YS Kim Foundation envisions a world where people and communities grow and flourish with culture, creativity, opportunities, and connection. Our mission is to support, mobilize, and open new pathways of success for artists, children, young leaders, communities, and organizations. We do this by starting new initiatives and providing grants and scholarships to organizations and students in the Korean American community and beyond.
OUR VISION AND MISSION
YS Kim Foundation envisions a world where people and communities grow and flourish with culture, creativity, opportunities, and connection. Our mission is to support, mobilize, and open new pathways of success for artists, children, young leaders, communities, and organizations. We do this by starting new initiatives and providing grants and scholarships to organizations and students in the Korean American community and beyond.
OUR STORY
YS Kim Foundation was established in honor of Mr. Young-Sam Kim who was a Korean immigrant, pioneer, and entrepreneur. He served as a member of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Marines during the Vietnam War before immigrating to the United States. From humble beginnings as a Korean immigrant, he eventually founded an international shipping company that also served as a vocational training platform for Korean immigrants to develop knowledge and skills to pursue careers in the industry. This platform also helped Korean immigrant workers build community.
Mr. Kim understood the power of community and investing in people. He was generous and always looked for ways to support his community. He was quick to help other Korean immigrants and families and was unafraid to take risks. He valued hard work, integrity, education, and the importance of family. To him, family was community, and community was family. He was a community builder who shared his resources and gave opportunities to people who were less fortunate.
Mr. Kim’s legacy lives on through his sons, Charles and James Kim, and their families. Inheriting and sustaining the values of entrepreneurship, community building, and family, the Kim family honors Mr. YS Kim through the work of YS Kim Foundation. The foundation envisions a world where people and communities grow and flourish with culture, creativity, opportunities, and connection with a mission to support, mobilize, and open new pathways of success for artists, children, young leaders, communities, and organizations.
YS Kim Foundation was established in honor of Mr. Young-Sam Kim who loved fishing and had a deep desire to help people on the margins of society find dignity and new opportunities to thrive. As represented in our logo of fish facing inwards and outwards to form a blooming dahlia, YS Kim Foundation draws people and new ideas in as we give back and share our resources and impact our communities and society. We are a hub for exchange and innovation that fosters growth and flourishing for the individuals, organizations, and communities we support.
OUR STORY
YS Kim Foundation was established in honor of Mr. Young-Sam Kim who was a Korean immigrant, pioneer, and entrepreneur. He served as a member of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Marines during the Vietnam War before immigrating to the United States. From humble beginnings as a Korean immigrant, he eventually founded an international shipping company that also served as a vocational training platform for Korean immigrants to develop knowledge and skills to pursue careers in the industry. This platform also helped Korean immigrant workers build community.
Mr. Kim understood the power of community and investing in people. He was generous and always looked for ways to support his community. He was quick to help other Korean immigrants and families and was unafraid to take risks. He valued hard work, integrity, education, and the importance of family. To him, family was community, and community was family. He was a community builder who shared his resources and gave opportunities to people who were less fortunate.
Mr. Kim’s legacy lives on through his sons, Charles and James Kim, and their families. Inheriting and sustaining the values of entrepreneurship, community building, and family, the Kim family honors Mr. YS Kim through the work of YS Kim Foundation. The foundation envisions a world where people and communities grow and flourish with culture, creativity, opportunities, and connection with a mission to support, mobilize, and open new pathways of success for artists, children, young leaders, communities, and organizations.
YS Kim Foundation was established in honor of Mr. Young-Sam Kim who loved fishing and had a deep desire to help people on the margins of society find dignity and new opportunities to thrive. As represented in our logo of fish facing inwards and outwards to form a blooming dahlia, YS Kim Foundation draws people and new ideas in as we give back and share our resources and impact our communities and society. We are a hub for exchange and innovation that fosters growth and flourishing for the individuals, organizations, and communities we support.
OUR VALUES
In pursuit of our vision and mission, we are guided by core values that drive the work we do and the way we work.
OUR VALUES
In pursuit of our vision and mission, we are guided by core values that drive the work we do and the way we work.
OUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES
We plant and water seeds for positive impact as we also build structures and networks that make a lasting impact. Our grantmaking primarily serves the Korean American community, but our artistic reach is global and diverse. We currently have four strategic priorities that guide our work. With changing needs and times, our priorities may evolve.
OUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES
We plant and water seeds for positive impact as we also build structures and networks that make a lasting impact. Our grantmaking primarily serves the Korean American community, but our artistic reach is global and diverse. We currently have four strategic priorities that guide our work. With changing needs and times, our priorities may evolve.