S.H. Baik of Young An Hat company generously donated $100,000 on behalf of The Headwear Association towards a scholarship for aspiring designers in the millinery field. This money has funded a scholarship at the famed Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. The scholarship has been established as an endowed scholarship award fund with a pledge of $100,000 it will be awarded in perpetuity using the interest earned on the gift.
Members of the Baik Family attend the 2023 dinner.
Baik Sung-hak was born on April 18, 1940, in Heilongjiang province, China to one of the wealthiest households in the Manchuria region. A series of unfortunate events left Sung-hak fatherless at age five and a war orphan at the age of ten with the Korean War of 1950. Despite the numerous adversities he has faced, his experiences have also shaped opportunities that combined with his work ethic, outside-the-box thinking, and charisma allowed him to start his company, the Young An Hat Company. Today S.H. Baik has become a role model and his values and generosity continue to impact the lives of many through charity. Among his many charities, S. H. Baik has founded and continues to support many orphanages worldwide.
Scholarship Recipient
MOON MENDOZA
“I am so grateful to be receiving the Headwear Association Endowed Scholarship sponsored by S.H. Baik of Young An Hat Company and for the people out there who support and believe in my craft. As a child who grew up in poverty in the Philippines, I never expected to be where I am today and have the opportunities that I’ve had. All I had was my dreams and passion for creativity. FIT has taught me the fundamentals of how to translate my imagination into a fully realized final product and what it is to be creative. To me, accessories like hats, handbags, and sunglasses are integral pieces that complete an entire outfit and set the tone. I am hopeful to be able to design for brands in the luxury market in the future, focusing on handbags and eyewear.”
-Moon Mendoza
Congratulations to Moon from all of us at The Headwear Association!
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