The World Hug Foundation is dreaming of a new beginning where everyone is treated equally and is protected. With you, we can make this dream a reality. We can make this change together. We are waiting for your support.
Our Mission
The World Hug Foundation, founded on the principle that every person deserves to be protected and treated equally, aims to promote awareness and be an advocate for not only adoptees but the adoption issue at large.
Who We Are
John Shin, Executive Director
As Executive Director, John Shin is responsible for overseeing the WHF’s operations and strategic plan. Mr. Shin joined WHF in June 2017, bringing with him a strong background in management, operations, and innovation.
He served as an infantry platoon sergeant in the United States Marine Corps for 4 years. After an honorable discharge, he earned a B.A. in Economics & Accounting from Queens College. He has spent 15 years in various positions with Deloitte, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and Citigroup. He currently serves as a Vice President at Morgan Stanley for Legal and Compliance.
Our History
| 6.13.2019 | – | 2nd Annual Fundraising Gala Dinner at Dae Dong Manor, Flushing NY. |
| 5.14.2019 | – | Visited New York Consulate General of the Republic of Korea. Met and discussed the current adoptee rights issues and our work with Consul Sun Ho Lee. |
| 5.9.2019 | – | Visited Korean-American Association of Greater New York. Met and discussed collaboration in 2019 with President Charles Yoon. |
| 4.3.2019 | – | Traveled to Houston to celebrate and congratulate our first candidate to become a U.S. citizen and attended her U.S. citizenship oath ceremony. |
| 3.30.2019 | – | Visited”Adopted Friends Spring 2019″ at Yale University, Conn. and spent an entire day with young Korean adoptees and their adoptive parents. |
| 2.6.2019 | – | Attended Korean-American Korean Leaders’ Prayer Meeting held in Washington D.C. and discussed the current adoptee rights issues and our work. |
| 1.25.2019 | – | Held Directors’ Meeting to review and approve 2018 programs and discussed 2019 plans. |
| 1.18.2019 | – | Awarded Kaomi Lee for excellence in her podcast program, Adapted: Korean Adoptees Living in Korea and Beyond to bring awareness of adoptees’ struggles. |
| 1.15.2019 | – | Traveled to Houston USCIS office with an immigration attorney to provide legal representation for the selected candidate for U.S. citizenship interview. |
| 11.29.2018-12.22.2018 | – | Second trip to Korea and promote awareness to the Korean general public regarding Korean adoptee issues in the United States. |
| 11.30.2018-12.2.2018 | – | Hosted Alliance Summit 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada with leaders from 8 different organizations to discuss and strategize collaborative plans for the fiscal year 2019. |
| 10.8.2018 – 10.24.2018 | – | First trip to Korea and promote awareness to the Korean general public regarding Korean adoptee issues in the United States. |
| 9.22.2018 | – | Hosted Annual Korean Cultural Festival in Flushing, New York to educate and experience Korean culture heritage to the community. |
| 7.11.2018 | – | Visit Washington D.C. for Korean American Grassroots Conference and present the current adoptee rights issues and the Adoptee Citizenship Act. Also, visit the Embassy of the Republic of Korea and met and discussed the Korean adoptee issues with Director-General In-Shik Woo. |
| 7.9.2018-7.11.2018 | – | Petition Signing days at the 2018 Hallelujah New York Evangelical Crusade. |
| 6.21.2018 | – | 1st Annual Fundraising Gala Dinner at the Reception House, Flushing NY |
| 5.7.2018-5.9.2018 | – | Visit Washington D.C. for National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) Lobby Day and makes visits to 13 congress members to promote Adoptee Citizenship Act. Also, visit the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Washington D.C. Met and discussed the issues of the Korean-American Adoptee with a minister Kkotshigye Shin. |
| 4.17.2018 | – | Visit New York Consulate General of the Republic of Korea. Met and discussed the current adoptee rights issues and our work with Consulate-General Hyo-Sung Park. |
| 4.11.2018 | – | Visit with New York Korean-American Lion’s Club and inform the current adoptee rights issues and collaborative legal support. |
| 4.10.2018 | – | Met with the partner of International Law Firm to inform the current adoptee rights issues and collaborative support. |
| 2.1.2018 | – | Becomes an official sponsor of Adoptee Rights Campaign. |
| 1.10.2018-1.12.2018 | – | Attends Congressional Brief for Adoptee Citizenship Act in Capitol Hill, Washington D.C. and makes visits to 7 congress members to promote Adoptee Citizenship Act reintroduction. |
| 12.19.2017 | – | Visit New York Consulate General of the Republic of Korea. Met and discussed the current adoptee rights issues and our work with Deputy Director-General Yunju Ko and Consul Wonsik Shin. |
| 11.7.2017 | – | Filed an N-400 U.S. Citizenship application for selected adoptee without citizenship. |
| 11.4.2017 | – | Visit “Adopted Friends Fall 2017” at Yale University, Conn. and delivers an opening speech. |
| 10.20.2017-10.22.2017 | – | Attend 2017 IKAA Annual Convention in SF. |
| 9.16.2017 | – | Sponsored Vance Twins Publishing to distribute books to bring awareness of adoptee mistreatments. |
| 9.16.2017 | – | Petition Signing day at Flushing Street Fair in Flushing, NY. |
| 9.15.2017 | – | Visit Korean America Society of Virginia and holds a joint news conference. |
| 9.9.2017 | – | Petition Signing day at two Korean supermarkets in Flushing, NY. |
| 9.6.2017 | – | News conference to promote Adoptee Citizenship Act and Petition signing day. |
| 6.23.2017 | – | Visit the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Washington D.C. Met and discussed the issues of the Korean-American Adoptee with a minister Min-Soo Park. |
| 5.7.2017 | – | World Hug Foundation launch fund-raising dinner. |
| 4.29.2017 | – | Korean-American Adoptee meeting at Maryland and seeking future solidarity plan. |
| 4.17.2017 | – | Press conferences and appointment of officers, including Chairwoman Joanna Kil and President Chang Yeon Han. |
| 2.15.2017 | – | WHF Nonprofit Organization Application / WHF Website Production |
| 1.19.2017 | – | Third Promoters’ Meeting. Board of Directors named the organization as World Help Foundation (WHF) and then planned for the establishment of the association. Founding of the Constitution. |
| 12.5.2016 | – | Second Promoters’ Meeting to promote the name and business direction of the non-profit organization (Promotion of Korean adoptee rights / Support for third world women’s sanitary napkins) |
| 11.11.2016 | – | First Promoters’ Meeting for the public service and non-profit organization (4 committee members formed) |