May 2024

Progress Newsletter

Guest Progress by Huong Nguyen-Yap, member of Hella Heart Oakland, a designated fund at PVF.

Hella Heart Oakland, a multi-generational giving circle, was founded in 2012 over drinks and food, born from our collective love for Oakland—a place many of us call home and have deeply invested our time and energy in. Joining a national movement of Asian American, Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander giving circles, our mission is to strengthen and improve the health and wellness of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander women and girls, particularly refugees and new immigrants. While our mission is central to our work, we remain flexible in our giving to meet the most urgent needs in Oakland.

Our focus is on supporting smaller grassroots organizations. One of our first gifts funded a rejuvenating trip to Lake Tahoe for women who had spent their lives working tirelessly, never having the chance to slow down. Over the years, our contributions have supported a range of activities—from Zumba classes and mutual aid efforts to youth organizing.

In 2020, amidst the pandemic, increased violence and hate towards the Asian community, and following the tragic killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, we expanded our giving to support Black-led organizations and increased our focus on work that builds racial solidarity. During this time, we also hosted several virtual events that drew hundreds of participants from all over the country centered around racial justice and cross-cultural solidarity, furthering our commitment to a more equitable and inclusive Oakland.

Being part of the Hella Heart Oakland Giving Circle is more than just charitable giving. It's a place where we come together to celebrate, grieve, raise the next generation of givers, and build community, always surrounded by incredibly delicious food. 

Thanks to the generosity of the Hella Heart Oakland community, we have provided more than $130,000 to over 40 organizations and projects throughout Oakland. These organizations have expressed how meaningful it is to receive support from individuals who reflect their experiences and challenges.

We hope that you will join us in this journey—whether through a shared meal, a local event, or a collective act of giving. 

In the spirit of expanding philanthropy and promoting outstanding charitable work, PVF serves as a fiscal sponsor for select projects that do not yet have their tax-exempt status but are otherwise ready to commence their charitable work. 

In recognition of AAPI Heritage Month, we would like to highlight some of the other AAPI-led organizations that are currently a Designated Fund at PVF:

API Giving Project is an Asian & Pacific Islander-focused giving circle rooted in equity that amplifies impact through collective contributions. Their mission is to strengthen Asian and Pacific Islander communities in the Bay Area through local investments in community-led programs.

Hate Is A Virus is a nonprofit community of mobilizers and amplifiers to dismantle racism and hate. A movement started in 2020, Hate Is A Virus continues to amplify, educate and activate AAPI to stand for justice and equality in solidarity with other communities.

The Maui Organizers Malama Fund supports local Maui community organizers and centers Kanaka Maoli leadership. The Fund resources leaders for continued community care through disaster recovery and healing. 

The Yuri Kochiyama Solidarity Project’s mission is to carry on Yuri’s legacy – her passion for justice and lifelong commitment to connecting people, communities, and organizations to each other by: working to strengthen BIPOC solidarities domestically and internationally, building community through art and activism, providing learning resources for educators and young people, promoting anti-racism and radical solidarity with all oppressed peoples, amplifying and connecting BIPOC community builders, organizations, and movements in the United States and beyond.

Savannah Lira, Program Officer, is responsible for program management and development, as well as communication materials at PVF. She is an AmeriCorps Alum and has a background in economic development and grantwriting.