Recently, members of the Orange County Community Foundation’s Family Foundation Alliance, a network of local foundations dedicated to learning, sharing and growing their philanthropic impact together, took part in a site visit to Little Saigon to learn about the Vietnamese community in Orange County, the largest outside the country of Vietnam.
The day began with a visit to Bao Quang Temple, where the head abbot graciously welcomed us with tea, macadamia nuts, and a chance to view a unique collection of cultural artifacts while sharing the historical significance of the temple.
The group then gathered at Brodard Chateau for a delicious family-style Vietnamese lunch and to hear from nonprofit and community leaders about the history of Little Saigon, the challenges faced by Vietnamese refugees after the fall of Saigon, and the extraordinary resilience that continues to shape this community today.
We heard from Ysa Le, a local pharmacist and executive director of the Vietnamese American Arts & Letters Association (VAALA), founded by her father to connect and enrich communities through Vietnamese arts and culture. Ysa shared how art reflects generational experiences and the mental health challenges of Vietnamese Americans, from refugees to the first and second generation born in the United States.
We also gained perspective from Virginia Nguyen, a high school history teacher and co-founder of Educate to Empower, a nonprofit she co-founded with fellow educator Stacy Yung that supports educators, students, and the community through curriculum, storytelling, and wellness, uplifting underrepresented histories like the Vietnamese American experience. Virginia brought the community’s story vividly to life.
Dr. Sinh Tran, a mental health professional, spoke about the challenges faced by multiple generations in the Vietnamese community, underscoring the importance of culturally responsive mental health support.
It was truly a day of discovery and connection—reminding us that philanthropy begins with listening and learning so we can better support the unique needs of the communities we serve.
About the Nonprofit Organizations
Vietnamese American Arts & Letters Association (VAALA): Founded in 1991, VAALA connects and enriches communities through Vietnamese arts and culture, with programs that nurture creativity and foster dialogue. Learn more or make a gift, please reach out for Ysa Le, ysale@vaala.org, visit at www.vaala.org or mail to VAALA, P.O. Box 20218, Fountain Valley, CA 92728 Tax ID #33-0502399.
Educate to Empower (E2E): is a grassroots nonprofit founded by a high school teacher, a university teacher-education leader, and later joined by a social worker. Guided by what their students tell us they need, E2E creates programs that sustain educators, connects students and families to local history, and brings underrepresented voices into K–12 classrooms. Each year E2E supports 500+ educators and reaches 50,000+ students because when educators thrive, students thrive. To explore ways to support Educate to Empower, contact Virginia Nguyen at virginia@edutoempower.org or visit https://edutoempower.org.
