SF Bay Area Korean-Americans turn over relief donations

(Left to right) Consul Reginald Bernabe, William Kim, Angela Lee, Deputy Consul General Jaime Ramon T. Ascalon and Jun Il Hyun at the check donation turnover rite from the Federation of Korean Associations, USA, for the relief operations in the aftermath of Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (international name: Haiyan). CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

SAN FRANCISCO—A check of $3,000 for the Philippine Red Cross was presented by the Federation of Korean Associations, USA, as their contribution to the relief operations for the victims of Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (Haiyan).

The association’s president, Angela Lee, and other officers met with Deputy Consul General Jaime Ramon T. Ascalon on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2013, at the Philippine Consulate General and expressed their condolences to the families of the victims.

They also conveyed their deep concern and heartfelt solidarity with those affected by Yolanda, on behalf of the Korean American community in the United States, and offered their support to the ongoing relief operations.

The Federation of Korean Associations, USA, represents the Korean-American population in the United States, which numbers around 2,500,000.  Lee was joined by Jun Il Hyun, president of the Korean American Community Center of San Francisco and Bay Area; Robert Kim, publisher of Hyundae News San Francisco; William Kim, CEO of World Taekwondo Martial Art Council.

They also took the opportunity to inform the consulate of their fund-raising efforts for the victims of Yolanda, such as the Board Break-A-Thon and Spaghetti Dinner sponsored by William Kim’s Taekwondo.  This event was held on Nov. 22 in Vallejo.

The gesture of kindness and solidarity from the Korean-American community is an example of the outpouring of support that the Philippines has been receiving from the various ethnic communities in the Bay Area, as well as in other parts of the globe.