Help Kai Ip raise money

Hey everyone!

This is the first time I've ever participated in Scotiabank Charity challenge, and I'm so incredibly excited to be able to participate to help raise some funds for ACAS (Asian Community AIDS Services), a local community organization focused on HIV prevention, sexual health education, and supporting folks living with HIV/AIDS, in the East and Southeast Asian community. The agency also specifically supports Asian LGBTQ+ folks, like myself, by creating relevant and safe programs/services, fostering community-building and resiliency for those who come through its doors.

I may not have been part of the team for too long, but I've been so incredibly lucky and humbled to be serving my community with this truly unique organization. In my short time here, working with various groups (e.g. international students, past and current service users, youth peer leaders), it has quickly become clear the incredible impact ACAS has had on the Asian community here in Toronto over the last 25 years. For many of service users/program participants, ACAS really is a second home, a second family, and even a place where they were able to blossom into their true selves. It is a space worth fighting for.

Like many others, COVID-19 has affected community organizations like ACAS especially hard. Our annual fundraiser had to be cancelled in March due to lockdown and on top of that, core program funding was also cut due to priority shifts in governments over the next 3 years. As such, every dollar really will go a long way!

Donating through the Scotiabank Charity Challenge is one of the easiest ways to help ACAS at this time. 100% of the funds will go directly to ACAS and you will automatically receive a tax receipt. The raised funds will help maintain ACAS services and programs for East & Southeast Asian people living with HIV and the Asian LGBTQ+ community!