SALT LAKE CITY, UT – The Asian Association of Utah (AAU), a nearly 50-year pillar of Utah's community service organizations and home to the Utah Asian Festival—the largest, longest-running festival of its kind in the US—today announced the launch of its "Invest to Impact: Investing Today for Thriving Tomorrow" end-of-year giving campaign. The initiative seeks community support to sustain and expand critical services as demand reaches unprecedented levels while resources for refugees and human trafficking victims are being reduced.
AAU's FY2025 Impact Report reveals extraordinary growth across the organization's three program pillars: Human Trafficking Support, Refugee Services, and Behavioral Health.
"We are grateful we were able to assist more refugees, refugee youth, and survivors of human trafficking due, in a large part, to additional financial partnerships from individuals, foundations, public entities, and corporations,” reflects Scott Cougill, Executive Director.
To amplify the campaign's impact, an anonymous donor will match every gift dollar-for-dollar up to $10,000 from now until Giving Tuesday, December 2nd. Donate today to double your impact!
Record-Breaking Impact Across All Programs
Refugee Services: AAU resettled 175 refugees and provided $697,000 in self-sufficiency housing assistance to 273 households—an 88% funding increase to meet growing demand. The organization served 180 refugee youth in seven afterschool programs, matched over 100 youth with professional mentors, graduated 145 parents from culturally responsive STEP parenting classes (94% reporting improved family relationships), and taught 223 adults in English Language Learning classes.
"Having a safe place to stay and a steady job, with guidance along the way, has given me hope and the ability to plan for my future." - Refugee Housing Client
Behavioral Health: AAU's trauma-informed mental health team served over 430 clients with 3,965 therapy sessions. The organization expanded accessibility by embedding behavioral health therapists in afterschool programs, launching support groups for the Afghan community, and ensuring continuity of care for clients who lost Medicaid coverage through alternative funding sources.
Human Trafficking Support: As Utah's largest human trafficking victim service provider, AAU served 1,400 survivors in FY25, a 49% increase, providing over 21,000 instances of case management services, including $476,000 in emergency and transitional rental assistance. This year, we expanded services in our Economic Empowerment, Recovery Support, and Youth Mentoring programs.
"I am more than what happened to me but its hard when people try to rob you of your humanity. I will never forget the help AAU gave me when no one else did." - Labor trafficking survivor
Interpreting & Translation: With 90+ interpreters representing 35 languages, AAU provided over 50,000 hours of interpretation services to 16,111 clients across Utah, ensuring linguistically and culturally competent care.
Addressing Growing Needs Amid Declining Resources
The need for AAU's services has never been greater, yet the landscape of available resources continues to shift dramatically.
Like the resilient individuals and families we serve, AAU remains steadfast in our commitment to finding alternative solutions and pathways forward, adapting to challenges while never wavering from our mission to engage, equip, and empower Utah's most vulnerable communities to improve, become self-sufficient, and thrive. Please join us in investing to impact a thriving tomorrow.
"I wanted to take the time to thank you for all of the help the agency has given me to help me move forward into a new chapter of hope, health, and happiness in my life." - Sex trafficking survivor
In 2025, the Asian Association of Utah received the highest rating of Platinum Transparency Seal with Candid (formerly GuideStar) and 4-star 100% rating with Charity Navigator. AAU is committed to clarity, trust and accountability to our supporters.
With a staff of over 60 members representing 17 nationalities and speaking more than 30 languages, AAU serves 24 of Utah's 29 counties through a network of 32 collaborative partners.
Community members interested in supporting AAU's mission can make tax-deductible donations through aau-slc.org/donate. Every contribution helps sustain comprehensive, trauma-informed, culturally responsive services that create pathways from crisis to thriving for Utah's most vulnerable community members.
About Asian Association of Utah
Originally established in 1977, the Asian Association of Utah engages, equips, and empowers victims of human trafficking, refugee youth, and refugees from all over the world to improve, become self-sufficient, and thrive. Working closely with Utah resettlement agencies, Utah State Refugee Office, refugee communities, state protective services, Utah's Attorney General Office, law enforcement, and the United States Department of Justice, AAU provides comprehensive trauma-informed and culturally relevant support services including case management, housing assistance, economic empowerment programs, therapeutic counseling, mental health treatment, English classes, afterschool programs, and youth mentoring.
