VietHope is a non-profit
organization dedicated to Word from Board
Vietnam’s socioeconomic by Nam Tran Nguyen
development. We at VietHope
In February 2009, VietHope ventured to Santa Cruz, California for its 8th annual retreat. In addition to
believe that the wealth of the team in the U.S., the VietHope team in Vietnam participated in the retreat via conference call. The
Vietnam lies in its human conference call enabled both teams to “meet” one another, celebrate our accomplishments, and share
capital and its prosperity ideas and goals for 2009 and the next three years. The VietHope team is extremely proud of having
depends on whether we helped more than 2,000 students in Vietnam through investments of more than $200,000 over the
harness this human capital. As past several years!
such, we believe that good
education is indispensable to In 2008, we continue to improve and expand our programs and lay the foundation for further
development:
Vietnam’s growth and its
future. ● Continued project expansions
VietHope is a 501(c)3 non- ◦ University Scholarship Program (USP) = 305 awards
profit. We are a volunteer- ◦ Merit Scholarship Program (Merit) = 256 awards
based organization with 20 ◦ Community Scholarship Program (CSP) = 548 students
active team members.
● Initiated the Youth Development Program (YDP), a program to help students and
youth in Vietnam develop critical skills and become active in community service
Contributing
● Raised $50,000+ in 2008, with donor commitments for 2009 of $70,000+, including
Writers:
a grant from uNAVSA (Union of North American Vietnamese Student Associations)
Patrick Curley
Cao Thi Huong
Anh Le In 2009, VietHope intends to continue to build from the improvements achieved in 2008. In particularly,
the team is excited to implement our first annual Youth Development Summit this summer as
Eoin Matthews
part of our kick-off to the Youth Development Program. The Summit will involve VietHope's University
Nam Tran Nguyen Scholars and 10 VSA leaders from the uNAVSA network. The Summit's participants will receive
Van Nguyen training in teambuilding,project management and an opportunity to work on a community service
Uyen-Khanh Quang-Dang project.
Quang Tran
Editor: Phong Nguyen, VietHope’s Executive Director in Vietnam, continues to lead our extraordinary team of
Jennifer Lou volunteers in Vietnam to expand and improve all aspects of program reach and implementation. In the
Thu Yen Mac U.S., we are excited to announce that Van Nguyen has joined the Board of Directors.
As VietHope reaches a greater number of deserving students, VietHope will need the continued support
of its current supporters, as well as reaching out to new donors. If you have any ideas to help spread the
In This Issue VietHope word and reach, please contact me directly at nam-tran@viethope.org. Again, thank you to
everyone for your support, time and effort. The VietHope team is excited for 2009!
Word From Board
1
VietHope Annual Retreat
2
Letters of Hope
3
Monitoring and Evaluation/
Third Annual Benefit Dinner
4
Vietnam VH Team US VH Team
Note from Patrick Curley
5
The 7th VietHope Annual Retreat took place on the weekend of February 13-16, 2009 in Santa Cruz,
VietHope welcomes anyone
California. This event brings the VietHope team members together to review the past year’s progress,
who believes in our mission. plan for the year ahead, and consume enormous amounts of home-cooked Vietnamese food. We were
There are a number of ways in fortunate that 18 colleagues from Boston, Baltimore, New Haven, New York, Michigan, North
which you can support Carolina, Orange County, Los Angeles, and San Francisco were able to attend.
VietHope:
At the retreat, each committee presented an analysis of their work in the prior year and successes
measured by key performance indicators the team had set. Discussions, like in previous years,
• Sponsor a student were engaging and inspiring; VietHope’s affinity for uncovering problems and proposing creative
through one of solutions proved stronger than ever as meetings ran as long as seven hours. Early Sunday morning, the
VietHope’s 3 VietHope’s Vietnam Team connected with the US Team via Skype for a four-hour conference call,
Scholarship where many exciting ideas were thrown around for the coming year.
Programs
The VietHope Annual Retreat gives us a rare chance to celebrate our friendships (new and old) as well
• Donate to as our 7-year VietHope collaboration. This year’s big news award was reserved for VietHope’s
VietHope’s President, Nam Tran Nguyen, who will give birth to her first child later this year. Congratulations Nam!
infrastructure
investment In its concluding moments, the team committed to rigorous fundraising efforts in 2009 in the face of a
program more challenging economy. Perhaps more urgently than ever, we need your support. VietHope will
continue to make sure that every dollar you donate is used efficiently and effectively to provide
• Spread awareness deserving students in Vietnam the education that they need. Thank you for being a part of VietHope.
about VietHope
and VietHope’s
mission
• Donate time and
energy by
becoming a
VietHope volunteer
Vi Nguyen
Youth Development Some 150 friends of the VietHope VietHope
Coordinator/uNAVSA
representative
community attended the dinner, which was
held at the McLeod Suite of Northeastern
Donation Form
University. We hope that the guests of the Online Donations Accepted
Dang Tran benefit dinner left with a smile on their faces via www.viethope.org
Webmaster and in their hearts knowing that they helped
make a difference in the lives of the students The objective of VietHope’s Scholarship &
Duc Le in Vietnam. Again, thank you to all Friends University programs is to provide financial
Webmaster of VietHope for your attendance in making assistance to children in poor rural areas in
the 3rd annual benefit dinner a big success. Vietnam who cannot afford the costs of
We hope that you will continue to support us continuing their education. The students are
Y Nhu Nguyen
selected on the basis of financial need,
Vietnam PR Leader with your attendance at the 4th annual benefit
performance in school, and their motivation to
dinner sometime in the fall of 2009. Thank
Tu Anh Nguyen excel. Your contribution will directly support the
you! education costs for these children.
Hanoi Team Leader