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Global Children Foundation celebrates 16th anniversary

July 14, 2014
GCF members gather after its 16th anniversary fundraising dinner inside Foster City Crowne Plaza Hotel.

GCF members gather after its 16th anniversary fundraising dinner inside Foster City Crowne Plaza Hotel.

The Global Children Foundation celebrated its 16th anniversary Saturday at a fundraising dinner inside the Foster City Crowne Plaza Hotel, gathering branch members from Korea, Japan and Hong Kong.

The foundation, which provides aid and assistance to children around the world through charitable organizations, was started in 1998 during the Asian financial crisis.

“For the past 16 years, GCF has helped 150,000 disadvantaged children in 30 countries with a mother’s mindset,” said GCF President Cho Eun-ok. “The wish of GCF is to see a day in which there are no longer children in the world who are suffering from hunger.”

Ehwa University President Kim Sun-uk delivered the keynote speech and emphasized the importance of children’s rights. Kim said poverty and child labor affects about 1 billion people worldwide.

“The $1 you donate toward a child’s education has the economic efficiency of $10 to $15,” Kim said. “One small gesture brings about change in a regional society, and that force brings about change in the world. The beginning of that small gesture is GCF. I hope GCF’s activism brings more children hope and love.”

During the dinner, GCF founder and honorary director Bang Sook-ja was presented with a certificate of service by an adviser of Congressman Mike Honda. Meanwhile, San Francisco Consul General Han Dong-man gave Choi Hye-rang, president of GCF’s local branch, his annual membership fee and said he would join in the foundation’s activities.

According to the foundation, $3 million has been raised in grants to provide for children in Asia, Africa and the Middle East by 4,500 members in 20 branches.