Mr. Bill S. Kim Elected as Chairman of the Board at Give2Asia

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Give2Asia, a U.S.-based public charity facilitating international private giving for causes in the Asia- Pacific region, announced today the election of Mr. Bill S. Kim as Chairman of its Board of Trustees. Mr. Kim becomes Chairman of a philanthropic organization that has made possible over $29 million in private donations and giving for Asia during its 2007 fiscal year.

Mr. Kim succeeds Mr. Alexander Calhoun Esq., Give2Asia's founding board chairman, who remains an active Trustee for both Give2Asia and its founding organization, The Asia Foundation. Mr. Kim has served on Give2Asia's Board of Trustees since 2003.

"Give2Asia is a charity organization that prides itself upon a very personal approach to helping and facilitating donors who are conscientious about Asia. I'm humbled and honored to assume this new role with Give2Asia. I believe there is a great potential with our highly motivated team and making a lasting impact with careful international philanthropy which addresses the plight of millions of humanity who struggle in poverty and their daily lives," said Mr. Kim.

In 1964, Mr. Kim immigrated to the United States from the Republic of Korea with $50 in his pocket and a student visa. After college, he founded Louis Raphael in 1972 and currently serves as the Chairman & CEO. Louis Raphael is the largest company in America to focus solely on the design and production of men's dress trousers. Its products are available in over 8,000 stores including Macy's, Sak's, Nordstrom, Kohl's, Mervyn's, Sears, JC Penney and other department and chain stores in the United States and Canada.

In 1980, he won the Presidential Award from South Korean President Jun Do-Whan for promoting bilateral trade between the United States and Korea. In 1986, he was named "Businessman of the Year" from Santa Clara Chamber of Commerce. He has been an active member of Korean American Chamber of Commerce NPC since 1978 and is presently serving as its Chairman of the Board. Mr. Kim has served as a Trustee of the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco since 1999 and is currently the Chairman of its Audit Committee. In 2004, the Mayor of the City of San Francisco appointed him as a Commissioner of the Museum.

Give2Asia, which offers private giving services for corporations, individuals and foundations in the United States, Canada and Asia, has set a 2010 goal of making possible $85 million in total giving for Asia by developing its international community of donors and charitable organizations. Mr. Kim and the entire organization have tasked themselves with building a community for international giving that is completely donor driven and that helps to build the capacity of charitable groups in Asia. During 2007, donors choose to support projects in areas of health, education, disaster relief, and vocational training.

About Give2Asia (http://www.give2asia.org)

Give2Asia's mission is to facilitate and encourage charitable giving to meet needs in Asia by providing personalized services to donors and recipients. Founded by The Asia Foundation with more than 50 years of grantmaking experience in the Asia-Pacific region, Give2Asia helps overcome the common challenges associated with giving overseas.

     Contact Information

     Nadia Hussain
     Marketing Associate, Give2Asia
     465 California Street, Suite 900
     San Francisco, CA  94104
     (415) 743-3391
     nhussain@give2asia.org