Viet-Sun Foundation Inc.

Chuc Mung Nam Moi! Happy New Year!

2012-01-22T14:26:00.001-08:00

Chuc mung nam moi! The Lunar new year celebrations have begun for the year of the Dragon! We wish you all a year full of happiness, peace, and prosperity.

Viet-Sun announces its Scholarship Recipients! More on the way!

2012-01-12T19:34:00.000-08:00

With our new "rolling admissions" process, more students have the opportunity to apply for scholarship funds. The following are scholarship recipients for the 2011-2012 school year, with more to follow soon!

Hoang Kim Phuong -----------------------------Nguyen Thi Phuong Uyen

Grade 6--------------------------------------------- Grade 6

Nguyen Minh Hung------------------------ Hoang Thi Duyen

Grade 6-------------------------------------------Grade 5

Nguyen Duc Dung

Grade 8

New Website for a New Year!

2011-01-12T14:16:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year!
The Viet-Sun Foundation brings in the New Year with a brand new website with an all new look just for you! Visit often or miss out on a whole bunch of new surprises waiting for you this year!

Of course, we're all REALLY excited for the Vietnamese Lunar New Year!!! We can't wait for February!

Fall and Winter Updates!

2010-12-04T11:28:00.001-08:00

We have gone through quite some changes within the past two seasons.

It's been a busy time with assessing applications and raising funds for academic scholarships for poor Vietnamese village students. Adding to that our own college educations makes it an even busier time for us. We have gone through many personal wonderful changes including a graduation, launching a business, and adding to our work experience.

Timothy at his Medical School

Our Chairman, Timothy Bui, has graduated from the University of Connecticut as an Honors Scholar and has now moved to Manhattan to attend medical school in New York City at the New York College of Podiatric Medicine! Timothy has always had a passion in medicine and will no doubt prove useful in this specialty!

Jeremy with his mother, Mrs. Kim Bui

Our President, Jeremy T Bui, is adding politics to his legal and corporate experience. Jeremy has spent his entire summer in Hartford, CT and then to Washington D.C. where he worked as an intern for the U.S. Senate at the Office of US Senator Christopher J Dodd (D-CT). He was there to witness the debate and finally the passing of Dodd-Frank's Financial Reform. There, he worked archiving important documents, audio, and video recordings relevant to every aspect of Senator Christopher Dodd's career as Senator and Congressman of Connecticut since the 1970's and as Chair of numerous committees. Jeremy gave tours of the US Capitol Building to constituents and organized capitol correspondence. Jeremy had the chance to tour the White House and museums throughout Washington D.C. Cool!

Zachary with his father, Dr. Chinh Bui

Our Vice President, Zachary Bui, has launched a web service, "The Computer Network Society," where he provides consulting and expertise to customers; he builds web servers for his clients and provides technical support to them. Zachary is currently a Computer Engineering Major at the University of Connecticut. He has been consistently working on the HTML and web design of our Foundation's websites!

The Board of Directors have been surely keeping themselves busy. What they love the most is using, applying, what they have learned to benefit communities and those beyond.

Raising Funds!

2010-12-04T10:53:00.000-08:00

We are raising funds year round in order to pay for these student's education. Recently, we have cashed in a significant amount of empty cans and bottles we collected throughout the Fall at a redemption center in town to raise funds for academic scholarships to poor village children. It's truly a treat to not only help conserve our environment, but to raise funds for scholarships in the process. Remember to recycle and save the environment! Thanks for doing your civic duty in making the community more "green"!

Viet-Sun Awards Scholarships to Thirteen students for the 2010-2011 School Year!

2010-12-03T22:17:00.000-08:00

This past Fall, the Viet-Sun Foundation has awarded academic scholarships to a record number of thirteen students! At the moment, these students are well into their studies and working hard in order to reap the benefits of an education. They greatly appreciate your contribution in their quest for knowledge!

You all make it possible for us to send these students to school. As we have said in the past, we can only be the bridge of communication between you and the students. We can only organize the funds and communicate with the them. The most significant role is the one you play in the little things you do to benefit these people who are striving to earn an education. Some of you have generously donated to our cause and some of you have just used word of mouth to spread awareness of our cause. This is how we receive donations from all over the country. This is how you make it possible for these students to attend school and to pull them out of poverty. The little things you do to lend a helping hand can truly impact a society and the world.

