impossible to obtain and most urgently required. These life-saving, antiviral protective gowns were distributed to four New York hospitals: Mount Sinai Hospital, NYU Langone Medical Center, Elmhurst Hospital Center, and Queens Hospital Center, and one hospital: Holy Name Medical Center (where there is a separate Korean Medical Program to serve the large Korean American population living in Bergen County). In addition, the coveralls were donated to Korean-American Medical Practitioners Association of New York (KAMPANY), Korean American Association of Greater New York (KAAGNY), and the Korean Community Services of Metropolitan New York (KCS) to be used while providing direct services to the Korean American community. Moreover, the donation was extended to Veterans Home in Paramus, NJ after a New York Times article exposed the lack of PPE at the facility and the increasing number of deaths of veterans, including Korean War veterans.

SHORT TERM IMPACT LONG TERM IMPACT Immediately, the Foundation’s efforts Moreover, the Foundation’s contributions helped save lives in the NYC region. The have established lasting impact by expeditious donations of the PPE gowns helping to establish goodwill in the helped meet urgent needs during the community. The donations were greatly most pressing time of the pandemic in appreciated by the hospitals’ chief NYC. In addition to equipping frontline medical officers, as well as the CEO of workers at five major hospitals, the the veterans home (operated by the New Foundation’s coveralls provided essential Jersey state government), and local protection to Korean American elected officials who will remember organizations that served the most these donations for years to come. vulnerable Koreans through free medical aid and food relief programs, as well as to five nursing homes with high concentration of Korean seniors.

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N A E I L F O U N D A T I O N • 2 0 2 0 I M P A C T R E P O R T 8 70th Anniversary of the Korean War

SIGNIFICANCE & NEED

For more than 83 million Koreans worldwide, the Korean War (1950-1953) is a fateful event that changed the course of Korean history and identity, and the future of the Korean Peninsula and people. Moreover, 1.8 million Americans served in the Korean War, nearly 40,000 were killed in action, more than 100,000 wounded, and 8,000 are still unaccounted for. Nearly 4,000 soldiers from 20 other United Nations countries died, and more than 400,000 were injured. In total, the Korean War involved 26 nations, claimed the lives of more than 5 million people (about 2.5 million Koreans) and separated more than 10 million Korean families. Yet the Two Koreas remain technically at war and the Korean Peninsula remains divided.

Sadly, the Korean War has been long referred to as the “Forgotten War” and its veterans have been unrecognized. Furthermore, worldwide commemorations marking the 70th anniversary of the Korean War on June 25, 2020, were canceled due to the global pandemic. The Korean War veterans, who are mostly in their 90’s, missed their last chance to be celebrated.

N A E I L F O U N D A T I O N • 2 0 2 0 I M P A C T R E P O R T 9 O D D B A L L I M A G I N G S T U D I O FOUNDATION'S CONTRIBUTIONS

The Foundation promoted recognition of the Korean War veterans and the historical significance of the Korean War by funding the development of www.KoreanWarMemorials.com, a website featuring stories of the veterans from a total of 30 countries that participated in the Korean War. There are nearly 400 video interviews and transcripts available on the website, which also contains photos of more than 180 Korean War memorials from around the world. In addition, it uniquely features a virtual Wall of Remembrance with the names of nearly 41,000 killed worldwide in the Korean War, including more than 36,000 Americans from each U.S. State and Territory. Visitors are able to pay tribute by leaving comments behind.

SHORT TERM IMPACT LONG TERM IMPACT Through this website, the Naeil In the long run, by conveying the Foundation was able to honor the gratitude of the Korean people through sacrifices of those who died in defense the website, the Foundation has of freedom in time for Memorial Day in strengthened historical and political the United States and ensured that the alliances between Koreans and the Korean War veterans were honored all people of the countries that participated around the world on June 25, 2020 --on in the Korean War. The website continues the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of to receive messages from people the Korean War. The website’s content worldwide, expressing their appreciation was especially appreciated at a time for the efforts made to honor their when the veterans were increasingly countrymen who fought in Korea. isolated during the pandemic. Moreover, it will continue to preserve the history and cultural identity of the Korean people and the 8.3 million , including 2 million Korean Americans, who emigrated from South Korea in the aftermath of the Korean War.

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N A E I L F O U N D A T I O N • 2 0 2 0 I M P A C T R E P O R T 1 2 2020 Census and Presidential Elections

SIGNIFICANCE & NEED

The 2020 Census and the Elections were particularly important at this critical juncture in history. Participation in both the Census and the Elections has long-term effects: the results of the 2020 Census will determine how much federal funding will flow into the community every year for the next decade (one person = $3,000 of federal funding each year); the electoral turnout will measure the political influence of Korean Americans.

Yet Koreans have been under-counted in the Census and under-represented in the Elections. Studies show there is a discrepancy between the number of the Korean American population, estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau (1.8 million) and by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Korea (2.5 million). This means at least half a million are not being counted, making Koreans officially a Hard-to-Count demographic group. Furthermore, AAPI DATA’s analysis on the Asian American vote in 2016 revealed that voting rates among Korean American adult citizens were lowest (46%) relative to Whites and Blacks (65.3% and 59.4%, respectively) and even Latinos (47.6%). It was vitally important to engage Korean American voters, especially non- English proficient first generation Koreans and young second generation first-time voters.

