Events

REACHING OUT A HELPING HAND – HEART TO HEART

Each year, Dr. Kim doesn’t just celebrate her birthday with a party. She raises awareness and fights for a cause. For her recent birthday, Dr. Kim wanted to bring attention to the evils of sex trafficking and how children as young as eight years old are being used and sold as sex slaves.

Once they are in the claws of the traffickers, their lives come to a screeching halt. There is no hope of a better future, no love, no education. Their existence consists of being forced to do sexual acts up to twenty times a night. There is no medical attention, and if they make a wrong move or are caught trying to escape, they are killed.

Dr. Kim was outraged when she learned that sex trafficking is very much alive around the world, and a multi-billion-dollar business at that. How is this possible, she asked. How can we, a civilized, well-educated and advanced society, tolerate such evil?

Even if children are able to escape from their captors, life isn’t automatically better for them. They are severely traumatized and have a difficult time integrating back into normal society. They need help, and one nonprofit that is helping them is Redemption Ridge.

Therefore, instead of a having a simple birthday party, Dr. Kim joined forces with Redemption Ridge and held a fundraiser to support the building of a safe house that would serve as a place of hope and healing for the victims of sex trafficking.

The community response was overwhelming. The initiative collected more prizes for the raffle than anticipated, and raised the most donations in the charity’s history.

The program included a prayer and an introduction to the cause. A martial arts demonstration was presented to show how important it is for people of all ages to know the basics of self-defense, emotionally, mentally and physically. There were meaningful testimonials, an auction and and a gala dinner.

Visiting the Applegate School

When Dr. Kim learned about the need for computers for the Applegate School, she committed to ensuring that those students would have the computers they needed.

“In today’s society, it is imperative that our children learn how to effectively use a computer to the best of their ability and to their advantage,” Dr. Kim says. She remembers in postwar-Korea when she had to walk for miles to attend school. She knows firsthand the value of keeping small country schools up-to-date.

“I am often asked why I would support small schools, including one with 100 students and six teachers,” she remarked. “Why don’t I focus on big universities with thousands of students? I do that too. Earlier this year, I gave a lecture to students at California State University in Fresno. Those students attended the business school and had questions about their career goals. Elementary school students are our future leaders in the community and in the world. The students need to know that the power is in them, and that what they do with their lives is their personal choice. They need to know, YES! they can do it!”

During her visit, Dr. Kim introduced herself and told her life story. She had an additional purpose for visiting the school that day. She made a $2500 donation for the purchase of several much-needed notebook computers. Before she left, she promised to return with a full Martial Arts demonstration team and presentation.

HE CAN DO, SHE CAN DO, WHY NOT ME!

Distributing Turkeys at the Salvation Army for Thanksgiving

When Dr. Kim heard about the Salvation Army’s Thanksgiving Turkey Drive, she wanted to pitch in. As a survivor of the Korean War who went hungry countless times, she knew first-hand what it is like to not have anything to eat. She donated $2,000 worth of turkeys to families in need.

Every year during Thanksgiving and Christmas, the Salvation Army distributes as many turkeys as possible to needy families, especially those with young children, to bring food and care to people who would otherwise go hungry. With Dr. Kim’s help, almost 400 turkeys were distributed, as well as warm gloves and hats.

“God has blessed me so much in my life,” Dr. Kim says, “I want to share my blessings with those less fortunate than I am, those who go hungry, those who cannot afford to buy food, or clothes. During the holiday season, let’s think of the many homeless and other poor people who will freeze and starve unless they receive help. Join the Salvation Army and donate. Every bit counts.”

Honoring Our Heroes – Korean War Veterans

Dr. Kim was only 5 years old when the Korean War broke out. She has tremendous gratitude towards the U.S. Armed Forces who came to her country and small village in Gimcheon and saved herself and so many others.

In conjunction with the Korean American Journalists Association, Dr. Kim and TYK Foundation held an event to honor eleven Korean War veterans.

Along with the Korean Consul General of San Francisco, she presented medals that were forged from pieces of the steel fence at the DMZ that separates North and South Korea, as well as a special Can Do Spirit award from TYK Foundation.

These Korean War veterans experienced the harsh conditions of a Korean winter, intense fighting on various hills, and life-threatening situations over and over again.

Dr. Kim always remembers how the G.I.s would drive through her village and toss candies and other goodies to the village kids. She has enduring memories of them and is eternally grateful for all soldiers, active and retired.

Lt. Col. John Stevens

SFC Walter Schrank

Capt. Lou Horyza

Gunnery Sg.t Denny Weisgerber

Sgt. George Nitis

Sgt. Corbit Ray

Corporal Eugene Fabricius

Corporal Victor Ornelaz

Corporal Calvin Wong

FMF Corpsman Dr. Donald Barker

Sgt. Richard Smithback

Dr. Kim expresses her gratitude for these brave heroes

Our Heroes!

Dr. Tae Yun Kim and the SF Consul General with the Veterans

Lt. Col John Stevens

Captain Lou Horyza

SFC Walter Schrank

Dr. Tae YunKim shares her heart

Jung SuWon Can Do Demonstration Team

Major Harrison Peoples served in Vietnam in the Army Rangers

Dr. Barker and Sgt Smithback sing Korean folk song “Arirang”

Singing the National Anthem with Marine Color Guard

FMF Corpsman Dr. Donald Barker

Corporal Calvin Wong

Corporal Victor Ornelaz

Corporal Eugene Fabricius

Sgt Corbit Ray

Sgt George Nitis

Gunnery Sgt Denny Weisgerber

Save the Children

TYK Foundation and the Jung SuWon Martial Art Academy held a fundraiser to support the Save the Children Foundation’s special funds for the young victims of the Japan tsunami and the southern U.S. tornadoes.

Actress Lee Meriwether, U.S. Congressman Mike Honda, the Korean Consul General, His Grace, Michael Schmickrath, Duke of Gardham, and other special guests joined over 800 people to enjoy martial arts demonstrations by Black Belts and Masters from around the world. There was also Black Belt Testing for five warriors between the ages 13 and 46. It was a night to remember.