Issue XVIII September, 2010

Word from the Board

VietHope is a non-
By Nam Nguyen
profit organization
dedicated to Vietnam’s
It was a year ago that I resigned as President of
socioeconomic VietHope. After 5 years as President, I felt it was
development. We at time for a change…time to bring in a new leader
VietHope believe that with fresh ideas and unbounded energy. It was time
the wealth of Vietnam to give someone else an opportunity to lead this
lies in its human capital unique organization and family. It was also time for
me to take a break and focus on my personal family
and its prosperity
and our newborn son, Ethan. I am happy to report
depends on whether that Ethan just turned one and as it turns out, Ethan
we harness this human is one of the most productive fundraisers for
capital. As such, we VietHope (donations from baby shower and
believe that good birthday were made to VietHope in Ethan’s name).
education is
As I thought about succession and transitioning this
indispensable to Happy Summiteers in Can Gio, Viet Nam
important role within VietHope, the one candidate
Vietnam’s growth and who I felt would best lead VietHope during this
its future. period of change was Lynn. From the founding of
VietHope to the present day, no one has dedicated
VietHope is a 501(c)3 more time and energy and contributed more to
VietHope than Lynn. Lynn understands all the
non-profit. We are a
intricacies within VietHope and has deep
volunteer-based relationships with all staff and volunteers, students
organization with 20 and donors. One example of Lynn’s invaluable
active team members. contribution is her knack for creating the “VietHope
VietHope members are family” wherever she goes. When she was in
based in Boston, San Vietnam for her Fulbright in 2003, she managed to
recruit and build the core VietHope team in
Francisco, NewYork,
Vietnam. When she was in Boston, the VietHope
Washington DC and Boston team was the most active in recruitment and
Southeast Asia. sponsoring of events. Since moving to Baltimore in
2006, Lynn has built a highly active VietHope team
Contributing and has secured a number of key sponsors and
Writers: donors. Sometimes I think Lynn thinks and dreams
of VietHope 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Nam Nguyen
VietHope is very lucky to have Lynn as President.
Kathy Nguyen
Hanh Michelle Le I am very proud of what the VietHope team has
Phuong Thanh achieved over the past year. The team has done a
Tam Giang phenomenal job in improving VietHope’s
operational platform and focusing on the programs Ready for Summit 2010: VietHope Team Vietnam.
to increase impact and reach. This past summer,
Editors: VietHope successfully implemented the second In this Issue:
Ngan Dam Summit under the Youth Development Program Word from the Board 1
Lynn Huynh where students came together for 7 days to learn
Quang Tran skills, develop friendships and give back to the Laugh to Promote Education 2
community. VietHope’s scholarship programs A Night of Friendship and Music 2
continue to reach under-privileged students and give
VietHope Summit 2010 3-4
them hope for a better future. Some of VietHope’s
students have graduated and found jobs, some have From a Merit Scholarship Recipient 5
earned scholarships to study abroad…whatever the th
VietHope’s 4 Benefit Dinner 5
www.VietHope.org situation, each and every student is grateful to the
donors who have given them the opportunity of an New Moon Foundation and VH Partnership 5
info@ VietHope.org
education and hope for the future.

VietHope | 423 Brookline Avenue # 199 Boston, MA 02215 | info@ VietHope.org | www.VietHope.org 1
 VIETHOPE NEWSLETTER
Issue XVIII September, 2010

Laugh to Promote Education

Scholarship
Programs:
By Kathy Nguyen (Boston)