Thank you to all of you for keeping our cause alive. Thank you for opening your hearts to those who are less fortunate. Most of all, thank you for playing a part in making these students’ dreams a reality.

Thanks for believing in them...

Scholarship recipients for the 2010-2011 school year include:

Duc Thanh Nguyen -----------------------------Huong Ngoc Luu
Grade 9--------------------------------------------- Grade 7

Khoa Dang Nguyen Ho------------------------ Tien Quang Dinh
Grade 2-------------------------------------------Grade 4

Tram Ngoc Nguyen Tran----------------------- Tai Van Nguyen

Grade 3--------------------------------------------Grade 5

Thang Duc Hoang---------------------------- Quynh Nhu Thi Tran
Grade 5--------------------------------------------Grade 5

My Kieu Thi Vo------------------------------- Nhan Van Nguyen
Grade 5--------------------------------------------Grade 5

Kiet Dinh Nguyen------------------------------- Ki Quoc Chau
Grade 3--------------------------------------------Grade 2

Hau Hieu Nu Nguyen
Grade 4

Congratulations to you all! Study Hard! Good Luck and follow your dreams!

The Viet-Sun Foundation teams up with Amway Global in promoting Amway's Power of Positivity Initiative!

2010-10-04T22:20:00.000-07:00

The Viet-Sun Foundation teams up with Amway Global in promoting Amway's Power of Positivity Initiative. As a charitable organization, the Viet-Sun Foundation believes in encouraging community service involvement and to use personal passions to benefit others. As quoted from Amway's website:

"The Amway Positivity Project is about highlighting, recognizing and celebrating the impact positivity makes in people’s lives every day. We aim to inspire even more positivity in the world by sharing your stories about the power of positive in your life."

"Amway invites you to share your power of positive story, and enter to win the $10,000 grand Positivity Prize or one of nine $2,500 Positivity Prizes - all intended to help you advance the power of positive in your life, your community and your world. Your story could answer one of the following questions, or it could be about something entirely different but equally as powerful."

Submitting an entry is EASY!

We have always felt that one of the most important contributing factors to a charity's success is gaining wide recognition and spreading awareness of its cause. This is an opportunity for you to share your story of the impact you have had on your community and beyond through your passionate work to charity. We encourage recognition of young minds who demonstrate this type of passion in their work to serve the world as they will soon be the problem-solvers of tomorrow. The Viet-Sun Foundation hopes to encourage young adults to get their stories out, as we have three years ago when we started our cause.

“Twenty-five stories will be selected as semi-finalists by a panel of judges, and the Positivity Prize winners will be chosen through public voting. You can share your story through video, pictures, essay, illustration or poetry―it's up to you how you want to tell your story. We just want you to share it.

The ten finalists will gather for a special VIP event where their stories will be highlighted and their Positivity Prize granted."

October 17, 2010 is coming soon! Please take a few moments to share your story!

For more information, visit Amway's Positivity Project (here)

Rules:

To enter the Contest, create an entry that reflects one of the following Contest themes (each a “Contest Theme”):

How positivity has impacted my life?
How positivity has impacted the life of someone I know?
How does your positivity story motivate others?
How I might spread positivity to others if given an award?

Your entry must be in any of the following forms:

Photo (up to 100MB in size)
Video (in .avi, .mpeg, .mov, or .mp4 formats, 2 minute maximum, up to 100 MB in size)
Essay (300 word maximum)
Illustration in .jpeg, .eps, .psd, up to 100MB in size
Poem .jpeg, .docx, .doc, .txt (up to 100 MB in size)

Participation is open only to legal residents of and those located in the fifty United States or the District of Columbia, who are 18 or older as of date of entry. Void outside of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia, and where prohibited, taxed or restricted by law.

Happy Time Preschool Donates to the Viet-Sun Foundation!

2010-01-17T10:39:00.000-08:00

A Special Holiday Note from the Board of Directors...

We were certainly in for a surprise this holiday season after a long academic semester of college. Mrs. Melissa Bednardz, Director of the Happy Time Preschool of Connecticut, surprised us when she contacted us with excitement about a collection that they had for the Foundation.

