TWENTY-ONE YEARS. ONE YEAR AT A TIME. GROWING AS ONE.

SEPTEMBER 28, 2014

P R E S E N T S

MỘT DẤU NỐIHELPING LINK

TO W E R I N G P I N EM I G H T Y O A K

Helping Link - Một Dấu Nối’s 21st Anniversary Gala Sponsors!Thank You – Cám Ơn

VIP RECEPTIONEntertainment by Liên Tâm Music Academy

CHECK-IN, RECEPTION & SILENT AUCTION

WELCOME/DINNEREmcee: Mr. Joel Ing

GUEST SPEAKERMaureen Emerson Feit, Ph.D., Seattle University, Director of the Nonprofit Leadership Program, Institute of Public Service

Silent Auction Closing

RAISE THE PADDLE

HONOREES CEREMONY Lucky Seven Foundation, Macrina Bakery & Café, and Seattle Children’s

DESSERT DASH

SPECIAL CULTURAL PERFORMANCEEntertainment by Lan Song Xanh Vietnamese Dance Team

CLOSING

5:00 PM

5:30 PM

6:30 PM

6:45 PM

7:00 PM

7:15 PM

7:30 PM

7:45 PM

8:00 PM

2 0 1 4 G A L A E V E N T S C H E D U L E

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.

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,

Minh-Duc Pham Nguyen

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.

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.

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.

A WARM WELCOME FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Growing as one.”One year at a time.

“Twenty-one years.

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.

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 wishes to thank Seattle Children’s for your dedicated and courageous work in making our community a healthier and safer place.

Seattle Children’s water safety services help Vietnamese youth stay safe while enjoying time in the water

A life jacket fashion show hosted by Seattle Children’s

SEATTLE CHILDREN’S

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.

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. 

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. 

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.

LUCKY SEVEN FOUNDATION

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.

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.

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.

Mr. Phuong Bui while on the job as Macrina’s head baker

MACRINA BAKERY & CAFÉ

H O N O R E E S

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.

MS. THÚY NGUYỄN has taken Helping 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. 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.

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.

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. PHÚ THÁI has been taking classes 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.

CLIENTHIGHLIGHTS

K E L LY B O L E NKelly 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 self-sufficient 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.

H Ả O M A IHảo 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.

M A R Y K W A N S M I T HMary 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.

J O H N P H I L L I P SJohn 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.

P H O N G Đ Ặ N GPhong 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.

H I G H L I G H T S

…Special thanks to the many other volunteers who helped make this event possible.

DESSERT DASH DONATIONS:Bakery Nouveau, Dahlia Bakery, Edible Arrangements, Fran’s Chocolates, Grand Central Bakery, Macrina Bakery & Café, Mini Sweets, Sweet & Fresh, and Tasty Kates

SILENT AUCTION DONATIONS: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

IN-KIND DONATIONS:Lotus Fine Vietnamese & Vegetarian Cuisine, Pagliacci, QFC, Redhook Ale & Brewery, Starbucks, Wales Foundation, and Dr. Linh Vũ

EVENT VOLUNTEERS:Seattle Pacific University - Vietnamese Student Association; Seattle University - Vietnamese Student Association; University of Washington - Vietnamese Student Association

Vivian NguyễnJennie Vũ

GALA VOLUNTEERSKelly BolenDiana CowlesJason ChinnSharon GrigginSkip KubeckReid JiangJerry LloydHảo MaiĐại NguyễnShally Hường NguyễnDaphne PiggeeMaria RamirezMỹ Linh TháiHelen TrầnEric WangAddison WongPaula Younkin

GRAPHIC DESIGNERSBruce FlemingLý NguyễnMinh Phúc NguyễnMaria PaderTom Weiss-Lehman PHOTOGRAPHERS/VIDEOGRAPHERKris Brooks,

Kris Brooks PhotographyPhong Đặng BARTENDERSDu LêChristina ShadleBryana Cross

GALA COMMITTEEPhong ĐặngJulie ĐỗTiến ĐoànAmy LêDiana NguyễnLynh Nguyễn FlynnMinh-Đức Phạm Nguyễn

GUEST SPEAKERMaureen Emerson Feit, Ph.D.

ENTERTAINMENTLàn Sóng Xanh

Vietnamese Dance TeamLiên Tâm Music Academy

TABLE CAPTAINSKelly Bolen & Chuck ZieglerJim Bowman & Phung WileyMike ChungPhong ĐặngJulie ĐỗTiến ĐoànMacrina Bakery & CafeAí Khuê NguyễnDiana NguyễnLynh Nguyễn FlynnMinh-Đức Phạm NguyễnSandy NguyễnShally Hường NguyễnXuyên NguyễnJohn PhillipsAngela PollardBob ThongGary Tang

BOARD OF DIRECTORSTiến ĐoànSandy NguyễnJohn PhillipsAngela PollardBob Thong

ADVISORY BOARDDiane CowlesElaine I. KoEric PettigrewJoyce Mork O’BrienKent KothKikora DorseyLeslie MorishitaSara ElwardWalter Impert EMCEE & RAISE THE PADDLEJoel Ing

DJTài Nguyễn,

The Rising Dragon Entertainment

Thank you to everyone who helped made this event possible with your time and talents!

C Á M Ơ N - T H A N K Y O U

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

Some people talk about doing great

things. Others just do them.

Congratulations Helping Link

Sign up for classes now at bellevuecollege.edu.

Kiến Thức Là Chìa Khóa Của Tương Lai!Education is the Key to Success!

Digital Image | Anh Kỹ Thuât SốiPad 1- Basic iPad | iPad Căn Bản (iPad 1)Internet & Email | Lơp Mạng Internet và điên Thư EmailYouth Tutoring | Chương Trinh Thanh Thiếu NiênBasic Computer | Máy Tính Căn BảnESL | Anh NgưiPad 2

2014 Programs Chương Trình Sinh Hoạt 2014

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

(206) 568-5160www.helpinglink.org

1032 S. Jackson St. Suite #C | Seattle, WA 98104HELPING LINK | MỘT DẤU NỐI