Now showing Los Angeles, CA. The City of Angels.
    Los Angeles skyline and mountains at golden hour from Griffith Park

    Week-long travel for hardworking students

    Help the future generation envision a better world

    JoyfulLee funds a week of travel for diligent, hardworking students — a week to breathe, wonder, and feel how wide the world really is.

    Applications begin Summer 2027

    Fund a student — $2,500Our story

    We believe

    Experiencing other cultures helps students envision more possibility in themselves.

    How giving becomes a journey

    A simple flow of care

    01

    Donors light the spark

    One gift gives one student a week that makes the world feel reachable.

    02

    Students share their story

    We listen for curiosity, courage, and students carrying responsibility early.

    03

    We build the week together

    The destination and experiences are planned with care, with enough space to grow.

    04

    Stories come home

    Students return and share their experience — igniting the next journey.

    Where the week might take them

    One destination per cohort — chosen together.

    Each cohort travels to one place. These are the kinds of weeks we're dreaming up.

    New York City skyline at sunrise
    New York, NY
    Chicago skyline across Lake Michigan
    Chicago, IL
    Los Angeles skyline from Griffith Park
    Los Angeles, CA
    Na Pali Coast sea cliffs in Hawaii
    Hawaii, HI
    Colonial Williamsburg at golden hour
    Williamsburg, VA
    Charlotte Fourth Ward historic homes
    Charlotte, NC
    New York City skyline across calm water at sunrise

    Why JoyfulLee exists

    Our story

    Jae and Katie had to grow up early — as 1.5- and 2nd-generation immigrants, they learned young how to carry school, work, family, and responsibility at once.

    When they finally found room to travel together, the world widened their views through simple, yet unforgettable moments: sharing a meal in a new city, learning the rhythm of another culture, hearing a stranger describe life from a different angle.

    The world got bigger for them. Now they're making it bigger for someone else.
    Jae Lee portrait
    KL
    RM

    Jae, Katie & Ryan — the people behind it

    Meet the team

    What one trip costs

    $2,500

    funds one student's entire unforgettable week

    Flights & transport

    ~$600

    Lodging & meals

    ~$1,500

    Experiences & tours

    ~$400

    Support a student

    1. The Spark

      Fall 2025

    2. Building the Team

      Winter 2026

    3. Applications Open

      Summer 2027

    4. First Cohort Travels

      2028

    Los Angeles skyline and mountains at golden hour

    Be part of the beginning

    Be first to know when applications open and how you can get involved.