twenty-one years. one year at a time. growing as one.

SEPTEMBER 28, 2014
HELPING LINK
MỘT DẤU NỐI
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TWENTY-ONE YEARS. ONE YEAR AT A TIME. GROWING AS ONE.
2014 GALA EVENT SCHEDULE
“Twenty-one years.
5:00 PM
VIP RECEPTION
Entertainment by Liên Tâm Music Academy
5:30 PM
CHECK-IN, RECEPTION & SILENT AUCTION
6:30 PM
WELCOME/DINNER
Emcee: Mr. Joel Ing
6:45 PM
GUEST SPEAKER
Maureen Emerson Feit, Ph.D., Seattle University, Director of the
Nonprofit Leadership Program, Institute of Public Service
One year at a time.
Growing as one.”
A WARM WELCOME FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Helping Link - Một Dấu Nối celebrated its
21st anniversary in 2014! Reaching this
milestone speaks to the commitment and
passion of our many volunteers who are
the heart and soul of Helping Link - Một
Dấu Nối. This past year, Helping Link Một Dấu Nối made it possible for 1,146
individuals to gain skills, confidence, and
connections, to continue their education
or find a new job, and to actively engage
in the larger society while maintaining a
sense of cultural continuity and pride. Our
programs help young people and adults
succeed in this country despite barriers
including poverty, language, and literacy.
At Helping Link - Một Dấu Nối, our
clients find compassionate volunteers,
individualized instruction, and community
they know that we care.
To illuminate this year’s gala theme
“Growing as One,” I want to share a story:
Mr. Thái has been a client in our Computer
Technology class since January. He makes
daily trips to our office to practice his
budding computer skills. Reid has been
instrumental in helping Mr. Thái become
more comfortable with technology. An
instructor for our Computer Technology
class, Reid teaches students how
to navigate essential programs and
functions, such as browsing the Internet or
sending an email.
Over several months, Mr. Thái learned
how to use a computer, something many
of us take for granted, but for him, it has
transformed his everyday life. Now he
knows how to use a word processer to
create a resume and share online photos
and videos with his friends and family...
Learning these fundamentals has given
Mr. Thái newfound confidence, equipping
him with the skills to become employable.
But Mr. Thái isn’t the only who has grown
this year at Helping Link - Một Dấu Nối.
Reid, too, has also transformed.
Initially, Reid was uncomfortable
instructing our clients because he does
not speak Vietnamese. He feared he was
unqualified to teach students who spoke
limited English. Working with Mr. Thái, Reid
gained patience and cultural sensitivity
and is now more comfortable working with
Vietnamese students.
At Helping Link - Một Dấu Nối, we see
the strength and growth that comes from
supporting one another.
Your contribution will allow us to continue
empowering our clients to overcome
cultural barriers and create new, fulfilling
lives. Donations fuel dreams for our
clients, such as obtaining family stability,
employment, community involvement, and
self-sufficiency.
These are the dreams that bring
Vietnamese refugees and immigrants to
America. These are the dreams that you
can help make happen.
7:00 PM
RAISE THE PADDLE
7:15 PM
HONOREES CEREMONY
Lucky Seven Foundation, Macrina Bakery & Café, and Seattle Children’s
7:30 PM
DESSERT DASH
7:45 PM
SPECIAL CULTURAL PERFORMANCE
Entertainment by Làn Sóng Xanh Vietnamese Dance Team
8:00 PM
CLOSING
Thank You – Cám Ơn
Helping Link - Một Dấu Nối’s 21st Anniversary Gala Sponsors!
The continuing challenge for Helping Link
- Một Dấu Nối is securing funds to sustain
the coordination and administration of
our core educational programs. Your
support tonight will help us to meet the
demand for our educational programs
and to empower individuals to fulfill their
potential.
Thank you for attending our annual
Gala and for generously supporting and
encouraging us by your participation.
Sincerely,
We thank you for joining us tonight in
this celebration and invite you to help us
continue to offer services to Mr. Thái and
so many others.
Silent Auction Closing
Minh-Duc Pham Nguyen
MIGHTY OAK
TOWERING PINE
HONOREES
M AC R I NA B A K ERY & CA F É
LUC KY S EV EN F OUNDATI ON
SEATTLE C H ILDREN ’S
Helping Link – Một Dấu Nối would like
to honor Macrina Bakery & Café with our
Humanitarian Award to acknowledge their
ongoing investment in the professional
growth of their employees, in addition
to their support and partnerships with local
ethnic communities.
Helping Link – Một Dấu Nối wishes to honor
the Lucky Seven Foundation with our
Humanitarian Award to recognize their
dedication to support worthwhile
philanthropic projects in the Puget Sound
Basin.
