Happy Giving Tuesday, HAPA friends!

Giving Tuesday is a global movement that aims to encourage people to donate to nonprofit organizations such as the Hmong American Peace Academy and the HAPA Foundation.

Regardless of whether you’re a regular donor, you generously gave to HAPA once, or you’ve interacted with the school in another way, we thought today, we’d tell you a story that illustrates exactly what the Hmong American Peace Academy is all about.

A group of HAPA staff and scholars in the hallway of the High School campus.

Ashley hopes to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison after graduation. Although her plans haven't been set in stone, she feels confident and optimistic about the idea of going away to college, in large part because of the university-level courses she's taking already.

“Teachers kept encouraging us, saying to try these college classes, (many of which are offered right at HAPA),” Ashley said. “We learned just how many credits you can earn, and how much your family can save. Plus, a lot of students here are lower-income, so this can save our families money and prevent debt in the future.”

Ashley and some of her friends at Homecoming 2024.

Ashley understands the financial burden that can often accompany higher education – and knows how much this program means to HAPA families.

Ashley has attended HAPA since primary school, and lived in Milwaukee her entire life. Her two older brothers graduated from HAPA, and she’s proud to be next.

“Coming to a new school as a third-grader, I instantly loved this community and the people,” Ashley said. “You make friends quickly. Even the staff members and teachers – everyone is so welcoming. The best part about HAPA is the inclusivity with all the Hmong people everywhere. Growing up, I didn’t have that always around me.”

These days, Ashley is feeling like she’s in an ideal spot: Working toward her degree already, surrounded by a supportive, wonderful community, and right on pace for her next chapter – in large part due to this incredible HAPA program.

Thanks to generous past support, HAPA has expanded initiatives like dual enrollment, enabling 20–30 times more scholars to take university-level courses than just a few years ago. These efforts give students like Ashley a head start on college before they even set foot on campus.

This Giving Tuesday, we invite you to help us create even more opportunities for HAPA scholars. Your gift, no matter the size, could fund transformative programs like dual enrollment, and help us bridge a critical $1,000-per-student funding gap to deliver exceptional educational experiences.

Your donation goes directly to HAPA, ensuring 100% of your generosity benefits our scholars right here in Milwaukee. While Black Friday and Cyber Monday offer fleeting rewards, Giving Tuesday is an investment in brighter futures.

Together, we can empower Milwaukee’s next generation of leaders—one HAPA scholar at a time.

“The need has never been greater,” said Dr. Chris Her-Xiong, HAPA CEO. “To grow our school, to serve our community, to positively impact our kids and the surrounding area ... I believe the saying applies, 'Great today, better tomorrow!' We are only just getting started.”

YForever Forward!

-- The HAPA Marketing and Communications Team