Press Release :

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:

• Ms. Huong Huynh ( Virginia )
• Ms. Yen Le ( Maryland )
• Ms. Kim Nguyen ( Texas )
• Ms. Mila Nguyen ( Pennsylvania )
• Ms. Thu-Thao Nguyen ( Massachusetts )
• Ms. Tram-Anh Nguyen ( Washington State )
• Mr. Thanh Pham ( California )
• Ms. Quang Tran ( Massachusetts )
• Mr. Peter VanDo ( Massachusetts )
• Mr. Khoi Vo ( Florida )

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.

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 .