A message from our Executive Director, Evan Kanenaga
I would like to extend a sincere thank you for your ongoing support, patience and understanding as we continue to navigate away from the challenges related to the COVID pandemic.
Our community has been crucial in helping our organization establish a level of survival that enabled us to successfully operate and keep our programs thriving. As of September 30th, there have been no additional COVID-19 mandates that are required for an organization and facility like SASF. However, SASF will continue to require masks (regardless of vaccine status) for all who enter the facility. Social distancing is also recommended. SASF will continue to monitor federal, state and local health department guidelines and update our community as necessary.
SASF is working on transitioning to a new operational format that is intended to provide a more efficient method to addressing the usage of our facility for special events and sports rentals. Within the next few weeks information on how to reserve SASF for an special event or sports rental will be made available on our website and social media accounts. For immediate answers to any questions regarding renting SASF please email your inquiry to sasfrentals@gmail.com.
Finally, I would like to introduce new members of the SASF family, our new Administrative Assistant, Lena Pereira. SASF has also partnered with Jen Tokunaga and Remy Tokunaga from The Creative Space Sacramento. Jen and Remy will be responsible for the planning and execution of special events at SASF. Lena, Jen and Remy will help us in our growth and evolution of events at SASF. Please join me in welcoming them!
As we enter into the Fall season, I hope you and your family stay safe and healthy.
Take care,
Evan
Welcome, Lena!
Lena Pereira joins SASF with over 15 years professional experience in business management, marketing and event planning. With a Master of Arts Degree in Sport Management from the University of San Francisco, Lena has since worked at Nike, The Los Angeles Clippers, Whole Foods Market and Koreatown Youth and Community Center. She is also currently a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Manager for Bicycle Transit Systems, a bike share operator in the United States. She is passionate about environmental sustainability, racial and gender equity, and loves sports. Born and raised in Sacramento, she is a recent returnee and happy to be re-engaged in our community.
Welcome, Jen and Remy from The Creative Space Sacramento!
Jen and Remy Tokunaga are the co-owners of The Creative Space in Midtown. They grew up in the SASF community mainly coaching/playing summer league basketball, and Remy was the President of Strive for Strength in 2012. After obtaining Business Administration degrees and working in SoCal, Jen and Remy have returned to Sacramento and they've created a place for small businesses to share their creativity with others. Since starting their business in March of 2020, they've held a number of Food & Craft Fairs at their location in Midtown and they're gearing up for their next event at SASF on Saturday, November 13, 2021. They're excited to be welcomed back into the SASF community and serve as SASF's Event Coordinators.
It's time for SASF's annual Crab Feed! Pre-order TO GO dinners by November 12th!
SASF's annual Crab Feed is our largest fundraiser of the year. Don Lee and his cooking crew cook over 4,800 pounds of Chinese style crab for over 800 guests.
For 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Crab Feed will be a pre-order and take-out format.
Pre-order your TO GO Crab Feed dinners on the SASF website here. The deadline to submit orders is November 12, 2021. Orders will be picked up at SASF on November 20, 2021 during a time frame specified during the ordering process.
EACH ORDER includes "Asian Inspired" crab glazed with green onion/garlic/ginger sauce complemented with sautéed shrimp and fried rice. The cost per order is $65 ($20 tax deductible, non-profit organization #94-3227001). No refunds will be given after orders are submitted.
For more information, please call 279-895-7567.
Free virtual event! Join us for SPARK Youth Conference on Saturday, October 23rd at 10-12PM
For high school teens, parents, counselors, teachers and administrators:
Life can be full of stress, inducing anxiety and depression. The Sacramento Asian Sports Foundation (SASF) and Kaiser Permanente Educational Theatre invite you to join us in a free virtual workshop where we will watch "Ghosted" -- a short film that circles the lives of four young adults who meet and try to support one another as each goes through their own personal stresses. These same four people will host a live panel and workshop following the film. We will also hear from a panel of teens from area schools who will share their personal experiences and discuss coping strategies to address anxiety, stress, and depression. A speaker from Sac City Unified School District will also frame the mental health issues currently faced by teens and the District's activities. These mental health issues and needs are widespread. Our message is "You are not alone." We can all make our best efforts to support our youth.
Join us on Saturday, October 23rd from 10am-12pm for this free virtual event. This will be an invaluable learning experience as we strive to bring awareness and help young people navigate through challenging mental health experiences. See you there! Register here.
Attendees also have the chance to win raffle prizes (Apple watch, tablets, cookware, cool art, aromatherapy)! Note: SASF Directors and staff, Mental Wellness Champions; Kaiser Educational Theatre staff; staff of Pro Youth & Families/MindOneSix; and speakers/facilitators of the event are not eligible for the Raffle.
DONATIONS
We are extremely grateful to the many individuals, families and businesses who continue to support and donate to the SASF throughout the year. Without your unwavering support, SASF would have had a difficult time surviving the challenges of the past year. Thank you for the following donations received this past month:
- Margaret Ching, United Way Donation
- Alyssa Chow, PG&E Giving Fund Donation
- Cindy DeGuzman, TCD Donation
- Kimberly Dong
- Steve Hamamoto, TCD Donation
- Jean Jone, In Memory of Fannie Wong
- Sandra Kataoka, TCD Donation
- Wayne & Cindy Kitade, General Donation
- Scott Kumamoto, TCD Donation
- Elaine Kurashige, TCD Donation
- Darrel & Arlene Matsuura, TCD Donation
- Walt & Kathy Menda, TCD Donation
- George & Judie Miyao, TCD Donation
- Aileen Nishio, TCD Donation
- Ronnie Okimura, General Donation
- Norma On, TCD Donation
- Norma On, TCD 1st Place Prize Donation
- Jeffrey & Julie Ota, TCD Donation
- Tsutomu & Jean Ota, TCD Donation
- Blake & Shelley Takaha, TCD Donation
- Randy Uda, PG&E Giving Fund Donation
- Aja Uyeda, TCD Donation
- Merle Yamasaki, TCD Donation
- Ehren Yee, General Donation
- Tim & Maureen Higelin Treichelt, Schwab Charitable
SASF relies on the generous donations from community members to fund the day-to-day operations of the facility, and the support the sports and youth programs.
Donate to SASF
CA State Employees: consider SASF for the 2021 Our Promise Campaign through November 12
SASF has been accepted into the 2021 Our Promise State Employees Campaign (previously known as the United Way)! What does this mean? We will be listed as a certified nonprofit on the Our Promise website and in the Nonprofit Guide during the Fall campaign season. If you are a State employee, please consider designating SASF as your recipient for Our Promise Campaign.
Established in 1957, Our Promise gives state employees the ability to give back through the ease of payroll deduction. While new donations can be started anytime in the year, their annual fall campaign is an opportunity to connect with thousands of certified nonprofits and learn how they are impacting communities across California.
Virtual TCD was a success!
The Teens Create Dreams (TCD) summer program officially ended when a check for $1500 was delivered to WEAVE (Women Escaping a Violent Environment) for $1500. All proceeds were raised during the successful August 21, 2021 virtual TCD Talent Show. This is the first time TCD has worked with WEAVE and they hope to continue working with them in the future. Thank you to Adult Advisors (Julie Ota and Fe Wada), TCD Presidents (Akemi Takeda, Bryce Takaha, and Taryn Yee), and parents (Blake & Shelley Takaha and Craig Takeda) for attending the check presentation to WEAVE.