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THE JAISOHN CENTER (Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting Asian Americans within the Greater Philadelphia Region.
Dr. Philip Jaisohn was a pioneer in Asian American activism as an advocate for Korean independence and a volunteer physician for the U.S. Military. In honor of his legacy, the Jaisohn Center strives to champion Asian American causes and strengthen communities through a wide range of health and human services.
We’re excited to keep you updated on our Center’s mission to elevate Asian American communities and foster unity between different ethnicities. Check out this newsletter to see what work we’ve accomplished with the help of your continued support.
Thank you for joining our cause!
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Our Wellness Center’s senior program has seen an increase in activity and participation since its opening in 2021. In June 2022, we hosted the Senior Program Survey and MontCo Office of Senior Services “Needs Assessment'' in order to better understand and engage with the needs of the community’s elderly citizens. Our classes include singing, line dance, ESL, mindfulness exercises, painting, and “Happy Walk Trail'' wellness walks. These walks provide lessons on how to walk on outdoor nature trails correctly and safely, and promote the maintenance of physical and mental health.
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To learn more about our services: | |
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JAISOHN WELLNESS CENTER
1290 Allentown Rd
Landsdale, PA 19446
267-638-9500
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Voting Advocacy: "My Community Votes" | |
We are committed to increasing voter participation and facilitating voter education in the community. In 2022, we partnered with the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs (GACAPAA) to initiate the “My Community Votes” campaign. We also work in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Health Access Network (PHAN) to promote voter education and registration, and to increase civic efforts throughout the community. | |
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On September 24, 2022, the Jaisohn Center hosted a screening of the film "Chosen" directed by Joseph Juhn. The film follows 5 Korean American individuals with vastly different views all simultaneously running for Congress. The screening of "Chosen" was followed by a public dialogue with Juhn surrounding the Korean American diaspora, as was portrayed in the film.
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Jaisohn Legacy Series: Daniel Dae Kim | |
The inaugural Jaisohn Lecture Series featured Korean American actor, director, and recipient of the Jaisohn Legacy Award Daniel Dae Kim on September 26, 2022. Known for his performances on hit TV shows “Hawaii Five-0” and “Lost”, Kim has received the AZN Asian Excellence Award, Multicultural Prism Award, and Vanguard Award from the Korean American Coalition. Kim facilitated a dialogue surrounding the Asian American legacy and its place in today’s social and political climate. His talk emphasized the importance of leadership and advocacy in these challenging times, and has contributed to further opening the discussion towards inspiring community action. | |
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Jaisohn Medical Center COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics
The CDC recommends that you stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccines to stay protected against the coronavirus and its variants.
Since 2020, we have made consistent efforts with the Asian American Coalition for Health and Human Services to keep the community vaccinated and updated on COVID-19 information. In 2023, these efforts have not slowed down. On April 15, 2023, we hosted our 100th COVID-19 vaccine clinic at the International Spring Festival held at North Penn High School. Our vaccine clinics aim to maintain COVID-19 awareness and vaccine vigilance among the Greater Philadelphia region’s Asian American, African American, and Latino communities. Contact us at vaccine@jaisohn.org for more information on our COVID-19 vaccine/booster services.
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Jaisohn Wellness Center 1st Anniversary | |
On December 7, 2022, the Jaisohn Wellness Center celebrated its 1st anniversary with performances by members of the Jaisohn LIFE Academy at the Advanced Living Communities in Montgomery County. Choir, line dance, and an ESL mock class were showcased in celebration of the event. We would like to thank our sponsors HealthSpark Foundation, VNA Foundation of Greater North Penn, and the Friends Foundation for the Aging, who made this event possible. | |
Sub-Granting Program
In early 2023, the Jaisohn Center initiated its first ever sub-granting program in order to increase vaccine outreach in AAPI and minority communities as well as help small organizations build capacity. This program involved three groups of grantees, each of which received $5,000. The recipients include PA Nepalese Guthi Association President Bimal Moktan, Naturalis Hair owner Sandra L. Jenkins, and the Bharatiya Cultural Center. These sub-grants were funded by a subcontract award presented to the Jaisohn Center from the Pennsylvania Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics (PA AAP), and the Pennsylvania Immunization Coalition (PAIC). In addition to promoting outreach in the Greater Philadelphia region’s Nepali, Indian, and African American communities, COVID-19 rapid test kits and N95 masks were donated. We thank the MontCo Office of Public Health and the Independent Blue Cross for their support.
