Running a startup nonprofit feels a lot like having your first child — you have no idea what you’re getting into. It ages you in dog years. I remember those early days in Shoreline, navigating sleepless nights, and wondering why anyone would choose this relentless path more than once. The duality of caregiving hit hard: I felt hopeful for the future yet utterly exhausted.

It might sound strange, but the birth of the Very Asian Foundation (VAF) felt similar. I can’t think of a better way to describe those whirlwind two weeks when I went viral, fielded endless interviews and countless meetings, and launched a national foundation.

“V-A-F”, as we affectionately call it, is just a little more than 2 years old. Its name came from an unexpected incident — after mentioning on air that I ate dumplings as a New Year’s tradition, a viewer called my news station to complain that I was being “very Asian.” After 25 years in television, I was no stranger to over-the-top comments, but this came at a time when anti-Asian rhetoric was rampant.

My friend and fellow broadcaster, Gia Vang, shared her Hmong New Year’s traditions and coined the hashtag #veryAsian. It quickly gained traction on social media, leading to a global fundraiser for Asian American journalists and even an appearance on The Ellen Show. Ellen DeGeneres, along with Seattle-based Tisbest, gifted me $15,000, which became the seed money for VAF. From Jan. 1 to Jan. 19 2022, we were swept into a whirlwind. The same day the Ellen episode aired on KING 5, we announced the launch of our nonprofit.

We haven’t slowed down.

Since 2022, VAF has supported or hosted 241 events across the United States and even as far as the Philippines. Through our May Book Project (MBP), an Asian American youth literature project for all readers, we’ve reached around 80,000 students in 14 states. It’s co-chaired by Bothell’s own Maybelle Zante, an avid reader and a mother. We’ve also launched the Creators Microgrant program, thanks to Renton’s Dr. Kat Lieu, encouraging people to pursue their creative passions.

Beyond our key programs, we collaborate with nonprofits, corporations, universities, and community groups. The FBI director even highlighted the May Book Project as a tool to combat anti-Asian hate. We’ve also worked with the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders, always centering our efforts on the health and safety of our communities.

The Very Asian Foundation’s Sunday Funday Luncheon is from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20 at the W Bellevue, and will honor Joysauce founder and Seattle magazine owner and Publisher Jonathan Sposato and the Very Asian Foundation’s 2024 Creators Grant winners. Snag prizes from Asian American businesses, hear inspiring stories, and support the Very Asian Foundation’s programs. Tickets are available for $100 until Oct 11.

This fall, VAF is thrilled to return to the Pacific Northwest for our second Sunday Funday luncheon, where we’ll celebrate luminaries like Seattle’s own Jonathan Sposato. Our host committee, Make Us Visible WA, will share insights on creating a more inclusive educational system. We’ll also honor our Creators Grant winners, who are flying in from across the country to showcase their projects, each of which promises to make a lasting impact in their communities.

None of this would be possible without the incredible support of our sponsors, volunteers, and community members. Our development director and luncheon team have curated an amazing lineup of raffle prizes, and our attendees will walk away with something special. 

Ultimately, that’s what VAF is about — using our village to raise us up. It’s about creating win-wins and building safer and brighter tomorrows. 

Editor’s note: Michelle Li is a morning anchor and consumer reporter at NBC St. Louis. She previously served in the same position in Seattle. She created the Very Asian Foundation after a viewer in St. Louis sent her a racist email telling her to “keep her Korean to herself,” and of being “very Asian” after she mentioned on-air that she enjoyed eating traditional Korean dumpling soup as part of a New Year’s tradition.