Dr. Kye-Eun Ma of Englewood left her medical practice to establish the Friends of Grace Seniors (FGS) Korean Community Center in Englewood. It was founded in 2001 as a place for immigrant first generation Korean seniors to gather and participate in social, health and cultural activities to promote healthy and independent living. The goal was to prevent the seniors from living their later years in an isolated environment disconnected from the community. In addition to socialization, FGS provides primary and preventive health care to poor, uninsured Korean-American immigrants. The center has more than 100 classes and activities and approximately 10,000 people use it each year. In addition, the center offers programs to children such as piano instruction and ballet classes. There are 50 volunteers who help a small staff run the center. FGS strives to create programs that connect intergenerations of people. Dr. Ma, who serves as president, believes that everyone has something to offer if they are just given the chance. The chance awaits them at FGS.

Update: KCC was founded in 2000 under the name of Friends of Grace Seniors (FGS) as a non-profit organization by Dr. Kye-Eun Ma, who recognized the needs of the community of Korean seniors. With the needs of this community top of mind, she established FGS in Fort Lee, NJ, for Korean residents to easily access health/welfare, social, cultural and educational services.