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Chinese American Service League receives $2 million gift for immigration justice initiative

Chinese American Service League receives $2 million gift for immigration justice initiative

Money Moves Chicago, IL local

Sue Ling Gin Foundation Trust donation supports legal and citizenship services in Chicago's Chinatown.

Today: CASL announces $2 million gift

Overview

Updated 1 hour ago

The Chinese American Service League in Chicago's Chinatown has $2 million more for its Immigration Justice Initiative. The money comes from the Sue Ling Gin Foundation Trust and is earmarked for legal and citizenship support, newcomer services, anti-hate work and policy advocacy.

The service league said the gift arrives as immigrant-serving nonprofits face federal funding cuts, more competition for philanthropic dollars and fast-changing immigration policy. The announcement did not specify a spending timeline.

Why it matters

The gift gives one Chicago immigrant-services group a larger legal-aid budget as federal funding for that work becomes less predictable.

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Key Indicators

$2M
Gift to Immigration Justice Initiative
Donation from the Sue Ling Gin Foundation Trust for legal and citizenship services.
$10M
Prior foundation gift to CASL
2023 donation helped the service league buy the 3000 S. Pitney Court site.

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People Involved

PL
Paul Luu
Chief executive officer, Chinese American Service League
CEO at time of the November 2026 announcement
SG
Sue Ling Gin
Founder of Flying Food Group; namesake of the donor trust
Died in 2014

Organizations Involved

Chinese American Service League
Chinese American Service League
Nonprofit
Recipient of the $2 million gift

Chicago nonprofit providing education, health care, housing, legal aid and advocacy to Asian American communities.
SL
Sue Ling Gin Foundation Trust
Philanthropic foundation
Donor

Chicago foundation created after Sue Ling Gin's death to support education, health care, public safety and immigrant services.
Flying Food Group
Flying Food Group
Airline catering company
Founded by Sue Ling Gin

Airline catering company that grew from Sue Ling Gin's first kitchen near Midway.

Timeline

1978 November 2026

6 events Latest: Today
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. CASL announces $2 million gift

    Today Announcement

    The Sue Ling Gin Foundation Trust funds the Immigration Justice Initiative.

  2. Foundation gives CASL $10 million

    Philanthropy

    The gift helps CASL buy the 3000 S. Pitney Court site.

  3. Sue Ling Gin Foundation Trust established

    Philanthropy

    The trust supports Chicago groups in education, health, safety and immigrant services.

  4. Sue Ling Gin dies

    Death

    The foundation trust is established the following year in her honor.

  5. Sue Ling Gin opens catering kitchen near Midway

    Business

    Gin hires Chinese immigrants connected to the Chinese American Service League.

  6. Chinese American Service League founded

    Founding

    The Chicago nonprofit begins serving Asian American communities.

Scenarios

1

CASL adds immigration legal staff with $2 million gift

Likely Resolves by Nov 12, 2027

Discussed by: CASL leadership and Block Club Chicago reporting

The gift is designated for legal and citizenship support. The most direct use would be hiring immigration attorneys or citizenship specialists. CASL has not announced a spending timeline, so the first public signal would be a staffing or program announcement.

2

Federal funding cuts offset the gift's effect

Possible Resolves by Nov 12, 2028

Discussed by: CASL press release citing federal funding cuts

CASL said the gift arrives as immigrant-serving groups face federal funding cuts and more competition for philanthropic dollars. If those pressures grow, the $2 million could help maintain existing services rather than expand them. A decline in clients served would show the limit of the gift.

3

Gift expands anti-hate and policy advocacy work

Possible Resolves by Nov 12, 2027

Discussed by: Block Club Chicago reporting on the initiative's scope

The Immigration Justice Initiative includes anti-hate initiatives and policy advocacy as well as legal services. The gift could fund public campaigns or policy work rather than direct legal representation. CASL has not said which part of the initiative will receive the money first.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

1983

Sue Ling Gin's first catering kitchen (1983)

Gin opened her first catering kitchen near Midway and offered jobs to Chinese immigrants connected to the Chinese American Service League. Flying Food Group later became an international airline catering business.

Then

The kitchen hired immigrants linked to the service league.

Now

Gin's company grew internationally, and her foundation later became a major Chicago donor.

Why this matters now

The new gift extends a relationship between Gin's business and CASL that began with jobs, not legal services.

2023

Sue Ling Gin Foundation Trust's $10 million CASL gift (2023)

The foundation gave CASL $10 million. CASL used it to buy a site at 3000 S. Pitney Court and turn it into a community hub with housing and service space.

Then

CASL acquired the Pitney Court site for a community hub.

Now

The foundation returned with another $2 million gift for immigration services in 2026.

Why this matters now

The earlier gift shows the foundation has been a repeat large donor to CASL, not a one-time contributor.

Sources

(1)
Block Club Chicago