Reuniting Families Thru DNA

Want to make a difference? Interested in a DNA match but frustrated with not having found one? We will distribute DNA kits to any willing South Korean or Korean American participants. Our goal is to grow the Korean DNA database. Please help support this project by donating today!

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Honoring Fathers on Father's Day #DNAmakestheimpossiblepossible

325Kamra's New Fundraising Director

Jennifer Hakam was born Shin Jin Hee in in Osan, Kyunggi-Do. For the first three and half years of her life, she lived with her mother and biological father. Shortly after her father returned to the US, her mother put her up for adoption. A t the age of four Jennifer was sent to the US and grew up in St. Louis. Her adopted parents already had four sons of their own when they adopted her and when Jennifer was seven, they adopted another girl from Korea. Jennifer is a United States Air Force Veteran and a single mom to three daughters. She works full time in the medical supplies field as a customer service representative, but will soon be shifting to the Quality Assurance department in her company. Jennifer was a civic leader in her community for three years and has been involved in fundraising for charitable and political organizations for over ten years. With the help of 325Kamra, Jennifer found her biological father (who passed away in 1986 of cancer). She also discovered a biological half-brother and half-sister and an extensive family who have been exceptionally welcoming and supportive. Through this journey Jennifer has been inspired to become more involved in helping to reunite others. She is proud and excited to be a board member of 325Kamra organization! Welcome to the 325Kamra Board Jennifer!!!

Mixed Korean: Our Stories From the struggles of the Korean War, to the modern dilemmas faced by those who are mixed race, comes an assortment of stories that capture the essence of what it is to be a mixed Korean. With common themes of exclusion, and recollections of not looking Korean enough, black enough, white enough, or "other" enough, this powerful collection features works by award-winning authors Alexander Chee, Michael Croley, Heinz Insu Fenkl, alongside pieces composed by prominent writers, poets and scholars. Interwoven between known literary names, are the voices of newcomers with poignant memories that have never been captured before. Collectively, these stories will resonate with anyone who has ever stood on the outside of a group, longing for inclusion. They are a testament to the courage, strength and resilience of mixed people everywhere. Book sales from the anthology will be donated to  3 25kamra. To purchase your copy of this book, you can click here . ($25.17 with shipping. International shipping is also available. A digital format will be available soon.) To purchase a digital copy of the book from Amazon, click here There will be limited copies of the book available in Korea during the adoptee conference at Seoul National University September 10, 2018. Please contact 325kamra staff who will be in charge of book sales there. [email protected]

Another Korean Umma Found!!

Leanne Roper was adopted in 1982 from Seoul. In September of 2014 she did an Ancestry DNA test. With no close matches, she logged on less and less and found the results very discouraging. One day a friend texted her to let her know her mother (an adoptee) had connected with two half siblings through Ancestry. Within a few weeks Leanne too had a new match: a first cousin! Through her cousin, social media and research, Leanne found her biological mother’s profile on facebook and discovered her Korean mother living in the US!! 325Kamra’s Tia Legoski first reached out to her mother via telephone. Then Leanne herself called her mother. When Leanne told her Korean mother her name and how she had recently connected with a first cousin on Ancestry, the phone went quiet for a few seconds and then Leanne heard her biological mother cry. Since all this unfolded on April 4th, 2018 Leanne’s biological mother has told her children who have accepted the news. Leanne has a half brother and half sister, and she speaks regularly now with her new-found sister! Leanne will soon be reuniting with her mother in Orlando. Congratulations Leanne! #DNAmakestheimpossiblepossible! For Korean version, click here .

Mixed Korean: Our Stories Book Launch! Koreatown Pio Pico Library, Los Angeles, CA July 14 2018

325Kamra DNA Matches to Date

57 Matches made with 325Kamra membership (13 of those having found Korean family) 34 on-going DNA searches with 325Kamra membership, with 5 near completion Over 100 close automatic matches made using various DNA kits (23andme, FTDNA, ancestry and MyHeritage) Do you have a DNA Match that is 200cMs or more? Don't know what to do? HELP

Distributing DNA Kits Internationally South Korea: Maria Savage : [email protected] or JooEun Cho: [email protected] Helle Thaarup: [email protected] You can also contact KoRoot . Europe: click on this link: DNA kit KADS in the Netherlands contact Maria van den Bosse: [email protected] Germany: contact Jayme Hansen at [email protected] Australia: contact Jayme Hansen who is planning a distribution event spring 2019.

Special thanks to 325Kamra donors Meredith Hudes-Lowder, Aimee Belser, Judy Draper and to all those who donated via a recent FB fundraiser! Thank you for your generosity! Thanks also to all the new KAD members!

Become a Member Today!

325KamraUSA 7 Locust Avenue, Lexington MA 02421 [email protected] telephone: 1-(781)-640-7646 325KamraKOREA [email protected] [email protected] telephone: 01076697991 325KamraEUROPE [email protected] Stay Connected: ‌ ‌ ‌

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All FTDNA kits used by 325Kamra, Inc. are donated by Thomas Park Clement and his T&W Foundation. Publishing Costs for Mixed Korean: Our Stories were also donated by Thomas Park Clement and his T&W Foundation. Thanks as always to him for his generosity to the KAD community and to 325Kamra.