Needs
Donations from groups and organizations have in the past, included IBM Employee Services Center, Capital Building Fund, Intel Volunteer Grant Program, Capital Building Fund, Land Home Financial Services Inc., Mikuni Restaurant Group, Capital Building Fund, the Benevity Community Impact Fund, Capital Building Fund, and United Way.
In 2023, we will pursue corporate and individual sponsors. This effort will be led by Eric Wong, Vice President of the Board.
Grants, and donations from groups and individuals in their own name, or "In Memoriam" to others fund our programs. Car donation is another funding option.
SASF serves its community and its youth through these current programs.
- Sports for Life for special needs children. Basketball, pickleball, yoga and Kampfit are featured for this underserved community.
- Fishing For Smiles is to bring big smiles to children who are enduring cancer and other challenging medical treatment. Fishing events will be held in the Sacramento and Elk Grove area.
- Teen Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Training will empower teens to help themselves and their peers to deal with anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts and behavior. Teens detect these signs and symptoms often before the family does. With proper training, they will be able to act knowledgeably and responsibly. SASF has held two successful virtual events in 2020 and 2021 and plans in-person events in 2022.
- Strive For Strength (S4S): To educate and empower is the goal for young women, 12-18 years of age, within the Sacramento and Elk Grove communities who gather together at a one-day retreat at SASF. Special guest speakers have included Lisa Ling, Laura Ling, Noelle Bean, Allyson Pereira, former Sacramento Monarchs Danielle Vigilione, Wendy Locatelli, Psychotherapist and advice columnist Kelly Richardson from the Sacramento Bee, and Nilda Valmores from My Sister's House. Since 2006, about 20 college scholarships, funded by corporate entities and private individuals have been awarded.
- Providing Resources for Education & Professionalism (PREP): A college and career preparatory program to help young people pursue a higher education and hone their skills for personal and professional success. Participants learn how to write a compelling college application essay, how to create an effective resume and cover letter, how to obtain stellar letters of recommendation, and how to nail an interview and succeed in the professional world. Attendance has grown steadily to over 100 girls and boys in 2016.
- Career and Education Fairs: Research validates the potential of the Sacramento job market. SASF Fair connects the talent pool with hiring organizations.
- Teens Create Dreams (TCD): High school students meet throughout the summer at SASF to plan a talent show with proceeds going to the Sacramento Children's Home, which is Sacramento's only Crisis Nursery Program. Their mission is to prevent child abuse and neglect and provide support to families in need. The annual show showcases budding and amazing talent, is inspiring for the audience, and provides camaraderie for the teen organizers as they raise money for the Home.
- Youth Sports: The Youth Program currently offers basketball for girls and boys. The goal of this clinic is to teach fundamental skills. The program also offers an opportunity for older youth, many of whom were former participants to return and "give back" to the community by volunteering as coaches and aides at the clinic. The Volleyball Program offers league play for high school and older players.
- Homeless Meal at Loaves & Fishes: Since 2016, we manage the Ellen Kwong endowment that serves a Chinese style or American meal to 400+ homeless families, their children and other individuals. We are proud to work with Ellen on this humanitarian outreach.
We host multicultural events of interest to our communities. These have included music events -- the Los Angeles Taiko Project, Hiroshima (jazz fusion), and a Luther Vandross tribute. Realizing a need for another venue in the greater Sacramento Area, in 2017, the acoustic system was upgraded to provide the acoustical performance demanded by these top acts.
Community Events: The Senior Sports Program premiered Pickle Ball in 2016. SASF held in-house tournaments and a regional tournament that drew players from throughout northern California and Nevada. Our courts received a "best indoor courts" comment (unofficial) from a member of the USA Pickle Ball Association's comment. In 2022, via a SMUD Shine Award, we will upgrade our HVAC system to include HEPA and ionization filters that will provide purification and sterilization of the air in the gym. We will also upgrade all indoor lights to LEDs.
Volunteers cook in our commercial kitchen to support our youth sports programs. Young volunteers learn kitchen skills that give them a "leg-up" when applying for work in the food industry.
Crab Feed: This immensely popular, perennially sold-out event, attracts about 850 diners in a fun-filled evening of Asian-style crab, games, and donated prizes. The event is strongly supported by a large, hardworking crew of volunteers who setup tables, cook, serve food, and clean-up.