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About NCVA
Founded in 1986, the National Congress of Vietnamese Americans is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community advocacy organization working to advance the cause of Vietnamese Americans in a plural but united America – e pluribus unum – by participating actively and fully as civic minded citizens engaged in the areas of education, culture and civil liberties.


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NCVA eREPORTER - May 9, 2006

The National Congress of Vietnamese Americans' NCVA eReporter is a regular email newsletter containing information on grant/funding opportunities, events/forums/conferences, available internships and news items pertinent to the Vietnamese American and Asian Pacific American communities.

In this NCVA eReporter:

EVENTS

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

JOBS/INTERNSHIPS

LEGISLATIVE/HURRICANE RELIEF

TIPS/RESOURCES

NEWS

******************
 EVENTS

VIETNAMESE WOMEN AND THE LEGACY OF HO XUAN HUONG

The Friends of Hue Foundation

San Jose Martin Luther King Library
150 E. San Fernando, San Jose, CA

Saturday, May 20, 1:30pm
Phone:  408-455-0175

Last year's event was the talk of the town, and this year it will be even better! Please join us for the second annual Afternoon of Literary Arts, where noted poets, musicians and writers will provide performances that are thought-provoking, heart-wrenching and side-splitting in turns.

Enjoy wine and hors d'oeuvres while watching our highlight performers, including Pacific Time Host Nguyen Qui Duc, professor and writer Uyen Nicole Duong, pseudonym of Duong Nhu Nguyen, noted storyteller Lan Tran, writer Nguyen-Khoa Thai-Anh, jazz vocalist Thuy Linh, and hiphop artist Theresa Quyen Vu. Chau Van artists, the traditional poetry-musical performers, are back by popular demand, as is "slam poet" Jimmy Thong Tran, who left the audience in stitches last year.

The event will be at the Martin Luther King Library in downtown San Jose (150 East San Fernando Street) from 1:30 - 5pm on Saturday, May 20, with a suggested donation of $25.

This year's event celebrates the spirit of Vietnamese women, framed within the works of the nineteenth-century poet Ho Xuan Huong and other works by or about women. The Vietnamese are inspired by Ba Chua Tho Nom – The Queen of Nom Poetry, as Ho Xuan Huong was known. An astonishing poet, she dragged Vietnamese poetry from the stuffy attics of royalty and academe and filled it with the real sounds and colors of daily life and language. Her poetry served not only to inspire other poets, but also to effect social change and improvements for the disenfranchised.

All proceeds will benefit the Friends of Hue Foundation. This is a focused nonprofit organization, set up in the wake of devastating floods in Thua Thien Hue Province, Vietnam in 1999. All of our U.S. staff serve as unpaid volunteers, and money raised through this event will be applied directly to the children in our care.

Our Children's Shelter currently houses thirty-one children and we are building a Learning Center to provide vocational training for children in the surrounding area. We also provide a small number of educational and entrepreneurial opportunities to qualified individuals, and provide basic medical care to many small villages in the area. Please visit http://www.friendsofhue.org or call us at 408-455-0175 for more information.

Online Ticket Purchase: https://secure.groundspring.org/dn/index.php?aid=6955

Tickets are also available at the following restaurants:
Nha Toi, Quang Da, Anise's Cafe, 19 Market, Coffee Lovers, Minh, and City Restaurant & Bakery at 7th Street and Santa Clara

(http://www.friendsofhue.org)

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IMMIGRASIAN FAIR – MAY 25, 2006

GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR

OFFICE ON ASIAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER AFFAIRS

Dear Asian and Pacific Islander (API) Community,

The Mayor's Office on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs (OAPIA) and the Commission on API Affairs (CAPIA) would like to invite you to the Asian and Pacific American Heritage Month Celebration ("Heritage Celebration") to celebrate and recognize the contributions of Asians and Pacific Islanders.

On May 25, 2006, from 10AM to 3PM at the Martin Luther King Jr. Public Library located on 901 G Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001, the Heritage Celebration will begin with an information and health fair titled "ImmigrAsian Fair".  The ImmigrAsian Fair will include free health screenings, basic tax filing assistance for individuals and business owners, information from thirty direct-service organizations, free legal counseling, crime victim compensation program information, educational resources, housing information, and much more.

From 5:30PM to 8PM later that day, OAPIA and the Martin Luther King Jr. Public Library will host a Cultural Celebration where there will be cultural performances, the Mayor's award ceremony for community service, and the Mayor's swearing-in ceremony of new Commissioners on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs.

Also, from May 15th to 31st, OAPIA will be featuring a youth photo exhibition at the Chinatown Community Cultural Center (CCCC) located at 616 H Street, NW, Suite #201, Washington, DC 20001. CCCC will be open seven days a week from 10AM to 4PM.  The photo exhibition will recognize API youths' hard work and creativity.

