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Good
Will Hunting
From JoongAng
June 27, 2002
By Ahn, Joon-Yong
As the funds for the New York City non-profit organizations have
decreased, Korean non-profit organizations are facing operating
budget difficulties.
According to Korean Community Service, the New York City government
curtailed the funds right after the 9/11 incidents, and this has
created an urgent need for financial support.
Due to the discontinuation of the New York City government funds,
Korean Community Service has operated their free medical insurance
consultation program with money directly coming from their own organization.
The head of the public health center at Korean Community Service,
Kim Sung Ho, said "Every year, we have been receiving seventy
thousand dollars from the government to provide free consultation
programs to Korean Senior Citizens. With sudden decrease in funds,
however, we had to go through some internal restructuring such as
laying off many full time employees." He also added by saying
that "with persistent lobbying during May and June, we were
finally able to receive funds from the government in July."
Kim said, "After the terror, there have been drastic curtailment
in the budget of the public health and the education division."
And that "If government reduces the funds so suddenly as in
this case, we have to depend on our own ethnic community."
Chung Hae Sook, the head of the Domestic Consultation Center, also
said that her organization has requested ten thousand dollars to
Queens borough as financial support after the terror, but was not
successful.
An assistant of Chung added with deep disappointment, "Most
importantly, we need help from the people within our ethnic community.
Since last years 9/11 tragedy, even the numbers of general
sponsors have declined as well"
Yoo Chul Won, the head of the Korean Community Service for Senior
Citizens said, "Since the 9/11 tragedy, the New York City government
has cut the funds for the two instructors of the English language
program, and we are now receiving funds from other non-profit organizations.
We are expecting more cuts in our budget for the Korean Senior Citizens
programs in the coming fiscal year"
Yoo also said, "If the economy continues to stagnate over
a long period of time, there would be more drastic funding cuts
in the near future. Considering this, it might be a good idea for
Korean non-profit organizations to form joint programs with Korean
churches and provide various programs at cheaper cost."
In addition, Korean Community Service stated that Korean community
should embrace the idea of a "donating culture" which
is very prevalent in Chinese community.
Priest Park Soon Tak, the head of the Family Consultation Center
emphasized that "Non-profit organizations should not only depend
on the funds provided by the government, but the organizations should
also put more effort into cooperating with their own ethnic community.
Translated From Korean by Julia Yook
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