We were invited to a marvelous performance during the yearly Holiday Ceremony where we witnessed the harmonious singing choir of young preschool students caroling, not to forget the memorable singing of the signature spirit theme song of the school. The music was performed by guitarist Mrs. McCord.

Before the end of the ceremony, we were invited up by Director Mrs. Melissa Bednardz where she presented us with a generous donation from the parents, grandparents, friends, and family of the Happy Time community. We were touched by this overwhelming display of holiday spirit.

It should be noted that the three of us are alumni of Happy Time Preschool. It's tradition of teaching young children the importance of education and giving to those in need have only grown stronger. We are proud of that legacy that has molded us into who we are and what we do today. Having graduated as Valedictorians and in the top of our classes, we are confident that the work ethic, determination, and compassion that Happy Time Preschool has instilled in us has also been used to mold young children responsible, educated, and passionate individuals as future leaders of tomorrow. And thus, we hope that other communities whether they be children or adults can learn from this and take action when help is needed.

That is our New Year's wish.

We hope that each and every one of you have a wonderful holiday season and a New Year with health and happiness.

-The Board of Directors

Viet-Sun Awards Scholarships to eight students for the 2009-2010 School Year!

2009-09-27T10:23:00.000-07:00

The Viet-Sun Foundation awarded eight students who will be attending school, now, knowing that they have the support of those who have contributed funds in order for them to have an education!

We couldn't have sent these students to school without the help of giving people, like you, who have contributed a great deal of effort whether is was through your continued support, spreading word of our cause, donating to us, making time to keep the memory of these students in your hearts, and much, much more...

As the Board of Directors, we can only organize funds and communicate with these students in Vietnam in order to ensure that they receive their education. However, you all play a much significant and much more important part. YOU are the key to keeping our cause alive. You are the people who drive these students to succeed in school. Knowing that there are people cheering them on, these students study THAT much harder in order to make sure that they will not let you down. These are passionate students, but you are passionate people.

Thanks for believing in them...

Scholarship recipients for the 2009-2010 school year include:

Duc Thanh Nguyen---------------------K' Uyen
Grade 8-------------------------------- Grade 6

K' Sang Dung----------------------------------- Loc Van Tien
Grade 3-----------------------------------------Grade 12

Loi Thi Kim Loc--------------------------------- Ngan Thi Kim Nguyen
Grade 10----------------------------------------Grade 6
Thuong Men Hoang----------------------------- Trang Thi Thuy Tran
Grade 3-----------------------------------------Grade 11

Best of luck and Study Hard!!!

Viet-Sun Foundation Updates its Contact Information!

2009-08-09T10:54:00.000-07:00

In order to improve communication to a wide variety of audiences, we've added to our Contact Information a new FAX NUMBER!

You can now fax to us at: 860-741-7103

Viet-Sun's President speaks at high school graduation as Class Valedictorian!

2009-08-08T16:28:00.000-07:00

Jeremy T Bui speaks at the Commencement Exercises of Enfield High School

On June 19th, 2009, Jeremy T Bui made an inspirational speech at Enfield High School's Commencement Exercises as Valedictorian of the school's class. Jeremy spoke of service to the community, emphasizing the strength and determination it took to make the Viet-Sun Foundation possible, and how others can make a positive difference in the lives of others by lending a helping hand to those in need.

Jeremy continued, charging about passion and how using it would make one stronger, thus overcoming obstacles anyone may face in the future. Wisdom was mentioned as guideline for what education may give one in the future, that seeking power may blind them only to look down on others. Jeremy ended the speech with a quote from his disceased maternal grandfather whom he never met summarizing that using passion in everything you do will eventually leave a legacy of love and appreciation for the past, present, and future.

This occasion was reminiscent of a graduation four years ago when Viet-Sun's Chairman, Timothy Bui, was Valedictorian of his class. His words spoke of education and its importance in creating better lives. Even before the Viet-Sun Foundation was created and established, we all still held these ideals of the significance of education:

Viet-Sun Foundation Receives National Recognition!

2009-08-07T10:51:00.000-07:00

Jeremy T Bui makes a short statement in Washington DC after being named one out of ten national award winners.

In February 2009, Jeremy had the distinct honor of being named Connecticut's high school state honoree in the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. Jeremy traveled to Washington D.C. for national recognition events along with 102 state honorees, one high school and one middle school student, from each state.

