Immigrant Social Services

Thank you to everyone: sponsors & supporters who celebrated with us last night for our 54th Anniversary at House of Joy喜运来! 💗

We prioritize care for Chinatown/LES immigrant children & families for the past five decades and our honorees: May Wong Lee, Renny Fong, and Ken Leung exemplify what it looks like to nurture the next generation through education and representation in media. We look forward to carrying that spirit with us through our work daily in our afterschool programs and prevention work with youth and seniors. 💛

Autumn in NYC has been absolutely gorgeous so far. We hosted the RUN FOR CHINATOWN Forever Strong Program outdoors for the first time last week and Chung Pak seniors were able to take it up and over—they’re getting stronger after every class! 💪🏼

Thank you all so much. The event is SOLD OUT! We appreciate your support, and look forward to seeing everyone soon! 😎

ISS Stitch Club is back for the fall & winter! RSVP via link in bio. ISS Alums and neighborhood kids from 10002 and 10013 receive a special discount. Email [email protected] for a discount code.

LOCATION: ISS HQ - 137 Henry Street, New York, NY 10002

DAY & TIME: Saturdays from 1-3PM

PROGRAM DATES:

* October 10, 2026 - Frog Plushie
* October 17, 2026 - Pumpkin Patch
* October 24, 2026 - Hanging Bat
* November 7, 2026 - Dumpling Squishy
* November 14, 2026 - Fabric Frame Holder
* November 21, 2026 - Fabric Ball
* December 5, 2026 - Handwarmer
* December 12, 2026 - Mittens
* December 19, 2026 - Animal Face Pillow

Excited to welcome students back to class in a few weeks!

Renny Fong is a retired New York City public school educator who dedicated nearly three decades to P.S. 130M Hernando De Soto in Manhattan, a recipient of the 2017 National Blue Ribbon School Award. He began his career there as a teacher in 1997 and served as Principal from 2014 until his retirement in 2026.

Throughout his career, Renny championed educational equity, enrichment, belonging, and joyful learning—principles valued by ISS.

Come join us to celebrate Renny at our Benefit Banquet Dinner! Link to purchase tickets in bio.

Date: Wednesday, October 14, 2026
Time: 6-9PM
Location: House of Joy
Address: 28 Pell Street, New York, NY 10013

May Wong Lee’s career with children began at the Chinatown YMCA, then at Mariner’s Temple on Oliver Street: first as a Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) worker and later as a counselor. She then worked at Chrystie Street Daycare C.P.C. and taught English to adults at ISS. For 39 years, May was at PS 42, serving as a classroom teacher, technology teacher, assistant principal, and finally principal. With her commitment to generations of students and families, May worked with ISS to ensure that ISS was a consistent part of PS 42’s community.

Date: Wednesday, October 14, 2026
Time: 6-9PM
Location: House of Joy
Address: 28 Pell Street, New York, NY 10013

This Friday, September 18, 2026, we are partnering with APA VOICE NY to register newly sworn citizens of the United States to vote, as part of the National Voter Registration Day effort—tomorrow, September 15 is the actual NVRD.

If you are already registered, make a plan to vote during the General Election on Tuesday, November 3, 2026! 🗳️

Today, on the 25th anniversary of September 11th, we remember all those who were lost and those who were left behind. As an organization born in and based in Lower Manhattan’s Chinatown, ISS honors those lives, as well as the Chinatown community’s resilience in its aftermath.

We continue to rebuild against xenophobia and support immigrants that make NYC flourish.

Ken Leung is an actor and Chinatown native. For all of the 1970s, his family lived across from Hamilton Madison House where he attended daycare, and steps from St. Joseph’s, where he attended K-3. Last fall, he curated an exhibit of his uncle Paul’s still life drawings, for which ISS graciously lent their storefront space. Ken is best known for playing the arch-henchman Sang in the film 𝘙𝘶𝘴𝘩 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘳, Miles Straume on ABC’s 𝘓𝘰𝘴𝘵, and Eric Tao on HBO’s 𝘐𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘺.

Date: Wednesday, October 14, 2026
Time: 6-9PM
Location: House of Joy
Address: 28 Pell Street, New York, NY 10013

Announcing this year’s ISS Benefit Banquet Honorees ✨

* Ken Leung, Actor, 𝘙𝘶𝘴𝘩 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘳, 𝘓𝘰𝘴𝘵, 𝘐𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘺
* May Lee Wong, Principal 𝘌𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘴 P.S. 42M Benjamin Altman School
* Renny Fong, Principal 𝘌𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘴 P.S. 130M Hernando De Soto School

Buy your tickets/tables/journal ads here: https://givebutter.com/iss2026

See you on October 14th!