Cleveland’s first annual Asian Festival, mounted in observation of Asian Pacific-American Heritage Month in May 2010, received a $5,000 foundation grant to support the organization of a weekend-long celebration. Approximately 10,000 people crowded into Asia Plaza in the St. Clair-Superior neighborhood to enjoy cultural and martial arts performances, authentic Asian cuisine and ethnic merchandise.

The foundation’s modest investment in testing new ideas and partnerships was rewarded many times over. Greater Clevelanders responded to this opportunity to partake of the city’s rich diversity by swelling festival attendance to more than 30,000 in 2011 and 50,000 in 2012. The St. Clair-Superior Development Organization recognized the festival’s economic benefits for the surrounding neighborhood by presenting the Asian Festival with its 2011 Community Action Group Award.