Jeremy traveled to Washington D.C. with his parents, Chinh and Kim Bui for the national awards program, where he met middle school and high school honorees from each state. There, Jeremy met the Former First Lady, Laura Bush, the United States Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, US Senator Christopher Dodd, and US Senator Joseph Lieberman. At the US Chamber of Commerce Headquarters in Washington D.C., Jeremy was named one of ten national honorees in the nation as top youth volunteers in the nation. At home, Jeremy was awarded a Proclamation from the Town of Enfield, Connecticut by Mayor Scott Kaupin for his passionate work for the Foundation. Also, Jeremy appeared as a guest speaker at the Connecticut State National Honor Society Conference where he spoke about his experiences with the Foundation and emphasized the importance of lending a hand to the community.

Prudential generously awarded Jeremy with a scholarship and awarded the Viet-Sun Foundation with a large donation to further benefit students in Vietnam and allowing them to expand for future endeavors.

More information about the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards can be seen HERE.

Viet-Sun Foundation Goes Green!

2009-04-26T15:22:00.000-07:00

The Viet-Sun Foundation has been busy, celebrating Earth Day everyday within the month of April! We value this planet and are doing our part with keeping this our community Green!

The Viet-Sun Foundation has been collecting empty bottles and cans from generous families throughout the entire community! Rather than throwing these pieces of plastic away or littering, these plastic, aluminum, and glass bottles can be recycled, thus keeping our environment free from trash and pollution. Please contact us if you wish to donate your empty recyclable cans or bottles.

These recyclable items were brought to the proper disposable facilities where we redeemed money to go towards the Viet-Sun Foundation. These funds will be used to benefit poor Vietnamese children earn an education. Heavily impacted by this world-wide economic crisis, we're expecting a large amount of applications within the next few months! $20.00 will send one Vietnamese child to school. They desperately need your help.

Kick Ball Tournament boosts support for Viet-Sun!

2009-03-28T14:23:00.000-07:00

Students at Enfield High School in Enfield, CT enjoyed a few weeks of fun after school during CAPT (Connecticut Academic Performance Test) Exams. Thanks to Mr. Armando Ramos and Mr. Robert Barnes (PE/Health Teachers) for making this Kick Ball Tournament possible. Students ranging from freshmen through seniors fought in a friendly competition of strength, agility, and precision as they fought to obtain bragging rights as the winning team. Each team who participated donated $20.00 to the Viet-Sun Foundation.

Donations are especially crucial at this point as we are starting the scholarship application process at elementary and middle schools of poor villages in Vietnam within the next few months. Any form of contribution counts, whether it's through your support in spreading word of our cause, donations, or assisting us in organizing various events. No matter how close or far you are, you can still contribute in helping poor Vietnamese village children earn an education!

A team switches for the next inning.
Mr. Barnes sets ground rules and gives teams one last pow-wow!

Fermi High School Dresses Down for the Viet-Sun Foundation!

2009-03-02T17:06:00.000-08:00

Recently, students and teachers at Enrico Fermi High School in Connecticut dressed down for the Viet-Sun Foundation.

Teachers usually dress down for various charitable causes, usually a different one each week. Thanks to Mrs. Abbey Kane (Math Teacher at Enrico Fermi High School), we were able to not only spread information about our cause throughout the school, but also raise a generous sum of money to send poor Vietnamese children to school through academic scholarships. Mrs. Kane made sure to spread word of our cause and to get both students and teachers to participate.

In these economic times it has proven difficult for people to make donations in their current financial situations, so it’s heart-warming to see caring people go out of their way to make a difference for causes like ours. The Viet-Sun Foundation is based on the support and donations of caring people all around the nation. Every little donation counts.

We appreciate the kindness of your support and effort to benefit the lives of poor Vietnamese children. Thanks Fermi!

Vietnamese New Year 2009: The Year of the Ox!

2009-01-19T19:23:00.000-08:00

The Vietnamese New Year this year is earlier than those in the past. The reason for the difference in day for the New Year, or "Tet" (as Vietnamese people call it) is because this week-long celebration of "Tet" is ultimately decided by the Lunar Calendar. Before the celebration, families prepare for a fresh start to their new year. Pre-holiday activities include cleaning, decorating their home, and shopping for food.

