By Jackie Bong-Wright
Asian Fortune Writer

Since 2002, Thanh Nguyen has had a dream. On the Board of the National Portrait Gallery at the Smithsonian Institution, he wanted to see an exhibit of Vietnamese American arts at the Smithsonian. “The Institution attracts 24 million visitors a year and represents the pride of this country. It’s the one place where knowledge blossoms and heroes are celebrated. Why not show the culture and heritage of Vietnamese Americans and commemorate the 30th anniversary in the United States of those of us who fled the Communists in 1975,” Thanh said.

His dream came true in October 2005 when Dr. Franklin Odo, Director of the Smithsonian Institution APA Program, agreed to a project that would include a permanent photographic exhibit at the Smithsonian in 2006, a traveling exhibit, a dedicated website, a school curriculum guide aimed at middle school students, and public programs.

Three months later, a small group of enthusiastic Vietnamese Americans, the Washington DC Working Group, set out to raise $200,000 among Vietnamese friends by December. But to ensure representation of Vietnamese American perspectives at the Smithsonian, they found, a $1 million endowment was needed. Dr. Vu Pham, researcher and professor of the University of California, School of Business, at Irvine, became the project’s director.

At a fund-raising dinner in Virginia on February 25, Dr. Pham showed photos destined for the exhibit and questioned the audience. “Who is an American, what is an American? What comes to your mind? Tall, short, black, white?” His first photo captured the “boat people” at Camp Pendleton, watching TV. The second showed a fisherman whose boat was destroyed by hurricane Katrina. Another depicted the first Vietnamese firefighters. A rare find was a 1943 photo of a Vietnamese fighting alongside white soldiers during WWII. Lee Sandwiches in California, said Dr. Pham, is the Vietnamese answer to McDonald’s. And, of course, he made reference to Dat Nguyen, the first Vietnamese pro football player.

“These are Americans, and these photos illustrate their transition from re-education prisons in Vietnam to refugee camps in Southeast Asia and resettlement in countries throughout the world. Identity, struggles, values, progress, and accomplishments come through in these pictures.” Dr. Pham said the photo exhibit would travel to 12 cities across the United States.

Dr. Pham also recognized Quyen Truong, whose logo for the project was selected among many entries. Quyen, a graduate from Brown University’s School of Visual Arts, designed a lady liberty dressed in a blue Vietnamese tunic – the ao dzai. She said that the color blue alludes to the sky, the opening of new horizons, the limitless possibilities, and the sea where a lot of boat people refugees started their journey to freedom. Quyen noted further that the Vietnamese Lady Liberty stands in front of a yellow background symbolizing the Vietnamese people and an American flag, referring to the fusion of two cultures. Vietnamese values and traditions blend with the desire for independence and freedom in the United States.

Thuy Nguyen, Ban Tran and Thanh Nguyen of the Working Group spearheaded this first public fund-raising gala dinner at the Fortune restaurant in Falls Church, Virginia, where over 500 Vietnamese American business and community leaders attended. Emcee Trinh Hoi, a lawyer turned social activist, and well-known singers from California and Texas flew in for the event.

Dr. Long Nguyen, CEO of Pragmatics, Inc., jumpstarted the fund-raising campaign by pledging $100,000. His wife, Kimmy, said that they wanted to safeguard Vietnamese traditional values for their children, grandchildren and future generations. The adrenaline rose when Irv Reid, CEO of AnviCom, offered to give 50 cents for each dollar donated at the dinner, up to $50,000.

In less than an hour, his challenge was met. Donations ranged from $10,000 from the Vietnamese Medical Association to $20 from an anonymous contributor. After Irv Reid had handed over a check for $25,000, Quan Hoang, Founder and President of AnviCom, surprised the guests again -- he would match dollar for dollar whatever was raised for the rest of the evening.

An auction of four paintings, golf clubs, airline tickets and raffle tickets grossed $29,000, which Quan Hoang’s matching donation raised to $58,000. Painter Vu Hoi, Brigitte and Lan Le of Gallery Brigitte, BichLien Kaldahl from Continental Airlines, Hau Mai, and many others made significant contributions. In three hours, more than a quarter of a million dollars was raised.

“The generosity and enthusiasm of the guests surpassed our expectations,” said Thuy Nguyen, chair of the dinner. “We challenge other Vietnamese American communities, especially the business community on the West coast and others around the country, to surpass what we have done here,” she continued. Dr. Vu Pham had the last word. “The project teaches youth about their rich heritage and helps create a more accurate and positive image of Vietnamese Americans for the general public.”