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Keith Kamisugi
Keith Kamisugi of (H)API HourThere's no frills when it comes to (H)API Hour. They're taking the sensible road to fundraising: find an organization to sponsor a gathering and venue, collect donations at the door, then relax and enjoy the company of other like-minded individuals. This low-key approach has been an enormous success for (H)API Hour and the many Asian Pacific American non-profits that have been involved with the group. Founded in July of 2000, (H)API Hour is run by volunteers like Keith Kamisugi and helps to promote the presence of and raise money for APA non-profits in the San Francisco and Los Angeles areas. The casual and friendly environments in which 20- and 30-somethings can network go a long way towards supporting many organizations, and it's one of the reasons why (H)API Hour is this week's Non-Profit Spotlight.
Non-Profit
The (H)API Hour brings together Asian Pacific Americans and supporters of the APA community through happy hours that raise awareness of - and funds for - nonprofit organizations serving APAs in the San Francisco Bay Area or Southern California. Our events are casual and low-cost, providing an atmosphere that fosters philanthropy and networking. (H)API is not an organization per se, but a series of events run by volunteers.
Founded
July 2000
Website
www.hapihour.org
Name, Title
Keith Kamisugi
Age
36
Hometown
Mililani, HI
Current residence
San Francisco, CA
Education
University of Hawaii at Manoa, Majored in journalism. Dropped out of college to work as an aide in the office of Hawai'i Governor John D. Waihee III
Work Experience
Equal Justice Society, Assoc. Dir. for Communications (Feb. 2005 - present);
Public Relations Consultant (March 2002 - Jan. 2005);
Account Manager, Niehaus Ryan Wong PR (Nov. 2000 - March 2002);
Regional Media Relations Manager, Verizon Hawaii (Nov. 1997 - Nov. 2000);
Information Systems Coordination, Office of the Governor, State of Hawai'i (Nov. 1994 - Nov. 1997);
Administrative Aide, Office of the Governor, State of Hawai'i (May 1994 - Nov. 1994).
Ethnicity
Japanese American
About the non-profit
The (H)API Hour brings together Asian Pacific Americans and supporters of the APA community through happy hours that raise awareness of - and funds for - nonprofit organizations serving APAs in the San Francisco Bay Area or Southern California. Our events are casual and low-cost, providing an atmosphere that fosters philanthropy and networking.
Our format is simple. We select an APA nonprofit to sponsor and secure a happy hour venue. We market the event through our 1,300+ address email list and collect donations at the door. We give a representative from the nonprofit 10-15 minutes to share information about the group with the crowd and then we go back to having fun and networking.
Since its first San Francisco event in July 2000, (H)API Hour has raised the profile of and thousands of dollars for APA nonprofits and issues, including: 1830 Sutter (Japantown Y), AABA CRC, AAJA (SF and LA), AATC, Angel Island Foundation, APALSA Conference, APAs for an Informed California/No on Prop 54, API Legal Outreach, API Wellness, Asata, Asian Law Caucus, Asian Neighborhood Design, Asian Pacific Environmental Network, Asian Women's Shelter, CAA, CCDC, Chinatown Beacon Center, Committee for Human Rights in the Phillipines, Community Educational Services, East West Players (LA), emPower/APIForce, GAPA, Hapa Issues Forum, Hyphen Magazine, Jackson Street Residential Program/Asian Focus Unit, JCYC, KEEP, KAC-SF, KSW, Lanuola, Locus, NAATA, Narika, OASES, Stop Oakland Chinatown Evictions.
Founded by community activists Linda Li, David Chiu, Khin Mai Aung, Monty Agarwal, Gavin Funabiki, Phil Ting, Jane Kim and Victor Hwang, (H)API Hour is today led by Keith Kamisugi, David Chiu, Derek Tran, Reichi Lee and Karen Koh.
(H)API Hour, coordinated entirely by volunteers, is not itself a nonprofit organization. Any funds raised are donated directly by the venue to the nonprofit.
What are your day-to-day responsibilities?
Since this is an all-volunteer effort, no one has day-to-day duties. We organize and promote events for APA nonprofits to fit the organizers' schedules. I run the website, manage the mailing list and coordinate the promotions.
Most notable milestones
Selected as Asian Week's 2002 Best Place to Meet and Mingle with other Young APA Professionals
What's the niche?
We're the only APA community-oriented happy hour in both the Bay Area and Los Angeles that focuses on promoting other organizations. Our events allow 20- and 30-somethings to learn more about and give to nonprofits in a fun and casual environment. We also use our email list to promote other APA events and issues.
What's the biggest challenge?
Since this is an all-volunteer effort, there are times that our schedules don't allow us to put on as many events as we'd like to.
What's in store for the future?
Recruiting new organizers mostly. For the past several years, people have expressed an interest in migrating our concept to New York City and DC, but we haven't yet reached that phase.
Who would you like to be contacted by?
Community nonprofits serving APAs in the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles. We prefer to focus on groups that are small, low-budget and need exposure.
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Guiding principle in life
Evil wins when good people do nothing.
What motivated you to get started?
I didn't start the (H)API Hour. David Chiu, who is still one of the organizers, was part of a group of young community activists who started it in 2000. Among the success stories from that group include Phil Ting, who is San Francisco's elected assessor-recorder and highest ranking elected APA in SF government, and Jane Kim, who was just elected to the San Francisco school board.
Like best about what you do?
Helping APA organizations and issues and bringing together community-minded young people for a good time.
Like least about what you do?
I enjoy everything about the (H)API Hour.
At age 10, what did you want to be when you grew up?
An astronaut. The first space shuttle launched when I was 10.
What was your first job?
I was a bag boy at Longs Drugs. My mom loved it because I got her an employee discount.
Biggest pastime outside of work
Relaxing with my Tivo and catching up with friends.
Person most interested in meeting and why?
I want to meet George Bush so I can tell him to his face how much he's ruining our country.
Leader in business most interested in meeting and why?
I'd love to meet Vint Cerf, the father of the Internet, so I can just shoot the breeze with him and then blog about afterward.
Three interesting facts about yourself
1. I won a national Kellogg's drawing contest as a kid and won one of the first Atari game systems.
2. I still speak pidgin english (from Hawai'i and all...) and eat spam musubi.
3. I domain name squat for fun.
Three characteristics that describe you
1. Curious
2. Action-oriented
3. Impatient
Three greatest passions
1. Making a difference in the world
2. Learning new things
3. Solving problems
Favorite book
I don't read books anymore.
Favorite cause
The Equal Justice Society (where I work) is a national organization of scholars, advocates and concerned individuals advancing creative legal strategies and public policy for enduring social change. As heirs of the innovative legal and political strategists of Brown v. Board of Education, EJS will marshal our forces to defeat the right wing assault on social and racial justice. Our goal is to reshape jurisprudence to ensure that the rights of all are expanded, rather than diminished, by our courts and policy makers.
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