During Tết, an altar within a family home is thoroughly cleaned and new offerings are placed there. Traditionally, there is a "guardian" for each home (Ông Táo), who reports to the Jade Emperor, a god, about the events in that house over the past year. Ông Táo returns to heaven on the 23rd day of the twelfth month by lunar calendar. His departure is marked by a modest ceremony where the family offers sacrifices for them to use on his journey.

In the days leading up to Tết, each family cooks special holiday foods such as bánh chưng (yellow beans with meat and onions stuffed within a rice cake). Preparations for these foods are quite extensive. Family members often take turns to keep watch on the fire overnight, telling each other legends or stories about Tết of past years.

The first day of Tết is reserved for the family. Children receive a red envelope containing lucky money from their elders. The red envelope is called "li xi" (pronounced lee see). Usually, children wear their new clothes and give their elders the traditional Tết greetings before receiving the money. Since the Vietnamese believe that their first visitor to their home determines their fortune for the entire year, families never enter any house on the first day without being invited in first. The first person to enter the front door of the house is called đạp đất (pronounced dap dut).

According to Vietnamese tradition, if good things come to the family on the first day of the lunar New Year, the entire following year will also be full of blessings. Usually, a person of good temper, morality, and success will be the lucky sign for the host family and will be asked to be invited first into the house. However, just to be safe, the owner of the house will leave the house a few minutes before midnight and come back just as the clock strikes midnight to prevent anyone else entering the house first who might potentially bring any unfortunate events in the new year to the household.

The Vietnamese New Year is truly a special celebration that is seldom taken lightly. Nevertheless, families bring in their new year with days of fun, fireworks, and traditional ceremonies.

Happy Year of the Ox to everyone!

Help! I can't do my homework without a text book!

2008-10-19T13:35:00.001-07:00

During the school year, students still need a little help to get an education the best way possible. Many schools have students pay as the year progresses. Not having enough money to pay for schooling at a certain point will have students thrown out of school. Furthermore, not having enough money for books and supplies can put many students to a disadvantage, even just after the school year has started.

After careful examination of our applications, we have chosen to award full year scholarships (tuition) to five students for the 2008-2009 academic year.

Thuan Nguyen

Thuan Nguyen is a sixth grader at Dong Hai Elementary School. She's a student who's eager to learn and enjoys and excels in science, history, and geography. She's described as an exceptional student who has shown academic improvement in years past.

Tri Vo

Tri Vo is a sixth grader at Dong Hai Elementary School. He demonstrates a strong focus in Science and strives for improvement.

Sang Ha

Sang Ha is a fifth grader at Kim Dong Elementary School. She enjoys geography and history. Her teachers praise her diligence in her studies.

Ngan Do

Ngan Do is a third grader at Dong Hai Elementary School. She demonstrates excellence in her Math and Vietnamese classes.

Vuong Nguyen

Vuong Nguyen is a fifth grader at Dong Hai Elementary School. He has maintained consistant high performance in his Math and Vietnamese classes.

Congratulations! We couldn't be happier to see these Vietnamese students start off their school year the best way possible!

Put to a Start, a Promising Year...

2008-09-01T16:20:00.001-07:00

Four elementary school students will be starting off their school year in a hopeful manner.

We have recently awarded a school year's worth of textbooks and supplies to four needed school students at Dong Hai Elementary School who have demonstrated hard work and a strive to learn.

Continue your great job in school! Best of luck this year!

(Left to right: Tri Vo (Grade 6), Sang Ha (Grade 5), Thuan Nguyen (Grade 6), and Tam Nguyen (Grade 4), Standing behind the recipients is our representative, Chi Do, a college student)

New Beginnings and Hope for Little Thuong Men...

2008-07-18T21:11:00.000-07:00

We are honored to present a scholarship to Thuong Men Hoang of the Lam Dong district of Da Lat, Vietnam, in order to benefit one academic for the next upcoming school year at the school: Tieu Hoc Son Trung.

Thuong Men (her name meaning “love”) comes from a poor family. Like her father, she was born with a disease which has caused her to have missing toes on her feet. Her mother works “odd jobs,” meaning she’ll work any job possible in order to bring food to the table.

