The Dragon Kim Foundation
Was Born
"I lost Dragon, and that love needed a place to go."
- Grace Kim
Dragon Kim. He was a brother, a friend, a son. In the summer of 2015 the Kim family was on a camping trip in Yosemite. When they were sleeping, a tree fell on the tent and instantly killed Dragon and his friend Justin. Dragon lived a short life; he was only 14 years only when he died. A huge tragedy to the community and for the Kim family. For my upstander, I chose Dragon's mother, Grace Kim. With all of the grief she had faced from losing her son, she needed a reason to get out of bed. Something to help her keep going. The Dragon Kim Foundation did that for her. She states, "They say grief is love with nowhere to go. Our love for Dragon needed somewhere to land."
Was Born
"I lost Dragon, and that love needed a place to go."
- Grace Kim
Dragon Kim. He was a brother, a friend, a son. In the summer of 2015 the Kim family was on a camping trip in Yosemite. When they were sleeping, a tree fell on the tent and instantly killed Dragon and his friend Justin. Dragon lived a short life; he was only 14 years only when he died. A huge tragedy to the community and for the Kim family. For my upstander, I chose Dragon's mother, Grace Kim. With all of the grief she had faced from losing her son, she needed a reason to get out of bed. Something to help her keep going. The Dragon Kim Foundation did that for her. She states, "They say grief is love with nowhere to go. Our love for Dragon needed somewhere to land."
What is the Dragon Kim Foundation
Grace Kim is the founder of Dragon Kim Foundation which is a non-profit organization. This is a foundation with two main parts, the Fellowship Program, and the Music Program. The Fellowship Program The fellowship program is for high school kids to pursue their passion and develop leadership skills to help others. Those selected to be in the leadership program are given a grant of $5,000 to implement their passion project. Dragon Kim is a place where upstanders are made. The Music Program When Dragon was alive, he loved music. Music was his passion. He realized not everyone has resources to instruments, so to honor Dragon, the Dragon Kim Foundation made a program with high school assistants providing free instruments and lessons to over 200 little kids. Grace Kim said, "We brought Dragon’s dream to life starting with a small music program." |
Grace Kim's Words of Wisdom
Everyone grieves differently, and everyone grieves on their own timeline. And the way you grieve is perfectly alright. Don't let anyone tell you how to grieve. The way you want to grieve is the way you should."
My Project Exhibit
My Exhibit Explanation
An Upstander is someone who takes action in an act of injustice.