Helping Link – Một Dấu Nối wishes to honor
Seattle Children’s with our Humanitarian
Award to salute their leading research
and dedication in providing top-quality
pediatric care that meets the specific
physical, emotional and developmental
needs of children from infancy to early
adulthood. Seattle Children’s team is
comprised of specialized physicians and
nurses that work tirelessly to serve young
patients and their families.
Macrina has been baking and breaking
bread in Seattle since 1993. Building
communities through baking has been
an essential part of the company’s core
values from the very beginning.
Created in 1996 by Manson and Frances
Backus, along with their son John, the Lucky
Seven Foundation is a nonprofit that funds
small and large organizations throughout
the Puget Sound Basin in the education,
social services, arts, and environment
sectors. The Backus Family has always
cared deeply about their community and
the plight of others, and they wanted their
family to give back to those less fortunate
for generations to come. Seattle Children’s water safety services help
Vietnamese youth stay safe while enjoying
time in the water
Mr. Phuong Bui while on the job as Macrina’s
head baker
Macrina wholeheartedly embraces cultural
diversity. Not only is this evident in the
food that is created — it’s exemplified
by the employees. A large portion of
Macrina’s wholesale bread and pastry
teams began working for the bakery shortly
after moving to America from Vietnam.
Wanting to support their employees as
they transitioned into their new lives,
Macrina teamed up with Helping Link Một Dấu Nối in 2009. Helping Link - Một
Dấu Nối continues to provide ESL classes
at the bakery after work. This has been
an important part in the success of many
employees who have grown to take on
leadership roles with the company.
We want to honor and thank Macrina
for their continued support of the local
Vietnamese American community. Their
commitment has empowered many with
the skills to communicate and thrive in
society, helping them to fully assimilate
in America.
Their relationship with Helping Link – Một
Dấu Nối began in 2009. The Backus family
went on a site visit and met with Minh-Duc
Nguyen. They were so impressed with Ms.
Nguyen’s leadership and resourcefulness
in building a viable nonprofit, in addition
to her deep compassion for the local
Vietnamese American community. The
Lucky Seven Foundation started funding
Helping Link – Một Dấu Nối that year and
the relationship has continued through
today. Seattle Children’s values partnering with
community organizations like Helping Link
– Một Dấu Nối Link. These partnerships are
integral to the work Children’s conducts in
the community, such as promoting water
safety to Vietnamese families. Children’s is
proud of the materials and programs that
were developed to specifically educate and
meet the cultural needs of the Vietnamese
community. Children’s continues to offer
water safety education, as well as car seat
education, to Vietnamese families in the
greater Seattle area.
Helping Link – Một Dấu Nối, along with the
Vietnamese American clientele that we
serve, would like to honor and thank the
Lucky Seven Foundation for their support in
our programs and services. You help create
a better quality of life for our clients.
A life jacket fashion show hosted by Seattle
Children’s
Helping Link – Một Dấu Nối wishes to thank
Seattle Children’s for your dedicated and
courageous work in making our community
a healthier and safer place.
H I G H L I G H T S
CLIENTHIGHLIGHT S
PHONG ĐẶNG
Phong Đặng has been volunteering with Helping Link - Một Dấu Nối since spring 2014. He
teaches the iPad 1 class because he enjoys introducing technology to elderly Vietnamese
clients to help them connect with Vietnamese youth. Phong also sits on the Gala committee
as a videographer and photographer. His favorite Seahawks player is Russell Wilson.
MR. PHÚ THÁI has been taking classes
JOHN PHILLIPS
John Phillips first became involved with Helping Link - Một Dấu Nối in December 2012. He initially
volunteered for a Helping Link - Một Dấu Nối project while a student at Seattle University, but stayed
on after his project ended. For the past year, John taught digital photography classes at Helping Link
- Một Dấu Nối because he likes teaching and helping clients take advantage of technology. John
also serves as chaperone for youth field trips. John recently was appointed as a member on the
Board of Directors at Helping Link - Một Dấu Nối. His favorite Seahawks player is Richard Sherman.
MARY KWAN SMITH
Mary Kwan Smith is a Helping Link - Một Dấu Nối veteran. She has been a volunteer
accountant with the organization since the summer of 2012. When she moved from Hong Kong
to the U.S. at age 10, she experienced culture shock first hand. This inspired her to become
involved with Helping Link - Một Dấu Nối, as she admires the nonprofit’s mission to assimilate
Vietnamese-Americans into society. She hopes to create a more sustainable financial
framework for Helping Link - Một Dấu Nối. Her favorite Seahawks player is Richard Sherman.
with Helping Link - Một Dấu Nối for two
months. He first immigrated to the U.S. in
2004, but returned to Vietnam after disliking
American life. However, a friend convinced
him to return, and he’s resided in the Seattle
area since. Mr. Thái takes the iPad 1 class at
Helping Link - Một Dấu Nối. He enjoys the
class not just to learn new technology skills
but to connect with his peers. “I enjoy the
sense of community and the chance to be
around other Vietnamese people in class,”
said Mr. Thái. His favorite Vietnamese dish
is phỏ.