On May 1st, VietHope held its very first Comedy The Comedy Show helped VietHope raise a total of
Merit Scholarship $3,406, with many tickets sold at the door. With
Program: Provide Show starring one of Asia’s hottest stand-up
comedians, Joe Wong, known for his appearances everyone's support and help, we hope that this will
access to education become an annual fundraising event, where we can
for poor students in on the Late Show with David Letterman and the
Ellen DeGeneres Show. The event drew a big all share a night of laughter while helping the
rural areas from
crowd, including guests from Dartmouth and a children of Vietnam reach a brighter future.
grades 6-12 ($120
student/year). Merit is visitor all the way from Kansas City! We were
a renewal scholarship touched by everyone’s support and in particular, by A Night of Friendship and Music
program where-by the generosity of our Diamond Sponsor, South Cove By Michelle Hanh Le (Fairfax)
scholarships are Community Health Center, and our Gold Sponsor,
renewed on yearly Vinna Auto Body in Dorchester, MA. Without
On June 19, 2010, we had a benefit dinner held at
basis until students these sponsors and the food donations from Bo De
the private home of Hung and Michelle Hanh Le
finish grade 12, or fail Buddhist Meditation Center, Hien Vuong
in Fairfax, Virginia. Hung is one of our Board
to meet VietHope Restaurant, King Do Baguette and Bakery, and
members. It was a cozy, intimate, and elegant
criteria. VietHope volunteers, we could not have made the
evening of music and friendship. As VietHope is
Comedy Show happen.
still relatively new to the Virginia area, this event
University
provided an avenue for VietHope to be introduced
Scholarship Program
to those interested in knowing more about the
(USP): Provide access
organization and its work. We raised over $5,000
to education for
disadvantaged and recruited four new wonderful team members.
students at the Everyone at the event was very impressed with
university level VietHope's accomplishments. VietHope’s president,
($160/year). USP Lynn Huynh, recounted heart-felt stories and
aims to develop a highlighted some of VietHope’s impressive results.
network of university Many of the attending guests said that one of the
students and potential most intriguing facts about VietHope is that the
community leaders. organization was founded by college students and is
Summer activities are run by students and young professionals.
organized for USP VietHope volunteer, Van Nguyen, and Joe Wong
scholars to engage in VietHope was fortunate to have the talented
community service Of course, corporate sponsors only tell half the violinist Hien Pham and pianist Dang Gien as our
activities. musicians for the night. The French food was
story. We want to recognize our wonderful,
committed volunteers. Thanks to Thanh Thu, Phu, beautiful and delicious. We enjoyed everything on
Community the well prepared menu - from the Brie en Croûte
Linh, Son, Phuong, Davis, Tinh, Nhu and the rest of
Scholarship Program: with "VH" embossed on it to the “wine loaded”
the Wellesley VSA, for donating their valuable time
Provide monetary Boeuf Bourguignone. We ended the event with new
to the event, supervising the food stations, and
support for uniforms friends, renewed support, delightful music, good
and school supplies selling tickets and raffle tickets. Without the
tremendous energy and dedication of our volunteers food, and dear VietHope in our hearts. What a night
for the least well-off to remember!
students in Vietnam and guests (some of whom stayed late to help clean
from pre-k through up), the event would not have been such a hit. Many
5th grade. thanks to the Wellesley VSA for helping us secure
the venue at Pendleton Atrium at Wellesley
College, where the Comedy Show took place.

A huge shout out to our comedian, Joe Wong, who

made the night an overwhelming success! People
were bursting with laughter from every corner of
the room; some almost fell off their seats while
others laughed so hard they cried. Joe was not only
funny, but also very friendly and warm, which made
www.VietHope.org him the perfect comedian for our show.
info@ VietHope.org
VietHope volunteers: Viet, Hanh & Lynn

VietHope | 423 Brookline Avenue # 199 Boston, MA 02215 | info@ VietHope.org | www.VietHope.org 2
 VIETHOPE NEWSLETTER
Issue XVIII September, 2010

