HealthFirst Funds Hope Against Hate to Protect Asian American New Yorkers

With the surge in anti-Asian violence in New York City, HealthFirst the largest not-for-profit health insurer in New York State announced that through its foundation, it will support the Hope Against Hate campaign developed by the Asian American Federation (AAF) to help fight the attacks in local communities and bring safety back to the Asian American community in New York. A donation will help the efforts of the Asian American Federation (AAF) to respond to and stop attacks on vulnerable Asian New Yorkers.

1. Contribution of AAF: For the past year, the Asian American Federation has been at the forefront of empowering Asian communities against violent anti-Asian attacks. Between February 2020 and February 2021 there were more than 1,100 attacks on Asian New Yorkers, leaving seniors terrified to leave their homes, and 70% of families deciding to not send their kids back to school. In response to the terrible trauma of the Atlanta killings and the continuing racist violence, AAF launched the Hope Against Hate campaign to bring immediate safety to Asian New Yorkers.
2. The campaign against racism: AAF’s mission is to raise the influence and the well-being of the pan-Asian American community through research, policy advocacy, public awareness, and nonprofit support. The campaign is raising funds to deploy safety ambassadors, establish neighborhood safe zones, develop an app to report incidents, and provide mental health and victim support services in multiple languages.
3. An important initiative against disparity: “It is a very difficult time for the Asian American community, which is being subjected to a renewed wave of hate speech and hate crimes that are particularly targeted at the elderly and vulnerable people,” said Pat Wang, President, and Chief Executive Officer at Healthfirst. “The Asian American Federation’s Hope Against Hate campaign is an important initiative that we are proud to support because it will help ensure that Asian New Yorkers feel safer in their communities and that victims of assault receive the help they need.”
4. Funds that will bring a change: Funding supplied by Healthfirst’s foundation will help to support key components of the Hope Against Hate campaign by establishing a safety ambassador program that trains volunteers in de-escalation, self-defense, and mental health first aid. Also, it will provide an escort for vulnerable community members when needed and creating safe zones, assistance funds for victims in communities throughout NYC and different other cities.
5. An attempt to end horrific attacks: Jo-Ann Yoo, the executive director of the Asian American Federation, said, “We are incredibly grateful to receive support from Healthfirst in our fight to ensure safety for all New Yorkers. Our Hope Against Hate campaign aims to end the cycle of horrific attack after the horrific attack on the Asian community by taking concrete steps to centralize reporting, create safe zones in our communities to promote a culture of neighborly care and provide training in de-escalating threatening situations. Because of Healthfirst’s investment in our future, AAF can make sure Asian Americans—doctors and nurses, teachers and small-business owners, grocery workers and food delivery people—all feel safe in the city they call home.”