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July 24, 2003
Dear Benefactors of Association Compassion,
I
am very happy to report that the 1st AC Dinner & Tennis event
ended on Sunday July 20, 2003 with a resounding success thanks to the
exceptionally warm support by friends, sponsors and family members. The fund
raising response exceeds by far our most optimistic expectations. At the
last count, we have enrolled 105 sponsors (including the tennis players).
This magic number is significant because it triggers the maximum matching
funds in the amount of €15,000 ($16,950) from “Fondation SGL D’aides
Aux Mutilés
de Guerre”. An additional €1,000 ($1,130) has also been dedicated to AC by
our French colleagues. In the US, we have raised a gross total of $5,785 or
net of $5,025 after expenses (dinner, ca phe/banh mi, court fees, balls,
trophies). From both sides of the Atlantic, the net total stands at $23,105.
AC expects to receive additional, late donations.
A tiny
idea which germinated amongst half a dozen close friends blossomed into an
almost professional tournament with more than 50 players with all skill
levels and ages. Saturday night before the tournament, players and guests
were treated to a delectable dinner at Vien Dong restaurant in Westminster,
CA. We were served a 4-course dinner (goi mít,
bbq chicken wings with tamarind sauce, cha cá Thang Long and chè
for dessert). Since there was still food left on my corner of the
table, I was hopeful that everyone had plenty to eat and that no one left
the restaurant hungry. I can probably speak for everyone that it was a
really warm social gathering. We met old friends some of whom we had not
seen in a while, made new friends who offered encouragements for the
continuation of future AC events as well as new ideas for improvements.
Tournament day did not come soon enough
for many of us. The anticipation had been building up for a few weeks. It
was a frantic yet organized scene at Mile Square Park, Fountain Valley early
Sun morning. What a surprise it was to see some of the friends who are known
late risers - including those who partied late the night before - show up
ahead of schedule. These friends reminded me that they would not wake up
this early even for work let alone playing tennis. But for this tournament,
their spirits and bodies were both high and willing. Upon arrival, players
and guests were greeted with the sweet aroma of ca phe sua and pungent odor
of onion and garlic-laced banh mi thit. Contrasting smells but complementary
tastes should be effective cures for morning-after hangovers. A sip here and
a bite there were all we needed to get energized for the 4-5 hours ahead.
Many thanks to Nguyen T. Liem and his wife Thanh, Tuong Vy and Ngo V. Cao
for setting up the banh mi and ca phe, table, coolers, water, pre-cut name
slips and tennis balls. To register over 50 players, to set them up in teams
through random selection and then to schedule plays without overlapping
courts or time could be a real mathematical nightmare. Remarkably the
matches were rotated almost seamlessly and the scores kept impeccably by anh
Nguyen T. Lai, his wife chi Ngoc Dung and Tuong Vy. There was a hitch,
however, and I apologize for reserving only a limited number of courts,
causing bottlenecks and forcing many players to idle. That mistake will not
happen again next time. We opted for random pairings of
players to have a variety of skills and to make each match more exciting due
to the unpredictability of its outcome. Each player had a different partner
and played different opponents in each of his/her match. When all matches
were played, it is quite fitting that a tennis tournament, which aims to
serve orphans, handicapped children and disabled war veterans, was served up
by youth. After 3 grueling and hotly (weather and spirit) contested matches,
two teenagers and two adults went on to the semifinals. Two singles
tiebreaker games later, the kids came out on top.
The 1st AC Dinner & Tennis event would not have been as
successful as it was and might not even take place without the tremendous
support and generosity of the players, their friends, the sponsors and
family members. The enthusiasm and the excitement that all of you reserved
and demonstrated for AC have been truly remarkable. I think that my being in
the middle of it all, I was somewhat numb in feelings and slow in absorbing
the significance of what was at stake but now everything is sinking in. So
with the return to normalcy and on behalf of AC, I would like to express my
sincere thanks to all of you for the support and help these past few weeks.
In particular, I wish to acknowledge the following friends, my fellow
organizers, who not only offered physical help and time, but also tremendous
encouragements and imagination: Le Tuong Vy, Ngo V. Cao and Tran Vinh. Also
special thanks to Trinh D. Trung, Tran V. Thanh and Dr. Tien Nguyen for
their terrific recruiting efforts. And last, but certainly not least, allow
me to recognize the outstanding financial supports of: Fondation SGL, Pham
G. Luan & Bich Lan (LANGVE Medical), Michelle Malfreyt, Dr. Phan M. Hien,
Caroline Nhu Hoa (Escale Holding), Duc Le & Thuy Nghiem, Guido Jenniges,
Lucie T. Nguyen (Century Realty), Julie Lam (Amtrade Financial), Victor Lam
(Amtrade Financial), Philippe & Michelle Sirand, Vien Dong Restaurant, Dr. &
Mrs. Doan Lan, Dr. Thiet Nguyen & family, Huong Bush, Mr. & Mrs. Cao T.
Chanh, Huynh K. Hung, Le H. Mi, Tran T. Long , Dr. Tran Tu Lan, and David H.
Tran. A complete list of players and sponsors can be obtained at the
AC
website.
With the leveraged power of everyone involved, we hope to
make a difference, however small, in the lives of Vietnamese people back
home. AC is in the process of establishing an operating committee in the US.
We will strive to raise consciousness for the plights of the orphans, the
handicapped children and disabled war veterans in our homeland and we will
continue to raise funds to assist other non-profit, charitable
organizations.
Gratefully yours,
Scott Loc Caothien
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