All events are open to the public and free of charge. Please come join us for another exciting year of celebrating our heritage. Please feel free to contact our office at (202) 727-3120 if you have any questions or if you can help us in organizing and planning for these events.  We welcome all volunteers to this important effort and we look forward to seeing you at the Heritage Celebration.

Sincerely,

Greg Chen
Director, OAPIA

(http://apia.dc.gov)

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WHITE HOUSE TARGETED WORKSHOP ON FAITH-BASED AND COMMUNITY INITIATIVES – LAS VEGAS, NV

When: Tuesday, June 6, 2006
8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m

Where: Alexis Park Resort
375 East Harmon
Las Vegas, NV 89109

On Tuesday, June 6, 2006, the White House and the Departments of Justice, Commerce, Agriculture, Labor, Veterans Affairs, Health & Human Services, Housing & Urban Development, Education, and Homeland Security, the Agency for International Development, and the Small Business Administration will host a targeted workshop in Las Vegas to help faith-based and community organizations learn more about President Bush\'s Faith-Based and Community Initiative. The event is geared towards representatives from social service groups that have a track record of applying for government funding, especially those from groups that have not yet won grants.

The conference is free, but pre-registration is required. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. Visit http://www.fbci.gov to register online. We strongly encourage you to register online. If you are unable to register online, print the registration form attached to this e-mail. Complete the form and fax it to 703-299-4589. If you are not able to view this file, please call 202-456-6708 to have a form faxed to you. *Please register by Wednesday, May 31.* If you must cancel your registration, please send an email to fbci@dtihq.com [or a fax to the number listed above so we may accommodate as many people as possible.

The workshop is part of a series of regional conferences and targeted workshops that are being held around the country. The targeted workshops will offer grant writing tutorials for certain federal grant programs that present some of the greatest opportunities for faith-based and community organizations. They will also provide the occasion for federal officials to meet with state and local grant administrators about equal treatment regulations and facilitate opportunities to network with government officials. For more information, please call 202-456-6708, send an e-mail to fbci@dtihq.com, or visit http://www.fbci.gov .

(http://www.fbci.gov)

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CONFERENCE FOCUSES ON THE BROADBAND ECONOMY
Intelligent Community Forum Annual Conference

The Intelligent Community Forums annual conference, "Building the Broadband Economy," is a meeting place and "idea exchange - for government officials and nonprofit executives from around the world and their private-sector partners in telecom, IT, consulting, finance, and real estate. The conference will address the economic and social challenges that the new "broadband economy" is creating for local communities - and the ways that communities are adapting and learning to prosper from its unprecedented opportunities. The conference provides attendees with an international perspective, fosters innovation, and helps break down the barriers to cooperation between the public and private sectors. The conference will be held in Brooklyn, NY, June 8-9, 2006.

(http://www.intelligentcommunity.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=16)

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NCVA VIETNAMESE AMERICAN YOUTH LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE (VAYLC)

“Modern Day Trail Blazers”

June 21-24, 2005

The George Washington University
1957 E Street NW
Washington, DC

Space is limited!

Do you want to be part of the generation that makes a MEASURABLE change?
Do you want to find resources to help you get things done?
Do you want to know who else is out there doing what you are doing?

Then come join us.

The objective of the Vietnamese American Youth Leadership Conference (VAYLC) is to create a venue where young people may share their ideas, values and goals with one another.  VAYLC is an educational leadership conference and the programs are designed to inspire today's outstanding young adults to reach their full leadership potential.

  • Learn new leadership, management and fundraising skills

  • Network, meet and speak with those who are in the know and getting things done

  • Get training provided to Fortune 100 company executives

  • Take home resources that can help you make a difference in your local community or school

Registration Fee
$50 – Training Conference only (includes all conference meals)
$150 – Training Conference and lodging at George Washington University (includes all conference meals)


Banquet Dinner
Friday, June 23, 2006
Fortune Restaurant
Falls Church, Virginia


Sponsored by: Freddie Mac, State Farm, Citibank, SunTrust

Supported by: BN Magazine, Boy Scouts of America, Moonlight Group, Spectrum Knowledge, Vietnamese American Television, Vietnamese Professionals Society - DC

Program Brochure
(http://www.vaylc.org/Brochure_VAYLC06.pdf)

(http://www.vaylc.org)

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 FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

DO YOU KNOW A WOMAN OF WORTH?

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

For more than 30 years, "Because I'm worth it" has been used by L'Oreal Paris to celebrate Women of Worth. L'Oreal Paris is looking for exemplary woman throughout the nation that volunteer - Women of Worth. These women are making a difference by volunteering in the communities in which they live, work and play

Women of Worth give freely of themselves, their time and their resources. They care about their communities and look to make a direct impact on them. Some create mentoring programs, serve as tutors for underserved populations, and help to build homes for those in need. Others may deliver meals to homebound seniors, teach adults to read through literacy programs or give respite to families through hospice. In each act of selflessness and generosity, her beauty shines through.