N A E I L F O U N D A T I O N • 2 0 2 0 I M P A C T R E P O R T 1 3 O D D B A L L I M A G I N G S T U D I O FOUNDATION'S CONTRIBUTIONS

The Foundation sponsored the creation of KA Vote, a nationwide Task Force that quickly assembled Korean American organizations nationwide to increase Korean American participation in the 2020 Census and the Elections. Led by the Korean American Coalition (KAC) and the Korean American Association of Greater New York (KAAGNY), the Task Force was made up of first and second generation Korean American leaders representing 60 regional and national organizations -- that worked together to encourage Korean Americans to complete the Census online before the October 15th deadline as well as to register to vote before each state’s deadline. The Task Force was able to provide timely and bilingual information through its website, www.kavote.org, as well as social media, earned media, paid ads (print, radio, TV, digital) as well as in-person and virtual events (ie. R&B concert for second generation and trot concert for first generation) and other special initiatives (ie. music video, photo contest).

SHORT TERM IMPACT LONG TERM IMPACT While the final data from the Census and This gain in a few percentage points the 2020 Elections is not yet available, became particularly significant in the the Foundation’s immediate goals to 2020 presidential elections as well as in increase Korean American civic tight congressional races. As a result, engagement were met: between the first there are now four Korean Americans in week of September to Election Day on the U.S. Congress, and all across the November 3rd, KA Vote reached more nation’s state legislatures and city than 1 million Korean Americans councils. The long lasting impact of the nationwide through various platforms, Foundation’s investment in mobilizing the which contributed to an uptick in Korean Korean American electorate is increased American participation in the Census and representation of Korean Americans as Elections. It has already been revealed well as political empowerment of the that more Americans voted in the 2020 community. Through KA Vote, the election than in more than 100 years. Foundation has helped build an Nearly 65 percent of the voting-eligible infrastructure that has an extended population, almost 161 million Americans, outreach to engage and unite the Korean broke records for voter turnout, including American community--both first an unprecedented number of Asian generation and second generation American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) Koreans, on a local and national scale. that cast a ballot. Nationally, 5% more AAPI voters cast a ballot than voted in the entirety of the 2016 election. In every single battleground state, AAPI voters saw a bigger percent increase in votes cast, relative 2016 than any other group, and became the margin of victory.

N A E I L F O U N D A T I O N • 2 0 2 0 I M P A C T R E P O R T 1 4 O D D B A L L I M A G I N G S T U D I O KEY INITIATIVES

The press announcement of the launch of KA Vote on September 17, 2020, galvanized civic-minded Korean American organizations to partner with KA Vote in its efforts to get out the count and vote. The Task Force held weekly strategy meetings to most effectively inform, engage and empower the Korean American community to participate in this critical Census and Elections through bilingual education, registration and outreach as well as strategic partnerships.

Some of the highlights include:

Developing a bilingual website with essential information on how to participate in the Census, register to vote, and request mail-in ballots Professionally created flyers that emphasized on the significance of their vote Using multi-faceted methods of communication, in both English and Korean--via KakaoTalk, email, social media (YouTube, Instagram, Facebook) PSAs and earned media (through press events, releases) In-person outreach (in areas permitted with proper social distancing) at supermarkets, churches, foodbank lines Recruiting hundreds of volunteers to share content and provide language assistance Commissioned a music video to get out the vote (garnered more than 3,600 views) Giveaways to incentive participants (Masks, hand sanitizers, and Amazon gift cards) Strategic partnerships (with national civic organizations, such as APIA Vote) to organize phone-banking events Special virtual concerts targeting first generation (trot) and second generation (R&B) Paid ads via social media, print, radio, TV reaching more than 500,000 viewers

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N A E I L F O U N D A T I O N • 2 0 2 0 I M P A C T R E P O R T 1 6 KEY INITIATIVES (KOREAN)

N A E I L F O U N D A T I O N • 2 0 2 0 I M P A C T R E P O R T 1 7 PRESS HIGHLIGHTS

N A E I L F O U N D A T I O N • 2 0 2 0 I M P A C T R E P O R T 1 8 TESTIMONIALS

N A E I L F O U N D A T I O N • 2 0 2 0 I M P A C T R E P O R T 1 9 Recognition 2020 ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR

While the Foundation did not seek recognition for its philanthropic work, it quickly gained a stellar reputation from the Korean community at large and was frequently mentioned in the media. The Korean American Association of Greater New York (KAAGNY), representing the second largest Korean American population with nearly 500,000 in the NYC region, honored the Foundation with the “2020 Organization of the Year Award” for its tremendous work and impact on the Korean community.

Moreover, the Naeil Foundation was recognized by the South Korean General Consulate in New York for being an exemplary model for Koreans and for helping to build bridges through its charitable contributions.

It was also featured in a news outlet for the 8.3 million Korean diaspora, highlighting the far- reaching impact of the Foundation.

N A E I L F O U N D A T I O N • 2 0 2 0 I M P A C T R E P O R T 2 0 O D D B A L L I M A G I N G S T U D I O 2 0 2 0 내 일 재 단 Naeil Impact Report Foundation