Asian Counseling and Referral Service (ACRS)

09/02/2025

September is Su***de Prevention Awareness Month. Learn the warning signs, ⚠️normalize help-seeking, and let people know there are proven treatments that work.

Check out SAMHSA’s ***dePreventionMonth toolkit ➡️ https://t.co/D2igrVV7xH https://t.co/JE5HVlm5Oi

08/28/2025

✨ We’re excited to welcome an AmeriCorps member for 2025–26 through Washington Service Corps

📌 Position: Employment Aide
⏳ Term: 10.5 months
💵 Stipend: $3,157/month
🩺 Benefits: Health insurance + $7,395 education award

This is an incredible opportunity to serve your community while helping ACRS clients build careers and self-sufficiency. 💼🌱

👉 Learn more & apply: https://bit.ly/EMPAIDE2025

08/28/2025

This is your last chance to lock in Early Bird ticket prices for the ACRS Gala (bit.ly/ACRS2025Gala)- the discount ends this Friday, August 29. Prices will increase starting Saturday, August 30.

Because of the pressing needs in our community, we can’t extend Early Bird rates beyond the deadline — but we truly hope everyone who wants to attend will be able to join us.

• Early Bird General Admission Ticket: $200 (increases to $250)
• Early Bird VIP Ticket: $425 (increases to $500)
• Early Bird Table (10 seats): $2,000 (increases to $2,500)
• Early Bird VIP Table (10 seats): $4,250 (increases to $5,000)

Join us on Saturday, October 4, at the Hyatt Regency Bellevue for the ACRS Benefit Gala. More than a celebration, it will be a gathering to uplift, inspire, and remind us of the strength born from unity.

As our communities face anti-immigrant laws, escalating threats to basic rights, and deep cuts to vital services, our shared commitment matters more than ever.

Your support helps ACRS continue providing compassionate, culturally responsive care for thousands across our region. Together, we honor our stories, strengthen our impact, and drive change for equity and justice.

And if you are able, we hope you’ll consider purchasing a full-price ticket to make an even greater contribution.

Sponsorship opportunities are also available (bit.ly/Gala2025Sponsorship). Please contact us at events@acrs.org.

Special thanks to our event sponsors:
HEADLINE: tms
PREMIER: Amazon | Asians at Amazon
ADVOCATE: Gates Foundation | UPS
PARTNER: Muckleshoot Indian Tribe | Swire Coca-Cola | Uwajimaya
COMMUNITY PARTNER: Banyan Legal Counsel PLLC

ACRS Gala 2025

08/21/2025

Every day, more of our neighbors are facing steep challenges: sweeping anti-immigrant policies, increased threats to their rights, and drastic funding cuts to critical services that help families survive and stay together. For thousands of immigrants, refugees, and others in our region, ACRS is a place of hope, healing, and belonging in a world that’s becoming increasingly hostile and intolerant.

Already this year, ACRS is facing more than $500,000 in cuts to critical programs—like naturalization services that help immigrants become citizens and food programs that feed families. Your presence at the ACRS Benefit Gala (bit.ly/ACRS2025Gala) isn’t just about attending—it’s about bridging these gaps, standing with our community, and showing that joy, connection, and resilience are powerful forms of resistance.

Together, we can ensure that culturally responsive care, food security, citizenship assistance, and mental health support are there for those who need them most.

On October 4, we’ll gather to share powerful stories, celebrate resilience, and strengthen our collective movement for equity and justice.

𝗘𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗕𝗶𝗿𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗹 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟮𝟵—𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘂𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲.

Special thanks to our event sponsors:
HEADLINE: tms
PREMIER: Amazon | Asians at Amazon
ADVOCATE: Gates Foundation | UPS
PARTNER: Muckleshoot Indian Tribe | Swire Coca-Cola
COMMUNITY PARTNER: Banyan Legal Counsel PLLC

ACRS Gala 2025

08/19/2025

ACRS stands with Governor Bob Ferguson and other elected and community leaders in response to a recent letter from US Attorney General Pam Bondi on our state's immigration policy. According to Governor Ferguson's office, Attorney General Bondi's letter "demands Washington change its laws and policies protecting immigrants and limiting law enforcement's ability to use state resources toward federal immigration enforcement."

08/14/2025

A huge shoutout to all the incredible volunteers who joined us at last Sunday's Training Camp with the Seattle Seahawks! Your energy, teamwork, and commitment made the experience unforgettable for everyone involved.

Save the Date: We’re teaming up with the Seahawks again on November 30th for another exciting opportunity to connect, serve, and celebrate community. Stay tuned for more details—we’d love to have you back! www.acrs.org/volunteer

08/14/2025

We are pumped to be joining in on Saturday's at Rainier Playfield. Come by our booth and say hello and thank you Seattle Parks and Recreation and Seattle Department of Transportation for putting on such fun event.

Happening this weekend❗ Get active on Seattle’s ☀️

City of Seattle Government's annual Big Day of Play is on Saturday, August 16 🤸 Bring the whole family and enjoy a fun-filled day of free activities in South Seattle 🎨

Tap the link for details 🔗 https://www.bigdayofplay.org/

Big Day of Play is presented by Seattle Parks and Recreation’s ‘Get Moving Initiative’ and King County Metro Transit to celebrate Seattle’s diversity and encourage neighbors to connect and be active — together! ⚽

08/13/2025

🚐 FOR SALE: Two Well-Maintained 12-Passenger Vans – Nonprofit Owned 🚐

We’re selling two reliable Ford Transit 350 vans that we no longer are using. They are in good condition and pretty low on the mileage. Check out the listings below and share if you known anyone. All proceeds benefit our work!