THE AWARD
L'Oreal Paris will honor seven Women of Worth during the inaugural year of the program. The seven honorees will be honored at a celebration in New York on September 19th. Each honoree will receive an all-expense paid trip to New York to coincide with the event.

L'Oreal Paris will donate $5,000 in each honoree's name to support her most cherished cause. In addition, L'Oreal Paris will make a $5,000 donation in the name of each of the honorees to support the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund.

HOW TO APPLY
Please tell us about your Woman of Worth whose volunteer work is making a beautiful difference in the community in which she lives, works and plays. Nominate her at www.WomenofWorth.com before May 19th.

To learn more about the L'Oreal Paris Women of Worth program, please visit www.WomenofWorth.com.

(www.WomenofWorth.com)

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GRANTS FOR MEDIA ADVOCACY PROJECTS
Funding Exchange: Media Justice Immediate Response Fund

The Funding Exchange network supports progressive community-based organizations that address the root causes of social problems. The Media Justice Immediate Response Fund, administered by the Funding Exchange, makes grants in response to quickly developing political situations in the media advocacy field. Grants may be used to support travel, rallies, mailings, printing, materials, and other costs associated with political organizing activities. Grants are intended for use in mobilizing and educating communities in situations where a small grant of up to $3,000 can have a significant impact. Applications for the Media Justice Immediate Response Fund are accepted throughout the year.

(http://www.fex.org/mjf.shtml)

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FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES GRANTS TARGET FAMILY VIOLENCE
RadioShack StreetSentz Community Grant Program

The RadioShack StreetSentz Community Grant Program is dedicated to strengthening the American way of life by helping families protect their children from abduction, violence, and abuse. Projects addressing this mission that are conducted by local nonprofit organizations and municipalities in company communities throughout the U.S. are eligible for grants of up to $500. Applications are reviewed four times per year. The remaining deadlines for 2006 are June 15, September 15, and December 15. For application guidelines visit the StreetSentz website and click on StreetSentz Community Grants.

(http://www.streetsentz.com)

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OFFICE DEPOT SUPPORTS PROGRAMS THAT ASSIST CHILDREN

The Office Depot Community Relations Programs mission is to support local nonprofit organizations in company communities in the U.S. and Canada that directly impact the health, education, and welfare of children. Cash grants and product donations are provided, and applications for support are accepted throughout the year. The company also supports children, parents, and teachers through several key programs, including the "5% Back to Schools" Program, the National Backpack Program, and the Star Teacher Program.

(http://www.community.officedepot.com/local.asp)

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SAMSUNG TECHNOLOGY DONATIONS FOR K-12 SCHOOLS

Samsungs Hope for Education contest is a philanthropy program designed to better educate U.S. elementary, middle, and high schools through the delivery of new digital technologies and software. Individuals are invited to nominate a school to receive Samsung and Microsoft product donations by submitting an essay on the current year's selected topic. For the 2006 contest, applicants should write a 100 word essay addressing the following question. "Do you know of an individual student or teacher, or group of school children, who are missing out on opportunities because they don't have access to technology?" One Grand Prize of $100,000 in Samsung merchandise and $100,000 in Microsoft software will be awarded. In addition, 20 schools will receive First Prizes of $30,000 in Samsung merchandise and $30,000 in Microsoft software. The entry deadline is June 30, 2006.

(http://www.hopeforeducation.com)

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NORMAN FOUNDATION FUNDS SOCIAL JUSTICE PROGRAMS

he Norman Foundation supports efforts that strengthen the ability of communities throughout the U.S. to determine their own economic, environmental, and social well-being, and that help people control those forces that affect their lives. Projects are supported that arise from the hopes and efforts of those whose survival, well-being, and liberation are directly at stake. The Foundations specific areas of interest incude civil rights, environmental justice, and economic justice. Letters of inquiry are reviewed throughout the year on a schedule determined by issue area. The remaining deadlines for 2006 are July 14 for civil rights requests and November 15 for environmental justice requests.

(http://www.normanfdn.org)

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GREEN COMMUNITIES’ CHARRETTE GRANTS PROGRAM FOR LOW-INCOME HOMES

Created by Enterprise Community Partners in partnership with the Natural Resources Defense Council, Green Communities is a five-year, $555 million initiative to build more than 8,500 environmentally healthy homes for low-income families in the United States. The initiative provides grants, financing, tax-credit equity, and technical assistance to developers who meet Green Communities Criteria for affordable housing that promotes health, conserves energy and natural resources, and provides easy access to jobs, schools, and services.

Green Communities is now offering charrette grants of up to $5,000 each for green affordable housing developers who want to convene intense working sessions with the development team and others who share an interest in promoting health and livability.

A Green Communities charrette will involve an intense working session that brings together a diverse group of housing development professionals as well as funders, policy makers, and community stakeholders (where possible) to integrate sustainable green design principles into affordable housing developments. Enterprise will award grants to cover the cost of facilitating a charrette during pre-development and to cover the cost of facilitating a post-construction sustainability training session.