HẢO MAI
Hảo Mai has been a Helping Link - Một Dấu Nối volunteer for one year. She teaches the iPad 1
and 2 classes, and also coordinates the technology programs for Helping Link - Một Dấu Nối.
She enjoys watching her student’s progress and, in some cases, having her students teach her
how to master functions she didn’t know even existed on the iPad! Hảo’s favorite Vietnamese
dish is bún bò hué.
K E L LY B O L E N
Kelly Bolen is an ESL instructor at Helping Link - Một Dấu Nối. She has been with organization
since August 2013. Having lived three years in Japan, Kelly understands the desire to be selfsufficient in a foreign country. This is what inspired her to get involved with Helping Link - Một
Dấu Nối — to enable people to become independent and grow in their new, foreign home. She
finds her older ESL students “very inspiring,” and loves that the Conversational ESL and Computer
Literacy classes help improve the quality of life for the elderly Vietnamese population. Her favorite
Vietnamese dish is canh chua.
MR. HÒA VÕ and MRS. PHÁT NGUYỄN
are newcomers to Helping Link - Một Dấu
Nối. The couple first arrived to the U.S. in
1992. Mr. Võ is retired while Mrs. Nguyễn
sews garments. Together, they come to
Helping Link - Một Dấu Nối once Mrs.
Nguyễn finishes work, where they both take
the iPad 1 class to increase their comfort
with using technology. They do not play
favorites and enjoy all Vietnamese dishes
equally.
MR. LỆ TRẦN has been a client of Helping
Link - Một Dấu Nối since 2010. He first
arrived to the U.S. in 1995 and was unable
to secure work for eight months because
he could not speak English. He eventually
found work with Sea-Tac, and held a
string of jobs until his retirement in 2007.
He’s taken several technology courses at
Helping Link - Một Dấu Nối, including the
Computer Literacy and iPad classes. He
hopes to buy his own iPad once he masters
the course. Mr. Trần’s favorite Vietnamese
dish is fried pork chops.
MS. THÚY NGUYỄN has taken Helping
MS. LÀNH ĐINH has been with Helping
Link - Một Dấu Nối since March. Thanks
to the sponsorship of her son, she arrived
to the U.S. in 2010. Ms. Đinh attends mass
daily at a local English-speaking church.
By taking Helping Link - Một Dấu Nối’s
Conversational ESL class, she hopes to
increase her understanding of English
when she is at church, or out shopping. She
also credits Helping Link - Một Dấu Nối for
improving her reading comprehension. Ms.
Đinh enjoys all Vietnamese dishes.
Link - Một Dấu Nối classes since October
2013. She first heard about the nonprofit
from her father, a former Helping Link
- Một Dấu Nối student, and decided to
take Conversational ESL classes. Ms.
Nguyễn praises her instructor Kelly for her
noticeable language improvement: “Kelly
[her instructor] is very enthusiastic, sincere,
and cheerful!” Although she has yet to
attain fluency in English, she was happy to
report that she recently understood a police
officer’s detour directions during a recent
traffic jam — a feat that would’ve previously
been difficult for her.
MS. DẪY NGUYỄN is a relatively new
client at Helping Link - Một Dấu Nối. In
2008, she was sponsored by her husband to
come to the U.S., and heard about Helping
Link - Một Dấu Nối through friends. She
currently takes the Conversational ESL
class, even going as far as to rearrange
her schedule to attend the course. Ms.
Nguyễn has shown quick improvement in
her language skills and stated that she’s
“learned faster because Kelly [her instructor]
is such a great teacher!” Her favorite
Vietnamese dish is bánh cuốn.
CÁM ƠN - THANK YOU
Thank you to everyone who helped made this event possible with your time and talents!
BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
Tiến Đoàn
Sandy Nguyễn
John Phillips
Angela Pollard
Bob Thong
ADVISORY BOARD
Diane Cowles
Elaine I. Ko
Eric Pettigrew
Joyce Mork O’Brien
Kent Koth
Kikora Dorsey
Leslie Morishita
Sara Elward
Walter Impert
EMCEE & RAISE THE
PADDLE
Joel Ing
twenty-one years. one year at a time. growing as one.
