Akron, OH, September 22, 2022 – In August, GAR Foundation awarded Asian Services in Action (ASIA)’s a multi-year grant for operational support, which will total $110,000 to fund their Social Services department over the next two years. The award will fund ASIA’s work across all social service channels, including services that address emergency and long-term needs in the Limited English Proficient (LEP) community.

ASIA is a nonprofit organization that provides comprehensive direct services across Akron and Cleveland to new immigrants and refugees to build up their self-sustainability. Programs like Children, Youth & Family services, Ahimsa’s survivors support program, Aging & Adult Services, Interpretation & Translation Services, Legal Services, and Sustainability Services will benefit from the grant, which will directly fund home meal deliveries, children’s literacy programs, immigration legal representation, and more.

This grant also responds to the struggles that the Asian American and Pacific Islander, refugee, and immigrant community uniquely faced during the pandemic. Part of the funding will support financial training by ASIA’s sustainability services department for small business owners and entrepreneurs who were directly affected by the economic impact of the pandemic and anti-Asian discrimination.

“The pandemic has been particularly hard on the newly arrived community and ASIA has been there to provide support at every turn,” said Elaine Tso, ASIA’s Chief Executive Officer. “We are so grateful for this grant that will allow us to continue this work.”

The grant from GAR Foundation recognizes ASIA’s linguistically and culturally appropriate approach to services, designed to ensure clients’ access to care. ASIA removes language and cultural barriers to clients seeking support by employing bilingual team members in the staff who come from the

communities that they serve. Each year, their social services department serves twelve to fifteen thousand clients across six departments.

To learn more about ASIA’s services and programs, visit www.asiaohio.org.

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ASIA is the largest health and human services agency serving the Asian American/Pacific Islander (AAPI) community of Northeast Ohio. ASIA serves, supports, and advocates for AAPI, immigrants, and refugees so that they prosper and flourish.

MEDIA CONTACT: Anna Chen

EMAIL: achen@asiaohio.org

PHONE: 330-535-3263 Ext 4692