Senate Resolution No. 489

BY: Senator PARKER

COMMENDING the Korean American Family Service
Center upon the occasion of hosting its 34th
Anniversary Benefit Gala on April 28, 2023

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
pay tribute to those organizations which foster ethnic pride and enhance
the profile of cultural diversity which strengthens the fabric of the
communities of New York State; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commend the Korean American Family Service Center upon the occasion of
hosting its 34th Anniversary Benefit Gala on Friday, April 28, 2023, at
Cipriani 42nd Street, Manhattan, New York; and

WHEREAS, The Korean American Family Service Center (KAFSC) is a
leading, nonprofit organization which supports and empowers adults,
youth and children to lead safe and healthy lives based on dignity,
compassion and mutual respect; its counseling, education and advocacy
programs for individuals and families in the New York Tri-State area are
provided in a culturally and linguistically appropriate context; and

WHEREAS, In response to the needs of the growing Korean immigrant
community in New York City, the Korean American Family Service Center
has evolved over the past 34 years to become a primary dual agency that
addresses domestic violence and sexual assault victims from a combined
prevention and intervention perspective while remaining sensitive to the
cultural setting; and

WHEREAS, The Korean American Family Service Center is committed to
preventing and ending domestic violence, sexual assault, and
relationship abuse while operating a 24-hour bilingual hotline; and

WHEREAS, Founded in 1989, the Korean American Family Service Center
began as an all-volunteer group, and the first anti-domestic violence
organization dedicated to serving the Korean American community in the
New York Tri-State area; from small one-room beginnings with part-time
hours in a church basement, KAFSC has since grown to provide a full
array of children, youth, and adult holistic services; and

WHEREAS, Furthermore, KAFSC expert staff, 100% of whom are bilingual
and bicultural, personally understand immigrant family struggles and can
respond to clients with innate sensitivity; and

WHEREAS, The vision of the Korean American Family Service Center is
more pressing today than ever; striving for a socially just society
where Korean American immigrants can fully partake as Americans; as a
learning organization, KAFSC utilizes community feedback, program
outcomes, focus groups, and surveys to improve current programming and
develop new initiatives; and

WHEREAS, The Korean American Family Service Center is committed to
working collaboratively with community stakeholders to leverage

resources, share learning, document social impact, offer thought
leadership on issues that impact new immigrants, and serve as a
trauma-informed central hub; and

WHEREAS, The success of the Korean American Family Service Center is
in direct correlation to the efforts of its dedicated staff, whose
involvement is, and always has been, characterized by an impressive
commitment, an unbridled enthusiasm, and an uncompromising standard of
excellence in all endeavors on behalf of the organization and the
community it serves; and

WHEREAS, This auspicious occasion presents an opportunity for this
Legislative Body to celebrate the resilience of survivors of violence
who have successfully led new lives away from abuse, and to stand with
the Korean American Family Service Center in its mission to create a
violence-free society; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend the Korean American Family Service Center upon the occasion of
hosting its 34th Anniversary Benefit Gala on April 28, 2023; and be it
further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the Korean American Family Service Center.