PHOENIX—The Arizona Asian Pacific American Women’s Giving Circle is pleased to announce grant distributions for its inaugural competitive grant cycle. The grant recipients include organizations that are serving women and girls in Arizona’s Asian Pacific American community.

During the 2019 grant cycle, a total of $10,000 was awarded to two organizations:

Arizona South Asians for Safe Families | Grant amount: $5,000

Arizona South Asians for Safe Families provides culturally appropriate support services and raises awareness for the issue of domestic violence in the South Asian community. Grant funding will be used to implement culturally specific group support services to Asian/Pacific Islander victims of sexual and domestic violence.

Asian Pacific Community in Action | Grant amount: $5,000

Asian Pacific Community in Action helps meet the health related needs of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AA and NHPI) individuals and families residing in Arizona. The grant will support the development of a pilot training program for “senior sitters” for AA and NHPI seniors. These senior sitters will be trained and screened to provide short-term care and company for AA and NHPI seniors, allowing family caregivers to take a night off.

“Our Giving Circle is proud to be able to pool our resources to support the health, safety, education, and economic success of Asian Pacific American women and girls,” says Grace Lau, Chair of the Arizona Asian Pacific American Women’s Giving Circle.

Each member gives $1,000 annually to participate in the Giving Circle.  If you are interested in joining, please contact Grace Lau at GYLAU@aol.com.

The Arizona Asian Pacific American Women’s Giving Circle is comprised of 17 donors, including Cassandra Mason-Motz, Eileen Yeung, Amy Gittler, Mary Heiss, Annie Hsu, Kelly Hsu, Leezie Kim, Christine Kovach, Anndi Kwanwmura, Grace Lau, Kathy Nakagawa, Mamiko Odegard, Doris Ong, Elizabeth Roe, Ruth Tan Lim, Astria Wong, and Debra Larson. The Giving Circle’s goal is to support women and girls of the Asian Pacific community in the areas of health, education, and social justice. Since its inception in 2014, the Giving Circle has awarded over $30,000 in non-competitive and competitive grants.

Established in 1978, the Arizona Community Foundation is a statewide family of charitable funds supported by thousands of Arizonans. With five regional offices serving communities across Arizona, ACF is among the top 25 community foundations in the nation with more than $938 million in trust and endowment assets, and is certified under the National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations. Since inception, ACF and its affiliates have awarded more than $719 million in grants, scholarships and loans to nonprofit organizations, schools, and government agencies. More information is available at azfoundation.org.