Thuong Men is a bright student going into the second grade. We have reviewed her application and she has met our criteria, along with an endorsement from the school’s principal.

Thuong Men Hoang is our first scholarship recipient and we wish her the best of luck as she continues her great work in school.

Viet-Sun Foundation's New and Improved Home Website Launched

2008-06-22T16:35:00.000-07:00

The Viet-Sun Foundation has just launched its new and improved flash website.

If you would like to know more about us, please visit us at our new home page at:

(http://vietsun.freehostia.com)

Kick Ball Tournament

2008-06-22T14:42:00.001-07:00

Last Tuesday, June 17th, and Wednesday, June 18th, Enfield High School Physical Education/ Health teachers, Mr. Barnes and Mr. Ramos hosted a Kick Ball Tournament to raise money to benefit the Viet-Sun Foundation.

Students who wished to play on a team paid an entering fee of $2.00 each, while food and drinks
were purchased by the teachers for a concession stand.

We thank Enfield High School for a fantastic turn-out. The money made from this event will be used as scholarships to benefit the poor children on Vietnam who demonstrate a strive for academic excellence.

School Supplies for Vietnamese Children

2008-06-22T13:37:00.000-07:00

In order to raise money for classroom supplies for needed schools in Vietnam, math teacher and Community Service Club adviser Mrs. Ceniglio of Enfield High School gave extra credit points to her math students who each brought three dollars in order to purchase supplies including binders, filler paper, pencils, and crayons.

With a splendid turn out, the money will be sent to a Vietnamese school to purchase these resources in order to create a more effective and beneficial learning environment for Vietnamese children.

Thanks to Mrs. Ceniglio and her math students! We couldn't do it without you!

Enfield High School Walk-A-Thon!

2008-06-01T10:35:00.000-07:00

Enfield High School hosted a "Walk-A-Thon" on Thursday, May 29, 2008; the school walked for many charities which included the Viet-Sun Foundation. We would like to thank Mrs. Colene Ceniglio for organizing the "EHS Big Give Walk-A-Thon" and representing the Viet-Sun Foundation. The "Walk-A-Thon" drew many participants and was a success!

(In this photo: Front Row: Sammy Ceniglio, Kaitlyn Lastrina, Isa Trichilo, Alyssa Meers, Chelsey Tallarita, Caitlin Nicolay, Alina Kluk, Bobby Bearce, Lauren Bologna, Emma Parks, James Dodd, Allison Lownds. Back Row: Sunny Oyeniya, Marshall Samba Green, Mrs. Colene Ceniglio, William Dague, Stephanie Mariyatt, Brielle Ruvolo, Sara Karar, Katherine Ambrosini, Zachary Bui, Mrs. Anne Brislin, Mary Hojinowski, Jonathan Plumb, Bryan Flanaghan, Shalin Shah.)

Twins Jeremy and Zachary Bui (co-founders) pose for a picture

In the center, Mrs. Ceniglio with her daughter and EHS students.

EHS students walk down Enfield Street (rt. 5) during third period in order to raise money for the Viet-Sun Foundation. Classes participated in the walk by donating $25.00 each.

Mrs. Holmberg (right) and a few of her math students.

EHS student Stephanie Marryat smiles for the camera

Bobby Bearce marches back to Enfield High School along with James Dodd, Lauren Bologna, and Shalin Shah.

Chelsey Tallarita and Bobby Bearce smile for the camera.

Thanks for all your help, EHS! Together, we can make a difference in a life of a poor Vietnamese child by improving its education.

If you would like to make a donation or know more about the Viet-Sun Foundation, please check out our main website.

Update May 14, 2008

2008-05-14T17:44:00.000-07:00

My brothers and I have decided to donate our 10% of our summer earnings to the foundation. We felt that this would get us closer to our goal.

"Phat Gao Year of the Rat New Year 2008!"

2008-03-08T12:25:00.000-08:00

In January of 2008, since the Vietnamese New Year was closely approaching, we wanted to do something for the elderly; we heard from the local Red Cross, that the fishing season did not go so well. Because of this, their children cannot afford to provide them food during the New Year celebration.
Our foundation had not been fully established yet, however we went ahead with help from our parents who donated money to help with this endeavor. The money covered over 70 elderly families along with the disabled. Overwhelmed by our outreach, they wished us success with our foundation!