The charrette grant program is open to 501(c)(3) nonprofits, public housing authorities, and tribally designated housing entities; for-profit entities; and for-profit entities participating through joint ventures with qualified organizations.

(http://enterprisefoundation.org/resources/green/greencharrettes.asp)

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 CVS/PHARMACY ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR COMMUNITY GRANTS PROGRAMS

 CVS/pharmacy supports the communities it serves by providing nonprofit organizations the opportunity to apply for a CVS/pharmacy Community Grant.

The Community Grants program is currently accepting proposals for the following:

1) Programs targeting children under the age of 18 with disabilities that address any of the following: health and rehabilitation services; public schools promoting a greater level of inclusion in student activities and extracurricular programs; and creating opportunities or facilities that give greater access to physical movement and play.

2) Healthcare services for uninsured people.

All CVS/pharmacy Community Grant applications must be submitted online between January and October of each calendar year.

(http://www.cvs.com/corpInfo/community/community_grants.html)

******************

ANTITRUST SETTLEMENT YIELDS $10 MILLION IN GRANT MONEY FOR CALIFORNIA NONPROFITS

Deadline: May 22, 2006 (Letters of Inquiry)

The Vitamin Cases Consumer Settlement Fund is soliciting Letters of Inquiry from eligible nonprofit organizations and public agencies for grants to improve the health and nutrition of consumers in California and to promote vigorous competition to benefit California consumers

Grants totaling approximately $10 million are being made available as part of an antitrust settlement with vitamin manufacturers.

Applicants must be either a public agency (i.e., a state or local agency, department or instrumentality); or a nonprofit organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. To receive a grant, nonprofit organizations must also be registered (if required by law) and in good standing with the Charitable Trusts Section of the California Department of Justice, California Secretary of State, and California Franchise Tax Board.

Because of the nature of the settlement funds, grants will be made on a one-time basis for specific projects and not general operating support. Funding is not available for scientific, medical, clinical, or academic research. Projects will be funded for up to three years.

For further information about the Vitamin Cases Consumer Settlement Fund and instructions on how to submit a Letter of Inquiry, visit the Cypresfunds.net Web site.

(http://www.cypresfunds.net/vitamin.html)

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 JOBS/INTERNSHIPS

 CMS DIVERSITY SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM (May 19th Deadline)

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announces a 12-week Diversity Summer Internship Program for college and university students. CMS is the Federal agency that administers the Medicare, Medicaid, and State Children's Health Insurance Programs. The purpose of the Diversity Summer Internship Program is to enhance students' knowledge about CMS programs, mission, vision and goals. Additionally, the program seeks to familiarize participants about Federal, State, and local health care programs serving underserved and uninsured populations. This 12-week program is offered to college/university students of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) descent, and to students attending Hispanic Serving Institutions or of Hispanic descent, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs). The program, developed by CMS, is consistent with the goals and objectives for the Hispanic Agenda for Action, and the AAPI, HBCU, and TCU Initiatives.

Dates of Employment
Students may begin the program as early as May 15, 2006. The date the student begins the program will determine when the 12-week appointment ends. All appointments must be completed by September 8, 2006.

Eligibility and Application Process

In order to qualify, students MUST meet one of the following requirements:
* a student of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) descent
* a student attending a Hispanic Serving Institution or of Hispanic descent
* a student attending a Historically Black College and University (HBCUs), or a Tribal College and University (TCUs)

Only applications from students who are U.S. citizens will be accepted for this program. All applicants must have a GPA of 3.0 and a minimum of 60 credits as of May 19, 2006, in majors relating to the health care and/or management field ( e.g. computer science, business administration, allied health, health science, accounting, social science, and/or statistics). A student's application package must contain a detailed resume (including social security number, date of birth and citizenship) and a transcript.

Students are strongly encouraged to complete the Department of Health & Human Services Applicant Background Survey (http://www.cdc.gov/hrmo/OMB_form.htm) and submit it with their application package. Students must also indicate the date they will be available to begin the program, if selected. The requested materials must be mailed to the 2006 Diversity Summer Internship Program, Attention: Marla Lazarus, Mail Stop C2-13-13, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21244.

Deadline for Submitting Applications
To be considered for the program, applications must be postmarked by Friday, May 19, 2006.

Salary and Place of Employment
The salary is approximately $12-$13 per hour for a 40-hour workweek. This amount may vary in some areas according to the locality pay for specific regions. Interns are responsible for their own living arrangements and transportation costs. Employment opportunities are available at CMS sites in Boston, Massachusetts; New York City, New York; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Atlanta, Georgia; Chicago, Illinois; Dallas, Texas; Kansas City, Missouri; Denver, Colorado; San Francisco, California; Seattle, Washington; Miami, Florida; and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Employment site preference(s) should be indicated on the student's resume. Selected students will be responsible for costs incurred should they relocate to participate in the program.

