At SOAR365, our mission of creating life-fulfilling opportunities for individuals with disabilities is greatly supported by the generosity of our donors. We recently had the opportunity to speak with Jay Choi, a co-owner of Oh! Mochi alongside Brian Yoo. Read the Q&A below to learn more about Jay’s journey as a donor and advocate for our mission.
Q: What is your name and where is Oh! Mochi area are you located?
A: My name is Jay Choi and my business partner’s name is Brian (Dong) Yoo. Oh! Mochi Richmond is located in the heart of the VCU campus. Our address is 900 W Franklin St. Richmond, VA 23220 and it is our only location in Richmond.
Q: How long have you been a supporter of SOAR365?
A: We began supporting SOAR365 in 2023. That summer, we had the opportunity to attend the talent show at Camp Baker and hand out donuts to their campers and volunteers. Since then, we’ve been in touch with Dana and Michelle on the Community Engagement team, who have been incredibly supportive of our business and allowed us the opportunity to serve SOAR365 many times.
Q: How did you first learn about SOAR365?
A: I first learned about SOAR365 one evening while searching for nonprofits in the Richmond area that focus on empowering children and young adults. After further research, I realized SOAR365 was empowering a community that often does not have a voice. At the time, my family was struggling to understand the exact cause of my nephew’s developmental delays in both speech and mobility. I came across SOAR365 and was surprised to learn that the founder was also a UVA graduate. I graduated from the University of Virginia in 2014, which I thought was pretty cool.
Q: What inspired you to support SOAR365 as a donor, and how does our mission align with your values?
A: Empowering the helpless and the voiceless. Especially during a time when funding and programs that working-class families need access to in their public education institutions are being cut across the country.
Q: Have you had any interactions with SOAR365’s programs or services? If so, what impact have they had on you, your team, or someone you know?
A: My nephew, Levi, loves visiting PARK365. There are human-sized xylophones and other creative playground fixtures that help with his sensory needs.
Q: In your opinion, how can donors support the nonprofits they care about beyond financial contributions?
A: Beyond financial contributions, supporting a nonprofit such as SOAR365 through participant activities and programs. For example, our team brought unglazed donuts to the program participants at SOAR365 and held a sort-of workshop on how to glaze donuts. It was a wonderful time, and we should definitely do it again very soon. I think helping raise my nephew has been a learning experience, and I can now apply some of the lessons to further support SOAR365.
Q: What advice would you give to other prospective donors who have not taken the leap to give just yet?
A: If you’re thinking about it, you’re already on the right path. What’s stopping you? A gift of any size is better than no gift. Regret of any size is still regret. Just do it and let your soul guide the rest. There is never a bad outcome when trying to do the right thing.
Oh! Mochi offers a unique combination of Mochi Donuts, Korean Corndogs, Boba Tea, and Ice Cream. Indulge in their delicious Mochi Donuts, which fuse American donuts with Japanese mochi, available in flavors like chocolate, matcha, and ube. At Oh! Mochi, they take pride in using only the finest ingredients and creating a welcoming atmosphere. Visit them today for a memorable culinary experience! Click here to visit their website.
At SOAR365, we are incredibly grateful for donors like Jay Choi and Oh! Mochi, who make our mission possible. Their generosity and commitment help us continue providing essential services to individuals with disabilities.
To learn more about how you can donate to SOAR365, visit https://soar365.org/how-to-help/ways-to-give/donate.