O U R    V I S I O N :
The Vietnamese American National Gala(TM) (VANG(TM)) is a national annual celebration of Vietnamese heritage and pride, which is held in conjunction with the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, a month-long celebration in May of each year, which honors the achievements of Asian Pacific Americans and recognizes their contributions to America.

VANG(TM) is the premier Vietnamese American gathering in the nation. This Oscar(R)-like festivity exhibits the Vietnamese American Community's celebration of professional achievements and community contributions. The formal black-tie dinner gala brings together hundreds of elected officials, corporate sponsors, community and business leaders, and Vietnamese American luminaries - all who come together to share one common vision: To honor America's best and brightest.

It's hard to believe that VANG 2009 is now less than 30 Days Away!  As you all know, this will be the first time ever VANG will be held in Southern California, which is home to the largest population of Vietnamese Americans nationwide.  This year's theme is "Honoring Community & Excellence," and we are pleased to announce the 2009 Golden Torch Award Honorees which are as follows:

·         Honorary Vietnamese American-PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER
·         Business/Entrepreneur Award- SUGARBOWL BAKERY
·         Achievement in Politics- CONGRESSMAN ANH JOSEPH CAO
·         National Leadership- UVSA of SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
·         Diversity Pillar- WELLS FARGO
·         Student of the Year- MINH NGUYEN

We are further pleased to announce that Mrs. Leyna Nguyen, Emmy Award Winner Anchor/Reporter for KCAL/CBS will be Master of Ceremonies for the 5th Biennial Golden Torch Awards Dinner Gala which highlights the VANG event on May 23, 2009 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA.  Furthermore, we welcome California State Controller, John Chiang, who will be providing the keynote address at this year's Golden Torch Awards Dinner Gala.

Lastly, we thank all of our VANG 2009 Media Sponsors who will be covering the three day VANG event. Starting this month and leading up to VANG 2009, we will have special interviews and media coverage highlighting all of the events occurring at VANG 2009.  For the first time in the storied history of VANG, the 5th Biennial Golden Torch Awards Gala will be broadcasted on National Television an streamed live on the internet, making this year's event the most covered VANG celebration ever.

Registration for VANG 2009 is also now available online at www.vangusa.org.  In addition, wonderful sponsorship opportunities are still available for individuals, businesses, and organizations who want to participate and lend their support in honoring excellence and pride in our Vietnamese American community.

In Honoring Excellence & Community.

John D. Tran, Executive Director VANG 2009

VANG 2009

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNTIIES STILL AVAILABLE

Show your support by being a VANG 2009 Sponsor. Goto http://vangusa.org/sponsorship-info for more information.

This VANG Newsletter is proudly sponsored by

Title Sponsor

Become a VANG Newsletter Sponsor
Please contact: Kim P. Ngo at pkim.ngo@vangusa.org

VANG 2009 CORE TEAM
John Tran
Executive Director

Rosalind Ong
Deputy Executive Director

Ryan Hubris
President/Sponsorship Chair

Monique Phan
Finance Director

Alexander Hubris
Volunteer Coordinator

Tim Nguyen
Deputy Director

Joseph Vu
Webmaster.

Angy Che
Lead Graphic Designer.

INTERVIEW WITH LEYNA NGUYEN

VANG is very proud to have as its emcee this year, Leyna Nguyen.  Leyna Nguyen is an Emmy award-winning journalist and actress.  She is currently an anchor and reporter for KCAL and KCBS. In an exclusive interview with VANG, Leyna shares the story of her success and her work with Love Across the Ocean, the charitable organization which keeps her anchored.

VANG: How did you get your start as an on-air reporter?
LN: I graduated from Webster University in 1992 and was fortunate to get hired at WRDW-TV, a CBS affiliate in Augusta, Georgia.  I was hired as a reporter--and two weeks after starting work, I was made weekend anchor.  From there an agent picked me up (almost by mistake. He saw me on someone else's resume tape and contacted me.  I didn't even know what agents did!)

VANG: What advice you would give to someone who aims for a career such as yours?
LN: The business is changing before our eyes.  I think the glory days of broadcast news are over, unfortunately.  Get into TV news because you love news, not because you want to be on TV or you want to make a lot of money.  Most people who go into broadcast news don't make a lot of money.  There are over 200 television markets in the country.  The majority of people in this business won't work in a top-ten market.  Think of how often you see your local newscasters change.  Not much.  Yet every year, thousands of graduates are hoping to get into the business.

VANG: You received many accolades--an Emmy, Emmy nominations, the Miss Asia crown and the YWCA Woman of the Year award (to name a few), what do these accomplishments mean to you?
LN: I currently have three Emmys; I think seven nominations, and several other first place news awards.  Although it's nice to be recognized for the work you do, I go by the school of, "You're only as good as your last story."  Meaning, it doesn't matter how many awards you have on your mantle--you should be looking forward to what you're going to do with the next assignment.

VANG: Have your goals changed since these achievements? How so?
LN:  My goals have changed since I've worked in TV News.  When I was in college, like many young people, I wanted to "go network."  But I think as I've lived life and grown older, my career goals take a back seat to my life's goals.  I've had a couple of opportunities to go to New York (the number one market) but I've always chosen to stay in Los Angeles.  I'm happy where I am now.  I love my work, I love my home, and I love my family.  There are people who would choose to put family on hold to go as far as they can in this business I guess I'm not cut out for that.  I would hate to look back on my life and regret that I didn't have children or regret that I didn't spend more time with family, or regret not having done the charitable things I wanted to do.  Work is important.  It allows me to do a lot.  But my family comes first.

VANG: What's your involvement with the Love Across the Ocean charity (LATO)?
LN: LATO was created after I went back to Vietnam and saw the horrible conditions that little kids were enduring at school.   Over the years, we've built and renovated several schools, but we also provide food, clothing and medical supplies.  I've been fortunate to be able to combine my career and my charity.  Through contacts I've made as a reporter, I am now running an annual celebrity poker tournament to benefit LATO and local charities.  I'm tickled by the fact that I've got television and film stars participating in a fundraiser that benefits school children in Vietnam.  Right now, LATO is in the process of creating a program that feeds family members of hospital patients. We're talking about very poor people who currently are fed a bowl of congee if they're fortunate enough to receive a meal ticket.  We'd like to serve them a nutritious meal as they deal with the pain and difficulty of caring for their loved one.  We're also looking into the feasibility of mobile medical clinics.

VANG: Thank you for this candid and insightful interview. VANG is very honored and excited you'll be hosting our event this year!

REGISTER NOW FOR VANG 2009!

The 2009 National Gala will be held at the Prestigious Beverly Hills Hilton in Beverly Hills, California on Memorial Day Weekend. Seats are limited and Registrations are open now!  Please visit www.vangusa.org for more information.