(http://www.cdc.gov/hrmo/OMB_form.htm)

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POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT – AALDEF DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

The Organization:
The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) is a 32-year old nonprofit organization in New York City that protects and promotes the civil rights of Asian Americans through litigation, advocacy and community education.  AALDEF has a 16-person staff and is supported by foundation and corporate grants, individual contributions, and special events.  We receive no government funds.  For more information about AALDEF and its current activities, visit our website at www.aaldef.org.

Job Description:
The Development Director is a senior staff position reporting directly to the Executive Director.  Specific responsibilities include the following:

*  Design and implement an annual fundraising plan, in coordination with the executive director and board of directors

*  Write grant proposals and reports, membership solicitation letters and special event materials

*  Develop and implement a cultivation program targeting corporations and businesses.

*  Cultivate and identify major gift prospects and provide background materials for board members

*  Oversee tracking of individual donations and database management

*  Other duties as assigned by the Executive Director.

Qualifications:
*  Excellent writing skills and lively writing style.

*  Five or more years of experience and demonstrated success in foundation and corporate fundraising as well as in individual solicitations.

*  Able to work independently.

*  Creative, strategic, and entrepreneurial.

*  Familiarity with Asian American communities and legal/civil rights issues preferred.

*  Commitment to racial and economic justice issues

Compensation:
Commensurate with experience; excellent health and vacation benefits package.

Starting date:
As soon as possible.

Please send letter (including any salary requirements), resume and one unedited writing sample to:

J. Weng
AALDEF
99 Hudson Street-12/F
New York, NY 10013-2815
jweng@aaldef.org

(for email, put "DD search" in subject line)

AALDEF is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

(http://www.aaldef.org)

******************

939 Market Street, Suite 201 , San Francisco, CA 94103
Tel: (415) 896-1701 • Fax: (415) 896-1702
www.asianlawcaucus.org

 JOB ANNOUNCEMENT: SPECIAL PROJECTS ATTORNEY

The Asian Law Caucus (ALC), one of the nation’s oldest API civil rights and legal services organizations, seeks a special projects attorney for the duration of 6 months. The special projects attorney will provide critical legal services in the areas of wage and hour violations, unemployment insurance appeals, paid family leave, employment discrimination, language rights, and other issues affecting low-wage workers. Legal services provision will serve as the basis for identifying broad patterns of abuse, which may require broader legal and policy advocacy. The special projects attorney will also participate in community education workshops and panels.

General Tasks
* Supervise and provide legal services in employment rights, and other areas as needed
* Assist in legislative and administrative advocacy on employment rights issues
* Conduct community education workshops on employment rights
* Assist in conducting ALC’s bi-monthly employment clinics
* Supervise law clerks and other personnel
* Perform other work as needed.
* Report to assigned Staff Attorney

Qualifications
* B.A./B.S. and J.D. degrees with membership in good standing with the California State Bar
* 1-2 years of related legal practice experience (strongly preferred)
* Excellent research, analytical, written, and oral communication skills
* Excellent client communication and interaction skills
* Demonstrated leadership and ability to work independently and in collaboration with other attorneys, community advocates and community-based organizations
* Commitment to social justice and service to low-income communities of color
* Fluency in Asian language (preferred)

Salary and Benefits:
This is 6 month, full-time, exempt position. Salary DOE, plus medical, dental, vision and retirement benefits; without benefits, contract can be negotiable.

Application Process:
Qualified, interested candidates should submit a cover letter, writing sample and resume to:
Special Projects Attorney Search
Asian Law Caucus
939 Market Street, Suite 201
San Francisco, CA 94103

OR

jobs@asianlawcaucus.org

Date Due: ASAP or until filled Date Posted: May 4, 2006

The Asian Law Caucus was founded in 1972, with a mission to promote, advance and represent the legal and civil rights of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. ALC is committed to the pursuit of social, economic and racial equality and justice for all sectors of society, with a specific focus on the needs of low-income, immigrant and underserved communities. ALC strives to create an informed and educated community empowered to assert its rights and to participate actively in American society. As such, ALC integrates its legal services, educational programs, and community organizing initiatives with advocacy at the national, state and local levels. ALC is an equal employment opportunity employer and committed to diversity in the work place.

(http://www.altrue.net/site/alc/content.php?type=1&id=11771)

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 LEGISLATIVE/HURRICANE RELIEF

FREDDIE MAC EXTENDS RELIEF IN GULF COAST

On May 1, Freddie Mac announced that it is extending until August 31 a number of its emergency hurricane relief policies that were to end on June 1.