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Scholarship and Internship Award Ceremony
Congratulations to the recipients of the 24th Jaisohn Scholarship and Internship Awards!
The ceremony was held on August 13, 2022 at the Philip Jaisohn Memorial House. A total of 1 Internship and 11 scholarships were recognized totalling $17,000 of financial support to the talented and hardworking college and graduate students.
This year's ceremony will be held on August 12, 2023. 12 Scholarship and 4 Internship awards will be presented at the Philip Jaisohn Monument in Rose Tree Park, Media, with a total of around $30,000 being awarded to the students.
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2022 Jaisohn Fundraising Banquet | |
On December 3, 2022, we hosted our annual fundraising banquet at the Presidential Caterers with over 300 attendees. The program included Dr. Valerie Arkoosh as the keynote speaker and congratulatory remarks by Ambassador Byung Hwa Chung, the New York Consul General of the Republic of Korea. The banquet featured several special performances as well as the presentation of the Philip Jaisohn Lifetime Service Award to former Board Chairman Dr. Wooyoung Lee. $175,000 were donated to establish the Wooyoung Lee Scholarship and Leadership Fund.
We are grateful to all attendees, donors, and major supporters of our foundation.
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104th First Korean Congress Celebration | |
We celebrated the 104th anniversary of the First Korean Congress in Philadelphia on April 1, 2023. The celebration included a historical lecture series on the Korean Independence Movement and contemporary Korea at the University of Pennsylvania as well as a commemorative march from the Plays and Players Theatre (Little Theatre) to Independence Hall. The Closing Ceremony was held at the Faith and Liberty Discovery Center in the Independence Mall. Those in attendance ranged from older adults to high school and college students, in addition to a special appearance by Philadelphia mayoral candidates Helen Gym and David Oh. We thank those who were able to celebrate the occasion with us! | |
Philip Jaisohn Monument Upgrade Project | |
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The Philip Jaisohn Monument Upgrade Project has been underway since September 2022. This monument honoring the life and work of Dr. Philip Jaisohn has stood unchanged in Rose Tree Park since 1975. On August 12, 2023, we will hold the grand reopening of this site. The upgrades will include a picnic area to support community engagement with the space, as well as information on Dr. Philip Jaisohn as the First Korean American. The goal of this project is not only to refurbish and upkeep the legacy of Dr. Jaisohn, but to introduce his work to many more people in the community.
This endeavor was made possible thanks to the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs of the Republic of Korea and our own funding.
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American Rescue Plan Act Grant | |
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The Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation was awarded the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Grant in late 2022. This $5.25 million grant was presented to Jaisohn by the Montgomery County Commissioner Chair Dr. Valerie Arkoosh, Deputy Chief Operating Officer Barbara O’Malley, and Recovery Office Director Tom Bonner. This grant will fund the establishment of the Jaisohn Community Wellness Plaza, which will endeavor to improve the well-being and quality of life of Asian Americans and Asian immigrant families in Montgomery County by providing health, wellness, social services, civic engagement, and empowerment. This site will also function as a place where major service providers and the Asian American community can connect and seek access to services.
The ARPA Grant originated in 2021 as part of a federal COVID-19 initiative. This allowed Montgomery County to distribute an undesignated fund of $161 million to the community. Of the 425 proposals received by the county, the Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation ranked in the top 5 of those accepted. As a result of our Asian American Coalition efforts, a total of 4 AAPI organizations were awarded grants by the county, amounting to $8.22 million in all. This enterprise was a great success for the entire Asian American community in the area.
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2023 Philip Jaisohn Award Ceremony | |
On July 28th, 2023, Executive Chairman James Joo-Jin Kim of Amkor Technology will receive the Philip Jaisohn Award, the highest honor at the Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation. Kim is one of the most successful Asian American businessmen in the country with approximately $7.1 billion in sales in 2022. His philanthropic interests include the University of Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia Museum of Arts, the Franklin Institute, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Fox Chase Cancer Center, and the Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation. | |
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The Jaisohn Center's work would not be possible without the generosity of our partners: | | | | |
