CHINATOWN — The Chinese American Service League (CASL), a longtime nonprofit serving Chicago’s Asian American community, has secured a $2 million contribution from the Sue Ling Gin Foundation Trust. The gift will fund the organization’s Immigration Justice Initiative, which provides legal assistance, citizenship classes, newcomer services, anti‑hate programming and policy advocacy for recent immigrants.
Why the donation matters now
CASL’s leadership emphasized that the timing of the gift is critical. “The gift comes as immigrant‑serving organizations nationwide face cuts to federal funding, more competition for philanthropic dollars, and immigration policy that can shift without warning,” the organization said in its press release.
About the Sue Ling Gin Foundation Trust
The foundation was created in 2015 to honor the legacy of Sue Ling Gin, an Aurora native and daughter of Chinese immigrants. Gin founded Flying Food Group in 1983, a catering operation that grew into an international airline‑catering business. After her death in 2014, the Sue Ling Gin Foundation Trust began supporting Chicago‑based organizations in education, health care, public safety and immigrant services.
In addition to the current $2 million gift, the foundation previously donated $10 million to CASL in 2023, enabling the purchase of a site at 3000 S. Pitney Court. That property now serves as a community hub with housing, recreational space and service offices.
Impact on the community
CASL’s CEO, Paul Luu, said the new funding will allow the organization to expand its capacity to help newcomers feel a sense of belonging. “This gift means our clients can count on us, even when so much around them feels uncertain,” Luu said. “Sue Ling Gin believed in this community before most people had ever heard of CASL, and that belief lives on through this foundation and this gift.”
The Immigration Justice Initiative focuses on three core areas:
- Legal and citizenship support: Free or low‑cost representation for immigration hearings, naturalization classes and assistance with paperwork.
- Newcomer services: Language‑access resources, job‑search workshops and connections to health‑care providers.
- Anti‑hate and policy advocacy: Community education on hate‑crime reporting and lobbying for fair immigration policies at the city and state level.
Local leaders have praised the partnership. Chicago’s Department of Human Services noted that CASL’s programs complement city efforts to ensure all residents, regardless of immigration status, have access to essential services.
Broader philanthropic context
The Sue Ling Gin Foundation Trust has a track record of sizable gifts to Chicago institutions, including $20 million to the Field Museum in 2023 for education initiatives, $10 million to DePaul University in 2025 for a scholarship program, and $15 million to launch a five‑year training program for Chicago police supervisors aimed at reducing gun violence.
With the new $2 million infusion, CASL plans to hire additional immigration attorneys, expand its outreach to neighborhoods beyond Chinatown, and develop new educational materials that address the evolving challenges faced by immigrant families.
Looking ahead
As immigration policy continues to evolve at the federal level, local nonprofits like CASL play a vital role in bridging gaps left by shrinking government resources. The partnership with the Sue Ling Gin Foundation Trust underscores the power of community‑focused philanthropy to sustain essential services for Chicago’s diverse population.
Original reporting: Block Club Chicago — read the source article.
