In celebrating NAVASA’s 10th Year Anniversary of supporting Vietnamese American nonprofit organizations across the United States, this year’s conference will focus on “Empowering the Community Through Giving”, in which NAVASA encourages an “everybody-gives philosophy”. Whether from a corporation, foundation, federal agency, community, small business, or nonprofit, there are ways we can contribute to make the community, the nation, and the world a better place. NAVASA’s 2005 National Conference will be held at the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner on July 15 and 16, 2005.

The two-day conference will feature training workshops targeting current and future nonprofit sector employees. In addition to scheduled workshops, there will also be an open forum, focusing on “Youth, Elders, and the Generational Gap”, in which conference participants will have the opportunity to share with each other their concerns, their professional and personal experiences, and possible solutions to problems they see within the Asian American community. Moreover, experienced professionals will present promising practices and programs addressing the topic at hand.

The conference will conclude with a recognition banquet where three “past givers” will be recognized and ten “future social change philanthropists” will be acknowledged.

Celebrating our 10th Year Anniversary

Founded in 1995, NAVASA has greatly grown in its service, size, commitment, and vision. Comprised of 35 nonprofit organizations across the country, NAVASA has established and positioned itself as a visible national organization empowering Vietnamese and other ethnic community-based and faith-based organizations.

“Give a person one fish and he/she will be full for that day. Teach a person how to fish and he/she will be full for life.” A strong advocate for self-sufficiency, NAVASA in the past 10 years not only provided financial support, but more importantly, NAVASA has provided technical assistance, trainings, resources and networking opportunities to member organizations, as well as guidance, encouragement and support to assist its member organizations achieve long-term sustainability.

While NAVASA is proud of its achievement in the past 10 years, NAVASA does not forget that there is still more miles to walk before reaching its ultimate mission of empowering the Vietnamese American community. NAVASA will continue to strive forward and keep on giving its best for years to come.

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Honorees Named for NAVASA's Annual Recognition Banquet

For Immediate Release Contact: Karen Willard
Wednesday, June 1, 2005 301-587-2781/Karen.Willard@navasa.org

Washington D.C . - NAVASA proudly announces honorees at its annual Recognition Banquet on July 16, 2005, along with NAVASA's National Conference in the Washington , DC Metropolitan area. The conference and banquet serve to mark NAVASA's tenth anniversary of service to Vietnamese American communities. The Recognition Banquet, with its focus on honoring individuals and organizations who give back to the community, complements the theme of this year's National Conference, "Empowering the Community through Giving." To be recognized are ten recipients of NAVASA's National Young Community Leaders Recognition Award and four honorees - Ms. Khuc Minh Tho, Mr. Shep Lowman, Dr. Nguyen Dinh Thang, , and Mr. Lionel Rosenblatt.

Ms. Khuc Minh Tho , President of the Families of Vietnamese Political Prisoners Association, has tirelessly advocated in obtaining the release of prisoners in Vietnamese reeducation centers, with the goal of resettling the prisoners in the third country of their choice. She was the driving force behind the humanitarian orderly (a.k.a. H.O.) departure of hundreds of thousands of former political prisoners and their families.

Dr. Nguyen Dinh Thang currently serves as the Executive Director of Boat People S.O.S. Since 1998, he has built Boat People S.O.S. from a small organization with one half-time staff into a nationally recognized organization with 14 branch offices and an annual budget of $4 million.

Additionally, Mr. Lionel Rosenblatt and Mr. Shep Lowman will be recognized for their invaluable contributions to refugees. Both dedicated themselves to ensuring the resettlement of thousands of refugees to the United States and, in particular, resettled 18,000 Vietnamese refugees through the Resettlement of Vietnamese Returnees program and developed numerous programs that provided refugees with post-resettlement services.

"This year marks a historic celebration of 30 years of remarkable journeys and resettlements of Vietnamese Americans," stated Huy Bui, NAVASA Executive Director, "these four individuals have truly exemplified giving through rescuing and serving the Vietnamese refugees and have made an enormous impact and difference to thousands of Vietnamese Americans."

In addition to honoring individual contributions, this year NAVASA has added two distinguished awards to local organizations that demonstrate dedication and excellence in improving the lives of their community members.

Chosen to be the Master and Mistress of Ceremony is Mr. Nguyen Nam Loc, Director of Immigration and Refugee Department at Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of Los Angeles, and Ms. Sherri Ly, a reporter with WTTG/FOX 5 News in the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area.

The Recognition Banquet will begin at 6 p.m. on Saturday, July 16, 2005, at the Hilton McLean Tyson's Corner. Banquet entertainment will be provided by the musical sensation of Pham Duc Thanh , Montreal-based multi-instrumentalist known as one of the world's leading exponents of traditional Vietnamese music, and a benefit auction which will help NAVASA continue its mission of empowering Vietnamese American communities across the United States .

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NAVASA Selects Ten Youth for 2005 Community
Leadership Recognition

For Immediate Release Contact: Karen Willard
Wednesday, June 22, 2005 301-587-2781/Karen.Willard@navasa.org

Washington D.C. - The National Alliance of Vietnamese American Service Agencies (NAVASA) announces the recipients of its prestigious 2005 National Young Community Leaders Recognition (NYCLR) award. Now in its third year, the NYCLR award recognizes emerging community leaders who dedicate themselves to community service. The NYCLR award promotes community volunteerism among young Vietnamese Americans and empowers the next generation of leaders through training, encouragement, and opportunities to network.

The NYCLR is an annual and well-sought award of recognition which NAVASA dedicates to young Vietnamese American leaders who have strongly demonstrated true commitment and passion for building Vietnamese American communities across the United States . The recipients of the 2005 NYCLR will be invited to attend NAVASA's National Conference, to be held July 15 and 16, for training and will be formally acknowledged at the Recognition Banquet that follows the conference.

The ten young leaders to be honored with the 2005 NYCLR are as follows:

NAVASA's Chairwoman, Ms. Vee Phan Nelson, acknowledges the importance of the NYCLR. "We have begun raising funds to ensure that young Vietnamese Americans have opportunities for leadership in our society, and to secure the well-being of NAVASA itself. I am glad that we invest in our young leaders, through such programs as the NYCLR, so that they may carry our work into the next generation. Together, with your support, we can make it happen."

The ten young recipients of the NYCLR join with honorees previously selected to be recognized at the 2005 banquet, including Dr. Nguyen Dinh Thang, community service honoree; Ms. Khuc Minh Tho, humanitarian honoree; and Mr. Shep Lowman and Mr. Lionel Rosenblatt, lifetime service honorees. In addition, NAVASA will for the first time recognize organizations that have been models of community service, including the Vietnamese Social Services of Minnesota, Most Valuable Member, and the International Children Assistance Network, Award of Excellence.

The Recognition Banquet will take place on Saturday, July 16, at the Hilton McLean Tyson's Corner, Virginia . The Conference will be held at the same location on Friday, July 15, and until noon on Saturday, July 16.