Reflections on VietHope 2010 Summit

Ways to Support
VietHope: VietHope
By Phuong Thanh (Viet Nam)
welcomes anyone
who believes in our VietHope’s second Summit recently took place in I still remember the meals we shared, each table
mission. There are a Can Gio, Viet Nam, from August 1st to August 7th. brimming with chatters, conversations, and
number of ways in Twenty-three recipients of the 2010 USP exchanges of moi ca nha an com (Vietnamese for
which you can scholarship joined a team of VietHope volunteers bons appetits). On one occasion, VietHope
support VietHope:
and ten summit participants from last year, for a volunteers, Phong, Phuong, Hue, and Ky, surprised
§ Sponsor a student week filled with learning, friendship, personal everyone with a special delicious treat of ice-cream
through one of development and community building. for dessert!
VietHope’s 3
Scholarship As one of the summit planners, my role was to
Programs oversee a number of activities during the summit.
Prior to it, I worked with the F1 students (returning
§ Donate to
VietHope’s summiteers) on planning. The ten F1 students who
infrastructure were invited to this summit were in charge of
investment communicating and coordinating with the F2
program students (fist-time summit participants). Thank to
the F1 students’ bridging efforts, the F2 students
§ Spread awareness
about VietHope quickly bonded and were organized and punctual,
and VietHope’s leaving positive impressions on guests as well as
mission facilitators at the summit.
Smiling & team building
§ Donate time and
energy by The students absorbed the modules with impressive
becoming a
speed and participated in the activities with
VietHope
volunteer remarkable enthusiasm. On the day we learned
about group work skills, the students spent the
entire day working in groups. Group bonds became
noticeably stronger. That day helped the students
recognize the strengths in one another, and
encouraged them to open up and share.

We spent two days on Thieng Lieng, a small island

F1 Students – Returning Summiteers
which belongs to Thanh An, a poor commune
where books are considered rare treats. During the
stay, the students carried out several projects in the
local community, including improvement of the
local elementary school’s yard, distribution of
books and reorganization of the school’s library.
On the second day, the students organized a
children’s fair. There were, among many games
and activities, a drawing contest and a “reading
time”, during which the children simply got to
spend time reading as many books as they desired.

As the summit progressed, the students became

www.VietHope.org more mature, self-aware, and had very good work
info@ VietHope.org spirit. A number of students demonstrated
leadership qualities, while others showed great
F2 Students – First-time Summiteers

VietHope | 423 Brookline Avenue # 199 Boston, MA 02215 | info@ VietHope.org | www.VietHope.org 3
 VIETHOPE NEWSLETTER
Issue XVIII September, 2010

efforts to overcome themselves. What brought me

VietHope events and
joy was not the success of any individual student,
activities:
but rather the drive to self improvement that was
§ VietHope Tennis evident in all students.
for Education
Tournament will The two summits have affirmed my belief that
take place at Vietnam’s youth generation will continue to grow
Jefferson District
and contribute more and more to themselves, their
Park in Falls
Church, VA, on community and country. A big thank to VietHope
September 18th, for creating a rewarding program for all summit
2010, from 8:00- participants, students and volunteers alike. Many
5:00. To know thanks to the F1 and F2 students; they are the ones
more about the who will decide the success and goals of this
event please visit
program. And their presence at the summit will be
our website or
contact the the measuring stick for the VietHope activities to
organizer, Michelle come.
Hanh Le at
hle1997@ gmail.com “All those times when we sat and talked made me
realize how different all of our situations were;
§ Ongoing Change some happy, some sad. But now that we are all F2
for Education children of the big VietHope family, we have
Campaign. Please VIETHOPE STRENGTH…so everyone, let’s try to
contact Tinh Bui at overcome the obstacles in life and reach for a life
tinh@ viethope.org full of meaning and success!”(Truc Linh –
if you would like to University of Economics)
knowmore about
the campaign.

Visit viethope.org for

updates on upcoming
events and activities.

VietHope volunteer and a Summit planner, Phuong Thanh

Excerpts from F2 Students’ Reflections

“If we have what it takes let us help VietHope

achieve its vision of “a prosperous Vietnam”. I
believe this is the most meaningful way of thanking
VietHope and this is what the organization wishes
for.”(Tra Mi – University of Social Sciences and
Humanities)
“After the summit I see that I need to change: I
want to smile more and become more open so that I
can understand others and also, understand myself.”
(Vinh Huu, University of Medicine)

VietHope | 423 Brookline Avenue # 199 Boston, MA 02215 | info@ VietHope.org | www.VietHope.org 4
 VIETHOPE NEWSLETTER
Issue XVIII September, 2010

Letter from a Merit Scholarship Student VietHope Benefit Dinner in Boston

By Tam Giang
On Sunday, October 3, 2010, the VH Boston team
will host VietHope’s 4th Bennefit Dinner, at Saigon
Seafood Restaurant, 270 Adams Street in
Dorchester, from 6pm-9pm.

