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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
www.association-compassion.org
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