Elizabeth White found us through our KAARI English website and reached out to us early this year.  Elizabeth is a Korean Adoptee that grew up in Cape Cod and attended Framingham State University for Psychology. She currently resides in Coventry and is a successful small business owner with a lash shop, Elizabeth May Lash Artistry at 118 N Main St, Providence, RI 02903.

In attending events and in her private meetings with KAARI members, Elizabeth was moved enough to start a 'GoFundMe' campaign. She even was generous enough to introduce us to her contractor to help us with improvements around the building.

She started to 'GoFundMe' campaign without us knowing, and since then, she has raised over $700 for us. We are really moved by Elizabeth and support her journey forward as a Korean adoptee as she works to connect with her birth mother.

This was her 'GoFundMe' campaign message:

"My name's Elizabeth, and I'm raising money for an organization that has a very special place in my heart and life. I found the Korean Association of Rhode Island (KAARI) while searching for local resources to help build a connection to my Korean roots. As an adoptive Korean American, I found myself stuck between worlds and felt I couldn't connect to my Korean identity, and I thought I needed to learn more about my culture. Suzanne (bottom left) has been an amazing guide and teacher of many things and has helped me bridge the gap into diving deeper into my history and language. Everyone has been more than generous with their time and knowledge; they've truly given me the feeling of my Korean community and family.

This non-profit organization has been a staple to many Korean Americans and families for community, knowledge, and understanding of Korean culture. Their building is a beautiful home that's been renovated into a commercial space for them to hold events and gatherings. Due to COVID, this put a stop to most of their events and activities. Now with the restrictions lifting and vaccines being distributed, they'd love to have the ability for a larger occupancy during their events. They have a few final finishes to update the building. Their basement is where their kitchen is, but a max occupancy is small due to code. Adding exit would allow them to host more significant events and provide more opportunities for their organization. My goal to contribute is $3,000 to help with any of the costs to do this significant project. Thank you to everyone for taking the time to read and share! Even the smallest contributions and support go a long way!"

View the GoFundMe campaign here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/donations-to-the-korean-american-association-of-ri