Awardees at the 20th anniversary gala. From left: Sen. Bob Hasegawa; Teresita Batyola, Executive Director of International Community Health Services; Christine Takada, CEO, National Asian Pacific Center on Aging; Xuyen Nguyen, Helping Link Former Gala Chair, David Okimono and Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos.
For Helping Link, a nonprofit based out of Chinatown/International District, this is a time for reflection. The nonprofit is on the brink of their anniversary and getting ready to celebrate their achievements for the local Vietnamese community, as well as their clients and volunteers.
Founded in 1993 by a group of working professionals, Helping Link seeks to empower the local Vietnamese American community by offering services that provide social adjustment, family stability, and self-sufficiency services to Vietnamese immigrants and refugees.
In addition to assisting Vietnamese immigrants with assimilation, Helping Link aims to strengthen the local Vietnamese community by fostering leaders through their volunteer program. Helping Link credits the success of its services and programs solely to its volunteers, which comprise not only young students and recent graduates, but also professionals and seniors of all ages and races living in the greater Seattle area.
Their annual gala is a time for Helping Link to acknowledge the progress their clients have made in the past year, in addition to the hard work their volunteers have put in to sustain the organization’s operations and growth. Helping Link will hold its 21st Anniversary Gala on Sunday, Sept. 28 from 5p.m. to 8:30p.m. at the Mercer Island Community Center on Mercer Island. This year’s gala will celebrate the theme of “Growing As One,” and the nonprofit’s continued commitment to unity.
“This year’s gala marks an important milestone for us,” said Executive Director Minh-Duc Nguyen.
“Our focus is not only on looking back on our 21 years of service, but thinking about the present and future. Taking it one day at a time but continuing to grow as one — as a community through our clients, volunteers, and our work.” Her vision reinforces the gala’s tagline of unity: Twenty-one years. One year at a time. Growing as One.
Guests will enjoy a lively, cultural evening, starting with reception and dinner featuring Vietnamese cuisine. The gala will also showcase cultural performances from Lien Tam Music Academy and the Lan Song Xanh Vietnamese Dance Team, in addition to an award ceremony honoring local organizations..
Last year, Helping Link provided over 4,800 hours of tutorial service to children, 1,300 hours of ESL instruction, and 1,800 hours of computer classes to Vietnamese American families. These services are invaluable in helping thousands of Vietnamese American youths, elders, and families thrive and find their voice in modern American society.
“Many immigrant families are facing the challenge of keeping up with technology,” said Nguyen.
“We’re helping them bridge that gap with the expansion of our tech classes. We want to ensure our clients have the access they need in order to stay relevant in their jobs, families, or communities.”
Helping Link hopes to raise funds to sustain their current education and support programs, and expand their class offerings to the Vietnamese American community. Their 21st Anniversary Gala will help them achieve these goals. Tickets for Helping Link’s 21st Anniversary Gala are now available at $75 for general admission and $100 for VIP. (end)
For more information or to purchase tickets to Helping Link’s 21st Anniversary Gala, visit www.helpinglink.org/2014-gala.