Local service groups

An annual gift, with no strings

Staff Sergeant Kyu Hyuk Chay gave his life in service to his country. His father founded this foundation to honor him by supporting people and organizations that exemplify patriotism, freedom, peace, love, community and sharing. Since 2017, that has meant a gift each year directly to local fire, ambulance and police departments, with no application and no conditions. We name them here once the gifts have been made.

There is no application

These organizations do not fill in forms for us, do not report back to us, and do not compete for our money. The board decides each year, records it in the minutes, and sends the gift.

They know what they need better than we do. A fire department that needs a thermal camera should not have to write an essay about it.

Why this matters to us. When Kyu Hyuk was killed in action, people in our community stood by our family. Supporting the firefighters, police officers and EMTs who serve that community each year is one way we honor him, and a way of saying thank you.

Who we give to

To be announced shortly. We are speaking with the departments first. Their names and amounts go here once the gifts are made.

Previously supported

For years the foundation gave in Westchester County, New York, where Kyu’s family lived, and to two institutions tied directly to him — the youth center at Fort Bragg that carries his name, and the law school he left to enlist. We list them because they were part of his life and part of ours.

New Castle Police DepartmentServing Chappaqua and the Town of New Castle, New York
Chappaqua Fire DepartmentChappaqua, New York
Chappaqua Volunteer Ambulance CorpsChappaqua, New York
Horace Greeley Scholarship FundChappaqua’s public high school
Westchester Korean-American AssociationWestchester, New York
Westchester Korean Church CouncilWestchester, New York
Chay Youth CenterFort Bragg, North Carolina — named for Kyu
Brooklyn Law SchoolHe put his law career on hold to enlist

What we give

We publish every gift, so anyone can see where the money went. This year’s gifts have not been made yet. This page lists them by name and amount once they are made.

If you are a service group

There is no application. We give meaningfully to a few organizations connected to Kyu Hyuk rather than a token amount to many.

If your department or organization had a connection to Kyu that we do not know about, we would genuinely like to hear it. Write to [email protected].

If you want to support this program

On the donate page you can tell us to put your gift toward local service groups. If you do, we are bound to spend it that way — all of it goes to the departments, and none of it can be moved to anything else.

You cannot direct a gift to one person — a particular firefighter, officer or student. The law does not allow it.

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