Available Vans:
• 2016 Ford Transit 350 – https://bit.ly/2016FORDTRANSIT – $35,000 OBO
• 2015 Ford Transit 350 – https://bit.ly/2015FORDTRANSIT – $25,000 OBO

Low mileage 12-passenger van. Local miles. Reasonable offers considered.

08/11/2025

ACRS and Seattle Department of Neighborhoods are proud to present its third annual cohort of the People's Academy for Community Engagement (PACE)! This is a free six-week program to learn how to navigate city government and build civic capacity. $250 stipends are awarded upon completion.

Apply to join the Asian Counseling and Referral Service cohort here: https://forms.office.com/g/cpyKKytVDR
Dates: Thursdays from September 11 through October 16, 2025
Times: 4:00-5:30pm
Format: 3 virtual sessions; 3 in-person sessions. Six sessions total.
FREE to participate
Stipends available upon completion of the program
𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟭𝟳, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱

08/09/2025

On behalf of all of us at Asian Counseling and Referral Service, thank you for joining Walk for Rice (walkforrice.org) to support the ACRS Food Bank and nutrition programs. Together as a community, we raised $283,600 to help provide culturally familiar foods to thousands of individuals and families experiencing hunger around King County.

Hundreds of community members came together at our closing celebration at Seward Park, where the culturally rich beauty of our communities shined.

Our volunteer photographers captured the day in beautiful images. See the photos (bit.ly/WFR2025Photos) on the ACRS page and share the album with others. If you took photos, we’d love to see them! Use and tag us on Facebook and on Instagram.

Congratulations to our top fundraisers
Props to this year’s top fundraising individual and teams!

Top Individuals:
1. Justine Ing
2. AJ Aquino
3. Jocelyn Lui

Top Teams:
1. Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple
2. Team Blaine
3. Seattle JACL!

Love to our Walk for Rice Sponsors!
We want to thank our amazing sponsors for making Walk for Rice possible.

Presenting Sponsor
tms

Premier Sponsor
CHINN Construction

Advocate Sponsor
Amazon

Partner Sponsors
Arcora Foundation
Delta Dental
Kaiser Permanente
Mariners Care Foundation
PepsiCo Foundation
Puget Sound Energy

Community Partner Sponsors
The Aquino Group at Morgan Stanley
Comcast
First Student Inc.
Keller Rohrback L.L.P.
Nintendo
Nordstrom AsPIRE
Sheng-Yen Lu Foundation

Special Thanks
Media Sponsor
KING 5

Emcees
Christine Pae, KING 5
Harold Taniguchi

P.S. Help shape the future of Walk for Rice by taking a minute to complete a brief survey (bit.ly/WFR2025Survey).

08/08/2025

On June 28, hundreds gathered at Seward Park to celebrate the 35th Walk for Rice, honoring a powerful tradition of raising funds and awareness for hunger in Asian and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander communities.

Thanks to our amazing volunteer photographers, the day was beautifully documented—feel free to tag yourself and share the album with friends!

Special thanks to our photographers Kevin Lee (substanceandhype.com), Eunhee Sumner, Tuan Truong, and Hunter Yae.

Deep appreciation for our event sponsors:
PRESENTING: tms
PREMIER: CHINN Construction
ADVOCATE: Amazon
PARTNER: Arcora Foundation | Delta Dental | Kaiser Permanente | Mariners Care Foundation | PepsiCo Foundation | Puget Sound Energy
Community Partner: The Aquino Group at Morgan Stanley | Comcast | First Student Inc. | Keller Rohrback L.L.P. | Nintendo | Nordstrom AsPIRE | Sheng-Yen Lu Foundation

Media Sponsor: KING 5
Emcee: Christine Pae, KING 5 | Harold Taniguchi

07/29/2025

We’re thrilled to announce the return of the ACRS Benefit Gala (bit.ly/ACRS2025Gala) on Saturday, October 4, 2025, at the Hyatt Regency Bellevue. This year’s gathering will be more than a celebration—it will be a call to action and a tribute to our collective strength when we unite in purpose.

Let’s come together to honor our shared values and the resilience living within our communities. This year, we’re reimagining the gala to go beyond tradition—transforming it into a powerful space for connection, reflection, and collective action.

As more of our neighbors face rising costs, growing mental health challenges, and threats to essential services, our unity and shared commitment matter more than ever. Your early and generous support helps ACRS continue to provide compassionate, culturally responsive care to thousands across our region.

Early Bird registration is now open! Reserve your seat by August 29 to take advantage of discounted pricing.

Together, we’ll celebrate our stories, amplify our impact, and strengthen our movement for equity and justice.

Join us for community, for connection, and for a future where we all thrive.

With gratitude,
Asian Counseling and Referral Service

Special thanks to our event sponsors:
HEADLINE: tms
Premier: Amazon | Asians at Amazon
PARTNER: Swire Coca-Cola

ACRS Gala 2025