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Home > Fellowship Plaza Apt. A202 |
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Kimbo Student Award Scholarship
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I had stopped by a Korean Supermarket on the way to my office. It was to purchase some fruits for elderly parents of someone who ran the office right next to mine (in the same room.)
The gentleman’s parents were in their 90s. Last Saturday, I was invited by an elder couple from long time ago who had studied “Abundant Life” with me for Bible Study. When I was about to head home, the elder asked me to follow him to his car, and gave me a freshly produced Korean melon.
When I opened the box to see how the melons looked, they were very golden and looked well ripen. They looked so delicious, so I had opened one in half and ate it. The freshness was great and the sweetness was just about right.
Also wanting to serve the elders who came from Korea, I purchased a box of Korean Melon and on my way out form the market, I saw an older newspaper article on the floor next to the newspaper stands. There was an article that caught my eye and grabbed it. On the front of the paper in the notice box was written, “2016 Kimbo Student Award Scholarship” as the title of the article. This year, about 200 financial scholarships would be award starting from $2,000, totaling $400,000 dollars total. For the non-segregation purposes, 5 African American and Hispanic student individuals were chosen as well. The location of the awards is from San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta, etc totaling 200 students.
The reason why I read this multiple times again and again goes back to 1993 when my daughter was entering college. I had a very thankful thing that happened to me. This was something from 23 years ago, but upon reading this article about scholarship in newspaper, I had provided the necessary documents for the scholarship. After being evaluated, I was told that my daughter had won $1,000 in scholarship and that I would have to attend the granting event. $1,000 back then was not a small amount of money. I believe at that time only 20 students from San Francisco area, and another 20 from Los Angeles were chosen.
I still remember what the newspaper company’s president who had started about a Mr. Kim who started this scholarship said that day to this day. During that time, the scholarship grantee was elderly at that time. Mr. Kim was not able attend of his age and physical difficulties, but of being overly assessed over the selfless things he had done, the newspaper president had delivered the scholarships. He told everyone that every time when he goes to visit for choosing the nominee and the scholarship awards, would always come back in awe. The reason is he lives a very simple life, with not even good furniture, and would still donate large amounts of funds to scholarships. This was the 29th time happening, this person is such a rare person to see, there is no way to hold back on the respect. I have heard of several people who would donate small amounts to have a huge article about them in the newspaper in comparison.
Mr. Kim had arrived in United States long time ago and even in difficult time, had studied and after working a long time in a company, to prepare for the next generation had saved every bit of money he can. All the earnings he had made, was put into the bank and any interest from the bank were donated to scholarships.
For 23 years the $40,000 grant had expanded to $400,000!
Such amazing story! I believe God would bless him for the selfless act of giving away to scholarships like that.
Like the “The Giving Tree” I give my deepest gratitude to Mr. Kim who had donated all the money earned through sweat and tears to rise the next generation. If he has any next generation, they would be awarded the best blessings ever.
After my daughter graduated from college, she had worked in jobs then had become married and is now a mother of 3, but the steps to arrive there, was from the unseen donation of the scholarship and of the encouragement and love as the bases of the growth. I had sent my daughter to a school far in the East Coast of United States, but even in this difficult of environment, the $1,000 scholarship, was priceless and at the same time to be such a great price.
After reading the article, I had called the newspaper company that had published this article. I gave them my gratitude of the story from 23 years ago, to thank them for supporting for children with bright future, of the selfless sacrifice. I had tears on my eyes, and my voice was shaking while I was thanking them on the phone.
Mr. Kim!
It was such a thankful event. Thanks to your selfless sacrifice, the next generations were grown, and this kind of story will continue to grow!
(June 27th, 2016)
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The pair of Geese that left… 
Kimbo Student Award Scholarship