Giving back to communities of all shapes & sizes is 1 of the many things that we're proud about when it comes to the legacy of The Asian Karaoke Idol Invitational. While dedicating ourselves to the needs of others happens all-year-round, we pay special attention to a few groups in particular for each season of TAKII, known as "Charity Beneficiaries". Just how do we determine which organization(s) to support each season? Using a combination of recommendations from Team TAKII Members & personal testimonials from TAKII fans worldwide, Team TAKII Coordinators then convene a meeting to see which one(s) needs & goals fit into our very own capabilities & aspirations. Ranging from Asian-themed international organizations to local community groups & everything-in-between, "Charitiy Beneficiaries" have all been able to benefit in a variety of ways through our unique & innovative methods of sponsorship & service. Even attendees of The Asian Karaoke Idol Invitational have been able to get in on the giving action, taking part in a wide variety of our festivies geared specifically towards raising funds & awareness for that season's "Charity Beneficiaries"! For TAKII 8 ~HoliDAYZE~, we're proud to announce our seasonal support of the following entities:

Debuting at TAKII 8 ~HoliDAYZE~, The Asian Karaoke Idol Invitational's "Project "DATTE" (Delivering Assistance To The Extreme)" Awards Recipients are families across the Greater Philadelphia area who are in need of some extra yuletide cheer this upcoming holiday season. More info on "Project DATTE" can be found on the "Vendor Festivities" page of our "Festivities" section. Those who desire to contribute their resources in order to make "Project "DATTE"" a success are encouraged to join the "Team TAKII Coalition" today! (^_^).

Made up of 3 main branches (Sellers Memorial Free Public, Municipal, & Primos), Upper Darby Township, PA Libraries have been a source of community pride & educational excursions since the early 1930s. While the Municipal & Primos branches have their own storied histories, it's the Sellers Memorial Free Public Library that has the richest. Currently occupying real estate formerly owned by the famed Sellers/Pennock families, it's home to over 118,000 books, magazines, CDs, DVDs, & a host of other multimedia formats. Sellers Memorial is also known as a true innovator of library sciences, having received some of Delaware County, PA's 1st administrative computers for use at an area library back in the early 1980s, as well as having been a premier recipient of a public Internet access computer during the early years of the Clinton Administration in the early 1990s. Collectively, the Upper Darby Township, PA Libraries play host to thousands of community functions, club events, & special seminars all throughout the year. HOWEVER, due in large part to the economic crisis of 2009, local, state, & federal budgets threaten to drastically cut funding for these Libraries, eliminating programs like "My Millennium" (renewing & reserving books online), "PA POWER Library" (a vital online database for personal & professional use), & countless other functions for children, adults, & senior citizens-alike!!!! The Asian Karaoke Idol Invitational is proud to take a stand with Upper Darby Township, PA Libraries to combat this serious injustice & encourages its fans to reach deep inside of their hearts & souls to save these precious human institutions from potential & drastic ruin.

The Foundation, previously known as The Foundation Community Arts Initiative, is the organization responsible for The Rotunda, having proudly hosted countless seasons of The Asian Karaoke Idol Invitational since 2007. It all began when the University Of Pennsylvania purchased what now is The Rotunda (formerly known as 1st Church Of Christ Scientist) in 1996 as a strategic acquisition tied to a large scale community investment strategy known as the West Philadelphia Initiatives. While pursuing redevelopment options, Penn’s real estate officials responded to the ideas put forth in a 1998 Urban Studies seminar led by Dr. Ira Harkavy & Dr. Lee Benson, which called for the formation of The Foundation Community Arts Initiative. By making space available in a portion of the building, The Foundation held their 1st event in 1999 producing a free, all-ages Jazz concert open to the public. Utilizing the programming & performing talents of both students & other West Philadelphia community members, The Foundation, led by an undergraduate student, Andrew Zitcer, quickly began programming weekly events & monthly series, showcasing diverse groups of people through arts & culture experiences. The current Director for The Foundation, Gina Renzi, is the personification of public service & has been a friend of the fusion festival dating back to a chance meeting at a similar event held at The Rotunda in late 2005. TAKII is humbled by yet another opportunity to commit its resources, along with the support of its fans worldwide, to The Foundation towards its many pure-hearted aspirations of community awareness & outreach.

ICON Philadelphia is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating a cohesive community of Asian Americans from all professional, educational, & ethnic backgrounds through community service, social networking, cultural awareness, & professional development. Since its inception in 1999, ICON has provided its members an amazing forum for networking & diversification, among other services. Thanks to the group's infectious enthusiasm to achieve it's goals, membership has grown to over 800 Asian American professionals & students in the Greater Philadelphia area as of late 2009! Among other things, ICON Philadelphia strives to develop the skills of its members through informative seminars & professional workshops, further cementing its status as an Asian culture powerhouse with limitless potential. The Asian Karaoke Idol Invitational is excited to be partnering with ICON Philadelphia for TAKII 8 ~HoliDAYZE~!