Freddie Mac's hurricane relief policies apply in federally designated disaster areas where federal assistance is available. Mortgage servicers in zone one, the worst disaster areas, have the authority to continue the moratorium policy on foreclosures and evictions. In zones two and three, areas that have moderate or significant damage, servicers must obtain approval from Freddie Mac through August 31 to proceed with foreclosures or evictions. Freddie Mac is extending to all zones a ban on reporting borrowers with storm related foreclosure repayment plans to credit bureaus. They are also extending a streamlined loan modification process designed to expedite workouts to help storm victims avoid foreclosure in all zones. The announcement is available at:

(http://www.freddiemac.com/sell/guide/bulletins)

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PUSH IN SENATE FOR ACTION ON GSE LEGISLATION

Two Senate Banking Committee members are circulating a "Dear Colleague" letter, asking Senate leaders to bring the Federal Housing Finance Reform Act of 2005, S. 190, to the Senate floor for debate. The legislation, reported out of the Senate Banking Committee in July 2005, provides for a new regulator for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Advocates hope it will eventually include a provision that sets aside a portion of Fannie and Freddie's profits for an Affordable Housing Fund.

Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) and Senator John Sununu (R-NH) are urging Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) and Senate Banking Committee Chair Richard Shelby (R-AL) to move the bill in order to ensure there there is an effective regulator for the GSEs.

Members of the Senate Banking Committee have been unable to agree on larger issues surrounding the portfolios of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, stalling the legislative process. The House passed a GSE reform bill in October of 2005 that includes an Affordable Housing Fund.

(http://nlihc.org/mtm/mtm11-18.html)

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LAWMAKERS GATHERING SUPPORT FOR HOUSING PROGRAMS

Senators Mel Martinez (R-FL) and Jack Reed (D-RI) are circulating a "Dear Colleague" letter in support of the President's request of a $209 million increase to the FY07 HUD appropriations for McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants. The letter is addressed to Senators Christopher Bond (R-MO) and Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair and Ranking Member, respectively, of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Treasury, the Judiciary and HUD.

The letter states that approximately 3.5 million people in the United States, including 1.4 million children, will experience homelessness this year. "In many areas, there persists a tremendous and, sometimes, growing need. In other areas, there is indisputable evidence that combining HUD's Homeless Assistance Programs with local and state government and private sector funding works to end homelessness for the families and individuals they serve." Asking that McKinney programs be funded at the President's requested level, $1.536 billion, the letter states, "homeless assistance for our vulnerable population is worth the investment."

Members have until close of business on May 8 to sign onto the letter, and should contact Reagan Anderson in Senator Martinez's office or Sharon Rapport in Senator Reed's office if they wish to do so.

On April 27, 35 Senators sent another letter to Senators Bond and Murray, this one requesting increased funding for the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS program. On March 14, 107 Representatives sent a similar letter to Representatives Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) and John Olver (D-MA), Chair and Ranking Member, respectively, of the House Appropriations subcommittee with jurisdiction over HUD programs.

"While major strides have been made in treatment options for people living with HIV/AIDS, the cost of these new treatments can often force people to decide between essential medications and necessities such as housing," reads the letter. "At any given time, one third of all Americans with AIDS are either homeless or in imminent danger of losing their homes." Signatories note that $3.5 billion is needed to truly meet the housing needs of all those living with HIV/AIDS. "In light of budget realities, however," the signatories ask for $424 million "to help those in the greatest need."

The final letters, along with a list of signatories, is available at: www.nationalaidshousing.org/Spring2006newsletter.htm.

Also in the House, on May 3, 51 members of the House of Representatives sent a letter in support of increased funding for the Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) and at least level funding for the Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP) to House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Treasury, HUD and the Judiciary Chair Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) and Ranking Member John Olver (D-MA).

The FHIP program provides resources to fair housing organizations and other nonprofit organizations to educate the public and to enforce federal fair housing laws. The President has requested level funding of $20 million for FHIP in FY07. The 51 Representatives are requesting $50 million to ensure that "private fair housing organizations have the resources to combat housing discrimination."

the letter is available at:
http://lee.house.gov/index.cfm?ContentID=732&ParentID=0&SectionID=4&SectionTree=4&lnk=b&ItemID=727.

Finally, Senate Special Committee on Aging Chair Gordon Smith (R-OR) and Ranking Member Herb Kohl (D-WI) are asking Senators to sign a letter supporting $742 million for the Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly program. The President has requested that the Section 202 program be cut by 26% for FY07. According to AARP, there are nine seniors on the waiting list for every one Section 202 unit that will become available in a given year. According to the letter, "A $742 million appropriation would restore Section 202 funding to the FY 2006 level and ensure that the program meets the housing needs of seniors." Senators can sign on to the letter by contacting either Mike Smith in Senator Smith's office or Brian Heindl in Senator Kohl's office.


(http://nlihc.org/mtm/mtm11-18.html)

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SENATE PASSES SUPPLEMENTAL SPENDING BILL, INCREASES HURRICANE RECOVERY DOLLARS

Defying veto threats by the White House, on May 4 the Senate passed a $109 billion supplemental spending bill for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and for hurricane recovery. The hurricane recovery portion of the bill was increased on the Senate floor by an additional $1.8 billion, for a total hurricane recovery package of $28.9 billion. The House-passed version of the bill (H.R. 4939) includes a hurricane recovery package of $19.2 billion; the President requested $19.8 billion for such efforts.

