For Immediate Release:
July 14, 2009

Contact:
Yasmin Shah, Saffron Circle Grants Committee
617-391-3094
grants@saffroncircle.org

Community Support in a Time of Need
Saffron Circle Announces 2009 Grant Recipients

Boston, July 14, 2009 – Saffron Circle, www.saffroncircle.org, a giving circle of multi-generational and multi-ethnic Asians in greater Boston, is pleased to announce its 2009 grant award recipients. Launched in May 2006, the Saffron Circle is committed to supporting local organizations that address the needs of the Asian community in greater Boston. In its third year of grantmaking, Saffron Circle raised $7,000 from individual members and supporters to support Asian-serving nonprofit organizations in greater Boston.

This year’s recipients include both new and returning applicants serving the Asian community:

• Asian Sisters Participating in Reaching Excellence: providing culturally competent and developmentally appropriate mentoring and leadership opportunities tailored to the needs of local Asian American high school girls.
• Matahari - Eye of the Day: supporting outreach, education, and advocacy for victims of human trafficking and community-building for the South Asian and Filipina communities;
• Odaiko New England : teaching local youth music, life skills, and respect for other cultures through in-school and after-school Japanese taiko drumming classes;
• Phillips Brooks House Association: enriching the lives of Asian refugee youth through low-cost ESL programming and year-round support services.

In this time of financial crisis, Saffron Circle hopes to raise awareness and support of emerging and established agencies meeting the multifaceted needs of the Asian community in Massachusetts. More information on the Saffron Circle grantee organizations listed above can be found at www.saffroncircle.org.

Saffron Circle is a group of multi-generational Asians committed to creating positive social change in the greater Boston Asian community. Members of Saffron Circle represent many different Asian cultures, areas of expertise, and interests who have come together to support social change by pooling resources, sharing talents, and learning about issues and giving opportunities. Each member has the opportunity to participate in grantmaking and in developing the giving circle. Saffron Circle is a donor-advised fund at the Boston Foundation.

Please see www.saffroncircle.org for more information.