Education South Korea Project #57978

Holiday Gifts & Cheer for Korean Children

by Korean Kids and Orphanage Outreach Mission

Project Report | Jun 23, 2026
How a Gift Drive Became So Much More

By Leah Garlock | Executive Director

A film photo from last year's Healing Summer Camp.

Every year, our holiday parties bring students a sense of tradition and consistency they can count on. Even students who have aged out of the children's homes still look back on these memories fondly.

Our holiday parties all started with a group of U.S. Fulbright English Teaching Assistants (ETAs) who volunteered at a children's home in Korea. When they noticed a lack of funding for the holidays, they came together to collect donations for gifts. What began as a simple gift drive grew over the years into a U.S.-based nonprofit. Today, we still work closely with Fulbrighters in Korea to plan every aspect of the holiday parties alongside the children's homes we serve.

Something Exciting Is Coming
While it's hard to think almost six months ahead, late August and September will be here before we know it. Then, our party planning season officially kicks off! In the meantime, we wanted to share something exciting on the horizon.

Building on our annual Gift Wish List social media fundraising campaign, we will soon be launching a summer fundraiser for our Busan Healing Camp. As part of our GEM Program, we will be taking a small group of middle and high school girls to experience health and fitness activities by the sea.

It's always meaningful to see exactly where your generosity goes, and this campaign will do just that. Our social media volunteers are working hard to bring back the same touch of nostalgia from our Christmas in July series from a few years back, but with a fresh twist. Look for the launch in early July!

We Want to Hear From You
As we begin locking in dates for December and work with volunteers to start planning our holiday parties, we would love your input. What holiday activities would you recommend? What annual traditions do you look forward to?

Here are some we have loved in the past:

Hot chocolate making station
Cookie and ornament decorating
Gel nails and manicure station
Christmas-themed Minute to Win It games
Talent show

Over the past few years, we have made a point to introduce new activities and themed stations that appeal to our older students. Like all teenagers, they sometimes outgrow the crafts and games they once loved, and we want to make sure there is something for everyone. We would especially love your ideas for activities that older students might enjoy.

Send us your thoughts at info@kkoom.org.

Thank You for Showing Up
Hope you are staying cool in this heat. While the holidays may still be a ways off, we are grateful for every one of you who continues to show up and support the youth in Korea's social welfare system. Thank you for being part of our community and making dreams possible for the young people we serve.

Links:

Permalink

Feb 26, 2026
Thank You for Helping Us Surpass Our Goal

By Leah Garlock | Executive Director

Thank you for helping us reach our annual goal of $15,000. We are deeply grateful to everyone who contributed, from Giving Tuesday matching funds to generous individual supporters both on and off GlobalGiving. Together, we raised over $26,000.

Because our fiscal year begins in October, our holiday campaign allows us to start the calendar year strong and fully prepared to meet program and support needs.

Impact at a Glance

2 children’s homes supported
Over 150 students participated
Gifts delivered directly from student wish lists
Winter break outings funded
$26,000+ raised, exceeding our original goal

Holiday Celebrations

The holiday parties were filled with joy and creativity.

At one children’s home, students rotated through activity stations featuring classic favorites like a nail salon and cookie decorating, along with new art and game activities. A stamp sheet encouraged participation and rewarded students who completed each station.

At another children’s home, we supported their annual talent show with popcorn, interactive games, and craft activities. At both homes, the gingerbread decorating contest was a highlight, and we were able to provide additional pocket money and special treats as awards. Santa also visited and delivered gifts directly from students’ wish lists. Combined with a shared holiday meal, these moments created lasting memories and reminded students that they are seen and celebrated.

After resolving website technical issues, we were also able to share our “12 Days of KKOOM” stories, highlighting the voices of our volunteers and board members. As a small team, we are deeply grateful for the community that makes this work possible year-round.

Financial Transparency

Funds raised were thoughtfully allocated toward:

Holiday party programming and supplies
Student gifts from individualized wish lists, talent show, and mini-game awards
Gingerbread house contest supplies and prizes
Winter break outings and activity trips
Ongoing program and individual support needs

Your generosity ensures that support is both immediate during the holidays and sustained throughout the year.

What’s Next

Winter break in Korea spans from January through early March, the start of the new school year. In addition to holiday celebrations, we are supporting winter activity trips during this extended break.

As we move further into the year, we are preparing for continued mentorship programming, educational support, and individualized assistance for youth in Korea’s social welfare system. Your support allows us to provide consistency, stability, and meaningful opportunities far beyond a single season.

Because of you, over 150 young people experienced not just celebration, but belonging. Thank you for walking alongside us and investing in brighter futures that extend well beyond the holidays.

Links:

Permalink

Nov 1, 2025
On a Mission to Plan the Perfect Holiday Party

By Leah Garlock | Interim Executive Director

Spreading Joy, Building Tradition

As we enter fall and the end of the year draws near, we’re reflecting on the impact your support has made and the dreams it continues to nurture. Thanks to your generosity, students in Korea’s social welfare system have explored their creativity, traveled to new cities, pursued master’s degrees, stayed active through sports, received computers and tutoring, and much more. Each story reminds us that your support brings every child one step closer to their dreams.

Preparing for a Season of Celebration

While the holidays are still a few months away, our preparations begin early to ensure every detail is in place for our annual celebrations. By late summer, we reconnect with U.S. Fulbright English Teaching Assistants (ETAs), young adults living in Korea through a U.S. government-funded grant who volunteer as co-chairs and committee members. Together, we brainstorm activity booth ideas, write talent show scripts, design holiday campaigns, and organize supply lists. It’s the perfect example of how teamwork truly makes the dream work.

This planning doesn’t happen in isolation. We work closely with the children’s homes we support, gathering feedback throughout the process to make each celebration even more meaningful. This year, one home requested that we dream up more creative and inclusive stations, especially for older teens. Our team is now developing new activities that will make every child feel seen and valued.

In addition to the holiday party activities, we make sure each child receives a gift from their holiday wish list. This annual tradition began when KKOOM’s co-founders (who were also Fulbright ETAs at the time), raised donations to provide holiday gifts and activities for children. Our annual holiday parties, are a beautiful reminder of our humble beginnings, and how one act of giving and generosity can go a long way.

Joy That Lasts Beyond the Day

This year, our holiday parties will reach more than 300 children across several children’s homes in Korea’s Gyeongsangbukdo region, many of whom will celebrate the holidays only through this event. Year after year, the laughter, songs, and shared moments remind us why this work matters.

“It wasn’t until I volunteered for the second time that I realized just how much joy the Christmas parties bring to the children. Volunteering taught me how meaningful these traditions are and how even a little bit of time can bring such big smiles to their faces.”

HeeJae | 2019 KKOOM Christmas Volunteer and KKOOM Board Member

Each celebration builds upon lessons from the last, creating cherished traditions that offer comfort and stability in the midst of uncertainty. For many children, it’s more than just a party, it’s a reminder that they are loved, remembered, and worthy of joy.

Looking Ahead with Gratitude

As we prepare for another season of joy, we’re reminded that it’s your generosity that makes this tradition possible. Your continued support allows us to create spaces of belonging, laughter, and hope for children who deserve nothing less.

Thank you for being part of KKOOM’s story and for helping us keep this beautiful tradition alive year after year.

Links:

Permalink

1 2 3 ›

About Project Reports

Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.

If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.