It will be a great night of good food, entertainment

and celebration of VietHope's work. You will have
the opportunity to bid on items through VietHope’s
auction and purchase raffle tickets for prizes that
evening. Your support will provide educational
scholarships to financially disadvantaged students
in Vietnam.

To purchase Benefit Dinner tickets or for additional

information, please contact Van Nguyen at
van@viethope.org or (781)856-3731.
The scholarship amount of 2,100,000 VND (~$120)
from VietHope helped my family overcome
hardship by covering school expenses for my two
sisters and me. I sincerely thank the donors who
have given support to VietHope and I want to thank
VietHope’s volunteers. They did not mind the hard
work and obstacles. Wherever there are students in
difficult situations, there will be VietHope. I hope
that VietHope’s scholarship programs will continue
to help us and help many more students.

To show my gratitude, I have written a poem and

drawn a picture for you. It is called, “Us and our
VietHope brothers and sisters”.
New Moon Foundation and VietHope
Partnership

Hawaii-based New Moon Foundation recently

partnered with VietHope to support 100 students in
grades 10-12 who meet New Moon’s core values.
New Moon Foundation’s mission is to provide and
support charitable, educational & scientific programs
that promote the practice of the Foundation’s core
values of Gratitude, Respect, Accountability, Courage
and Engagement. To learn more about New Moon
Foundation, visit www.newmoonfoundation.org/.

VietHope | 423 Brookline Avenue # 199 Boston, MA 02215 | info@ VietHope.org | www.VietHope.org 5
 VIETHOPE NEWSLETTER
Issue XVIII September, 2010

VietHope
DONATIONS FROM CORPORATION
Executive
VietHope would like to acknowledge the
Committee generous donations from its corporate
supporters. for a prosperous Vietnam tomorrow
Lynn Huynh,
President
Donation Form
Quang Tran, (Online donations accepted via
Co-Vice President www.viethope.org)

Alan Tu, The objective of VietHope’s Scholarship &

Co-Vice President University programs is to provide financial
assistance to children in poor rural areas in
Phong Nguyen, Vietnam who cannot afford the costs of
Executive Director (VN) continuing their education. The students are
selected on the basis of financial need,
performance in school, and their motivation to
excel. Your contribution will directly support the
education costs for these children.

Name:_______________________________

Address:_____________________________
____________________________________

Email:_______________________________

Please check one or several of the boxes:

Please join VietHope in welcoming new volunteers:
David Truong, Francoise Hoang, Diep Doan,
Jacques Vo, John Truong, Nhan Huynh, Thuy An
Nguyen, Nhu Thuy Tran, Phuong Thanh Nguyen,
Van May Tran, and Hoa Ly Bui. We are very
fortunate to have their expertise, commitment and
enthusiasm invest in VietHope.
To cut down on printing and postal expenses, please
send an email to tiffany@viethope.org to receive an
electronic copy of the VietHope Newsletter. Thank
you.
www.VietHope.org
info@ VietHope.org
q I wish to sponsor a child through
VietHope’s Merit Scholarship Program.
With my support of $120/year, I will
help children in Vietnam attain a higher
level of education
q I wish to make a contribution of $_____
towards the University Scholarship
Program
q I wish to support and become more
involved in VietHope’s work by
becoming a member for $25
q I wish to make a general donation to
VietHope in the amount of $______
*Please make checks payable to:
VietHope, Inc.
423 Brookline Avenue, #199
Boston, MA 02215
______________________________

VietHope | 423 Brookline Avenue # 199 Boston, MA 02215 | info@ VietHope.org | www.VietHope.org 6