Senators Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and David Vitter (R-LA) successfully offered an amendment that would, within the $202 million appropriated for tenant-based rental assistance, ensure that no less than $100 million be available as project-based assistance to support the reconstruction, rebuilding and repair of damaged or destroyed assisted housing in the Gulf Coast, or new units built with Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC). Within the $100 million, the amendment further targets funds for 4,500 project-based vouchers for permanent supportive housing units. This amendment passed by unanimous consent.

Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) had the only other vote on a housing-related amendment, which also passed by unanimous consent. The amendment, co-sponsored by Senators Landrieu, Vitter, Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), would ensure that no state receive less than 3.5% of the $5.2 billion allocation of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. This would presumably ensure that Louisiana receive the $4.2 billion the state requested, while Florida, Texas, and Mississippi would each receive no less than $182 million.

An amendment that added $2.2 billion for levee reconstruction in coastal Louisiana was approved, though not with the President's requested offset from FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund. The funds would support the reconstruction of levees in all areas of New Orleans except for lower Plaquemines parish. These funds are in addition to $1.5 billion in levee projects and flood control originally included in the bill.

Additional dollars and language added on the Senate floor would, among other things: require the Army Corp of Engineers to prepare a report within 60 days that details a plan for hurricane protection for lower Plaquemines Parish; require the Small Business Administration (SBA) to provide monthly accounting reports to Congress on the status of the SBA Disaster Loan program for Katrina, Rita and all future disasters; expand the cap on Community Disaster Loans from 25 to 50 percent; designate the Katrina and Rita disaster areas as Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZones), giving small businesses a preference when bidding on federal projects; and raise the FEMA reimbursement level for Texas counties from 75% to 90%.

On April 25, President Bush threatened to veto the final spending bill if it comes to him with a cost greater than $94.5 billion, which equals his original supplemental spending request, plus an additional $2.3 billion to respond to an avian flu pandemic. The next day, 35 Senators, one more than needed to sustain a veto, wrote to the President, commending his veto threat (see Memo, 4/28) and vowing to uphold it on the Senate floor. Some of these same Senators, however, voted to approve additional spending on the Senate floor, as well as voting for the bill's final passage. The final vote was 70-20; Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) voted against the bill.

Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said soon after the final Senate vote that he expects there to be some negotiating room with the White House as to the final cost of the bill. Conferees may attempt to strip egregious line items from the bill, such as the $700 million to relocate a private corporation's rail line in Mississippi, to lower the cost of the bill and avoid the President's veto. Or, in an attempt to assuage the Administration, Senate fiscal conservatives and appropriators, each of whom come to negotiations with very different spending agendas, conferees may chose instead to make across the board cuts to the entire spending bill.

Immediately following the bill's passage, all members of the Senate Appropriations Committee were named to the conference committee. House conferees have not yet been named, but negotiations are expected to begin the week of May 8.

(http://nlihc.org/mtm/mtm11-18.html)

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 TIPS/RESOURCES

MANAGEMENT: 6 VITAL STEPS TO YOUR FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN

More than $250 billion in charitable gifts in the U.S. were calculated last year. But competition for the philanthropic dollar seems fiercer than ever among the more than 1.1 million 501(c)(3) groups in the nation.

Nonprofits cant just sit on the sidelines and hope that donors pass some of the $250 billion in contributions their way. Fundraising efforts must be coordinated and strategic to maximize any potential donors.

In the second edition of his book, Fundraising: Hands-On Tactics for Nonprofit Groups, L. Peter Edles shows nonprofits how they can design and run a successful fundraising campaign with effective strategies and suggestions on cultivating donors.

Edles, who has directed annual and capital campaigns for organizations for more than 30 years and has taught masters degree courses in fundraising management, believes there are six requirements that are vital to the success of any fundraising campaign:

* The goals of the organization must be compelling to ensure intense donor commitment.

* The organizations growth patterns must easily be perceived.

* The organization or its key leaders must be strongly visible to the people whose support is expected.

* The chief executive and volunteer leadership must be highly competent, totally committed, and be proven, excellent fundraisers.

* The campaigns needs must be specific, attractive, people-oriented, and have a sense of urgency.

* The results of the campaign must be measurable.

(http://www.nptimes.com/enews/tips/management.html)

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ONLINE: 4 EASY WAYS TO IMPROVE EMAIL RESPONSE

In direct mail fundraising, sometimes as many as 90 percent of prospective donors didn?t even open the envelopes. Yet, very little time and effort was put into testing outer envelopes. The same is true with email.

According to Rick Christ, president of npadvisors.com in Warrenton, Va., and a contributing editor of The NonProfit Times, many of your emails aren?t being opened. With email there are four possible reasons:

1. It isnt being delivered: Its vital that you make every possible attempt to keep email addresses accurate and current. When emails from past donors bounce, you need to reach out to them via postal mail and ask them for an updated address. Gift receipts are a great, low-risk way to ask for email addresses.

