Santa Ana, CA — November 12, 2025 — The Vietnamese American Arts & Letters Association (VAALA) is honored to announce that it has received a $10,000 charitable donation through The California Endowment’s Board Gift Program, thanks to the generosity and nomination of Louie Nguyen, a member of The Endowment’s Board of Directors.
The California Endowment encourages its Board members to support charitable organizations that align with its mission to expand access to quality health care and promote the overall well-being of Californians. This contribution will help VAALA continue its mission of promoting and preserving Vietnamese arts and culture while fostering cross-cultural understanding and community engagement. Learn more about The California Endowment at www.calendow.org.
“We’re honored by the support from Louie Nguyen and The California Endowment,” said Ysa Le, Executive Director of VAALA. “This gift strengthens our ability to build bridges through the arts and ensure that Vietnamese stories continue to be shared, celebrated, and preserved.”
Louie Nguyen is a longtime supporter of the advancement of Vietnamese culture. He serves on the boards of Vietnam’s HKFilm and The California Endowment.
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About the Vietnamese American Arts & Letters Association (VAALA): VAALA was founded in 1991 by a group of Vietnamese American journalists, artists, and friends to fill a void in the community and provide a space for newly resettled immigrant artists to express themselves. VAALA’s mission is to connect and enrich communities through Vietnamese art and culture. Historically run entirely by volunteers, VAALA is a community-based non-profit organization. Over the years, VAALA has collaborated with diverse community partners to organize numerous cultural and artistic events. VAALA’s four core programs include the annual Viet Film Fest and Viet Book Fest, the Gallery Beyond Walls program featuring art exhibitions, and free art and film workshops for youth, such as Youth in Motion: A Filmmaking Workshop for Emerging Filmmakers.
For more information about VAALA and its programs, visit www.vaala.org.