Kiyoun Kim | Black & White Ball 2022 Honoree
I am a mother of two and a wife to my husband. Been happily married for almost 22 years now.
I was born in sunny California and specifically La Jolla and I grew up with my brother who's two
and a half years younger than I am. We're very close. I was completely thrilled when I heard of
my sister being recognized and honored. It is so well deserved and I couldn't be more happy or
proud of you. Congratulations. My parents were in the hospitality business and grew up seeing my
parents being very hard workers. They were immigrants from Korea. We are so proud of you,
for receiving this amazing humanitarian award. We love you. My grandmother is my inspiration
and my role model. She created a Korean school in Colorado for adopted Korean students. There
was a need to teach Korean heritage as well as the Korean language. My grandmother was also a
tremendous painter. If you see in our house there's many paintings that my grandmother
actually painted and she even wrote a book about the immigration of our family. That's
something that we can always cherish even after she has passed. I've been married for almost 22
years to my husband Danny. He's the most supportive person that I've ever met. I'm just so grateful.
I want to let you know how absolutely proud I am of you receiving this award. I can't think of
another person that deserves more than you do. My daughter Audrey is 18 years old. She is
transitioning from high school to college. She will be going in as a psychology major. Always
know that I'm here to support you whenever you need it and just like you were there to support
me whenever I needed it and love you. My son is 14, Jacob. He's a very tender-hearted and warm
individual. Mom or oma in Korean, you are an extremely inspiring person to me and I wouldn't
even be close to where I am today without you and I love you. I started in doing commercial loans in
2014. I was appointed to be the regional manager for Israel Discount Bank California offices.
Israel Discount Bank is proud to sponsor today's events. We're especially proud
of the recognition of one of our top leaders, Kiyoun, for her commitment and dedication to the
community. Well deserved. Congratulations, Kiyoun. When I was in college, I was asked to
sing national anthem for University of Colorado in Boulder. I sing at weddings and at my church
and we do karaoke at home. I could be singing church hymns to rap sometimes
and I like my diva songs as well.
One of my friends said, well let's do a marathon and then joined a running team called the Korean
American Running Team, CART, and it became more of a community than just running. I have now ran
10 marathons. I can describe Kiyoun in one simple word. She is champion.
To me, being an honoree is actually more so than the recognition. It becomes a responsibility
and one that I embrace and I am personally so honored that national Jewish would select
someone like me. I am so proud of my friend Kiyoun Kim. She is a kind, giving,
generous person that I am honored to call my friend. Kiyoun, to know you everybody would agree
is to love you. God bless you. I can't imagine somebody else more deserving of an award.
I'd like to express my heartfelt thanks and my deepest gratitude to every one of you who have
come to support me and National Jewish Health. I hope you had a wonderful time this evening
and more so come to know just how important the work that National Jewish Health does
and continue to support in years to come.