Comic Care:
The group also does fundraising in the Bay Area to help fund the projects in Hue. Their organization, just like the busy individual board members who volunteer for it, also wears multiple hats. Creative fundraising must also provide a service to the local area, otherwise it would lack relevance.

“The Friends of Hue Foundation has been creative in recent years in putting together performance arts, literary shows and art exhibits that brings both the Vietnamese American and the mainstream communities together. All work are carefully translated both literally and contextually. So they are a great way to learn and understand Vietnamese and Vietnamese American cultures,” explains Duc Nguyen, an early volunteer since the organization’s inception.

This year the group is putting together its first annual Comic Care fundraising event. “Comic Care is the annual gathering of Asian American stand-up comics organized by the Friends of Hue Foundation (FHF) to feature Asian American talents to the mainstream audience. Funds raised will be used for charitable causes such as operating an FHF children's shelter and vocational center,” said Michelle Mai, one of the few board members who actually came from the Thua Thien - Hue Province and knows the area’s poverty all too well.

This year, the headlining act is Dat Phan, who makes his only Bay Area appearance of the summer. Mr. Phan, seen with Jay Leno on ‘The Tonight Show’ and TV's ‘The West Wing’, has hosted his own Comedy Central show and is perhaps best known for winning the ‘Last Comic Standing’ competition on NBC. He will be presenting his special brand of humor to benefit the Friends of Hue Foundation. This event is open to the public.” Gushed Mr. Justin Gaynor, one of the group’s talented writers, marketer and Chairman of the Board.

The event will also feature a local Bay Area talent, comedian KT Katara and Peter Vo, former writer of Mad TV and the likes. See respective photos and poster below.

DATE: Saturday, June 02, 2007
TIME: 7:00 p.m.
PLACE: Montgomery Theater, 271 South Market Street, San Jose
TICKETS:
• Advance Purchase: Brown Paper Tickets (http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/15322)
General Seating $25.00
Students with valid ID $20.00
• NOTE: VIP Seating $50.00, EXCLUSIVELY available through: FHF Website (https://secure.groundspring.org/dn/index.php?aid=6955)

***SUBSTANTIAL SAVINGS OVER SAME DAY PURCHASE***

• Purchase at the Door:
VIP: $75.00
General Seating: $45.00
Student Discount: $30.00
Please call: (408) 455-0175

A Dollar A Patient, or Sponsor A Village:
The Friends of Hue Foundation, known as FHF by its supporters, not only help the children in the city of Hue, Their assistance stretch throughout the Thua Thien-Hue Province. Their work extends care to children and families in other distant and very remote areas such as A Luoi, Huong Tra, Phu Loc, Huong Thuy, Quang Dien, Phong Dien, Phu Van, Boat Villages, etc. where one would have to take multi-modal transportation to get there. Every month FHF’s donors send a mobile medical clinic to rural places in the needy areas of Central Vietnam.

“Our team normally is comprised of volunteered doctors, nurses, and medical students from different nations. We provide free medical check ups, medications, vaccinations, as well as screening for children and adult with serious medical conditions. For those who need further medical attention, we refer them to Hue Hospital and pay for part of their medical costs and traveling expenses. People from those villages we stopped by anxiously wait for our return. They gather in flocks since very early morning waiting for our returning physicians. We serve from 350 to 500 people on each trip. For only $350, you can sponsor one of these trips and help hundreds of people.” Explains Ms. Lieu Thi Dang, who is one of the group’s co-founder and treasurer.

Dang is also a recipient of the Life Time Humanitarian Award from the City of San Jose in November 2006 and was granted the Director's Award by the Santa Clara County Human Relations Commission on February 23, 2007 for her tireless support of the Friends of Hue Foundation as well as her many volunteer hours sponsoring poor children all over the world and, in San Jose, teaching the elderly US history so they can pass their citizenship tests.

Operation Healthy Heart:
“We also help children who need open-heart surgery. Currently, we have 5 children who are waiting on the list. We work with East Meets West Foundation to help these children. For $1,000, you will give one of these children a new chance to life.” Explains Uyen Nguyen, who has been volunteering as a board member and project director for the Mobile Health Clinic and Corrective Surgery Project.

“Central Vietnam is very vulnerable to natural disasters. Last year, Typhoon Xangsane literally left thousand of families without a roof over their heads. We responded in time to provide them with roof replacement materials and blankets to help them rebuild their homes immediately.” April Hui Zhu, the group’s talented web master.

So who are these strangers living half the world away helping people they have little connections with? “Who are we? We are just like you. The Friends of Hue Foundation (www.friendsofhue.org) is comprised of individuals who care. We come from different walks of life. We are students, busy moms, professors, engineers, artists, lawyers, social workers, business owners, etc. Please join us and make a difference in someone's life.” Impassioned plead from Dr. James Freeman, professor emeritus at the San Jose State University, a board member and a co-founder of the organization with Ms. Dang and Mr. Huu D. Nguyen.