DJ
Tài Nguyễn,
The Rising Dragon
Entertainment
GUEST SPEAKER
Maureen Emerson Feit, Ph.D.
ENTERTAINMENT
Làn Sóng Xanh
Vietnamese Dance Team
Liên Tâm Music Academy
TABLE CAPTAINS
Kelly Bolen & Chuck Ziegler
Jim Bowman & Phung Wiley
Mike Chung
Phong Đặng
Julie Đỗ
Tiến Đoàn
Macrina Bakery & Cafe
Aí Khuê Nguyễn
Diana Nguyễn
Lynh Nguyễn Flynn
Minh-Đức Phạm Nguyễn
Sandy Nguyễn
Shally Hường Nguyễn
Xuyên Nguyễn
John Phillips
Angela Pollard
Bob Thong
Gary Tang
GRAPHIC
DESIGNERS
Bruce Fleming
Lý Nguyễn
Minh Phúc Nguyễn
Maria Pader
Tom Weiss-Lehman
PHOTOGRAPHERS/
VIDEOGRAPHER
Kris Brooks,
Kris Brooks Photography
Phong Đặng
BARTENDERS
Du Lê
Christina Shadle
Bryana Cross
GALA COMMITTEE
Phong Đặng
Julie Đỗ
Tiến Đoàn
Amy Lê
Diana Nguyễn
Lynh Nguyễn Flynn
Minh-Đức Phạm Nguyễn
Vivian Nguyễn
Jennie Vũ
GALA VOLUNTEERS
Kelly Bolen
Diana Cowles
Jason Chinn
Sharon Griggin
Skip Kubeck
Reid Jiang
Jerry Lloyd
Hảo Mai
Đại Nguyễn
Shally Hường Nguyễn
Daphne Piggee
Maria Ramirez
Mỹ Linh Thái
Helen Trần
Eric Wang
Addison Wong
Paula Younkin
E VE N T VOLUN TE E RS : Seattle Pacific University - Vietnamese Student Association; Seattle University - Vietnamese
Student Association; University of Washington - Vietnamese Student Association
IN -K IN D DON ATION S : Lotus Fine Vietnamese & Vegetarian Cuisine, Pagliacci,
Starbucks, Wales Foundation, and Dr. Linh Vũ
QFC, Redhook Ale & Brewery,
S ILE N T AUCTION DON ATION S : AMC Theatre, Bill Speidel Enterprises, Century Link, Chinoise Sushi
Bar & Asian Grill, Dung Thị Nguyễn, Field Motor Sports, Jessica Nees Makeup Artistry, Ariana Phạm Lê, Maria Ramirez,
Lorenzo Sumera, Museum of Flight, Nijo Sushi Bar & Grill, Jacob Nguyễn, Minh-Đức Phạm Nguyễn, Sally Nguyễn, Pacific
Science Center, Pho Cyclo Café, Seattle Art Museum, Southcenter Macy’s Shiseido, Sponge School, Tamarind Tree Provincial
Vietnamese Restaurant, Vino Rai, and Watercress Vietnamese Restaurant
DE S S E RT DAS H DON ATION S : Bakery Nouveau, Dahlia Bakery, Edible Arrangements, Fran’s Chocolates,
Grand Central Bakery, Macrina Bakery & Café, Mini Sweets, Sweet & Fresh, and Tasty Kates
…Special thanks to the many other volunteers who helped make this event possible.
2014 Programs
Chương Trình Sinh Hoạt 2014
Digital Image | Ảnh Kỹ Thuật Số
iPad 1- Basic iPad | iPad Căn Bản (iPad 1)
Internet & Email | Lớp Mạng Internet và điện Thư Email
Youth Tutoring | Chương Trình Thanh Thiếu Niên
Basic Computer | Máy Tính Căn Bản
ESL | Anh Ngữ
Education is the Key to Success!
iPad 2
Kiến Thức Là Chìa Khóa Của Tương Lai!
Some people talk
about doing great
things. Others
just do them.
Congratulations
Helping Link
Sign up for classes now
at bellevuecollege.edu.
Seattle Children’s is
pleased to sponsor the
committed and inspiring
work of Helping Link to
support and empower
the Vietnamese-American
Community.
Seattle Children hân hạnh bảo trợ
những công tác của cơ quan Helping
Link - Một Dấu Nối trong nỗ lực
giúp đỡ và khích lệ Cộng Đồng
người Mỹ gốc Việt phát triển khả
năng tự lực tự cường.
www.seattlechildrens.org
HELPING LINK | MỘT DẤU NỐI
1032 S. Jackson St. Suite #C | Seattle, WA 98104
www.helpinglink.org
(206) 568-5160