2. It’s ending up in their spam folder: Don’t be too cute with your content or subject line. Your donors are using ever-more-devious ways to cull spam from their inbox. Test your letters with a group of insiders to make sure each issue is being delivered before you send it to the whole list.

3. Your subject line is vague, too-cute, or suspicious: Again, dont be too clever. The key word or words of your issues (animal safety, kidney research, etc.) should probably be in the subject line of every email.

4. Your from address is suspicious or unknown: Christ explained that he used to get emails from the Legislative Information office of a nonprofit. Unfortunately the from address was just LegInfo and it looked like junk. Why not use a short form of your organization?s name, like Kidney Assoc. as the from address Better yet, test two different from addresses and see which one produces the better results.

You can argue with Rick Christ at rick@npadvisors.com

(http://www.nptimes.com/enews/tips/onlinefund.html)

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DONORS: RETAINING AND UPGRADING YOUR DONORS

As hard (and expensive) as it is to find donors, the last thing a fundraiser wants to do is to lose one. Therefore it is fundamental in building a successful fundraising program that you must cultivate the relationship with your donors.

Forming stronger bonds and engaging in a dialog with donors leads to more involved supporters, longer retention, and larger gifts, according to Geoff Peters, president, Creative Direct Response, Crofton, Md.

If the donor was acquired by direct mail this can be done through the same channel (i.e. direct mail) or through different channels such as telemarketing. There are a number of donor involvement tools that vary according to the charity and its cause. They can be as simple as asking the donor to become involved by signing a petition or calling their congressperson or even attending a seminar or special event. Some involvement tools are more complex such as inviting the donor to volunteer and become involved personally (e.g. Help Habitat for Humanity build a home? or Visit the slums in Haiti with Food for the Poor).

According to Peters, retention can also be aided by upgrading donors. This will encourage donors to contribute in larger amounts, or more frequently (e.g. monthly) and for a longer period of time. Upgrading donors is not solely about asking for higher dollar amounts, it is also about cultivating a stronger relationship which in turn is evidenced by a greater financial commitment.

So when upgrading donors, there must be a reason given for the upgrade. Sometimes this is as simple as reminding them of the great need (e.g. people are starving) or it can be more personal such as your support is appreciated but we really need you to help out by sponsoring a child and making a commitment to a monthly gift.

Whatever your cause, involving donors more deeply will produce fundraising benefits as well as a greater sense of satisfaction by the donor that they are supporting a cause to which they feel close. It also makes the fundraisers job more fun.

(http://www.nptimes.com/enews/tips/donors.html)

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REPORT ON NONPROFIT LEADERSHIP: DARING TO LEAD

Report on Nonprofit Leadership. CompassPoint Nonprofit Services and the Meyer Foundation have released a new report on nonprofit executive leadership – Daring to Lead 2006. For the report, almost 2,000 executive directors from community-based groups in eight major cities were surveyed. The findings are organized under five different headings: executives plan to leave their jobs within five years; boards of directors and funders contribute to executive burnout; executives believe they make significant financial sacrifices to lead nonprofits; executives seek new skills and strategies for organizational sustainability; and bench strength, diversity, and competitive compensation are critical factors in finding future leaders. To find out more about these findings and the recommendations to executives, boards of directors, funders, and capacity builders, go to:

(http://www.compasspoint.org/assets/194_daringtolead06final.pdf)

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Report on
RENTAL VACANCIES AND HOMEOWNERSHIP CONTINUE DECLINES

Rental vacancy rates declined in the first quarter of 2006 from a year ago as the proportion of Americans who owned their homes also fell, according to the most recent Housing Vacancy Survey from the Census.

The rental vacancy rate fell significantly from 10.1% in the first quarter of 2005 to 9.5% in the first quarter of 2006. The decrease was significant in the South and West while rates remained statistically unchanged in the Northeast and Midwest. In general, rental vacancies fell furthest in the suburbs while remaining statistically unchanged in central cities and non-metro areas. The homeownership vacancy rate, while remaining significantly lower than the rental vacancy rate, continued to climb from 1.8% in the first quarter of 2005 to 2.1% last quarter.

At 68.6%, the seasonally adjusted homeownership rate was also down significantly from 69.2% the year before. The decline in homeownership was widely experienced. White, black and Hispanic households all saw a decline in their rate of homeownership, as did most age groups and households above and below the median household income.

The press release and additional data from the survey is available at:

(www.census.gov/hhes/www/hvs.html)

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MINORITY PHILANTHROPY: THE FUTURE HAS ARRIVED

By Susan Raymond, Ph.D.

Increasingly, modern philanthropy is not just about the mega-rich. It is also about Americans from all walks of life. The longest period of economic growth in the nation's history lifted many boats.  The number of small family and community foundations has doubled since 1980. Among the significant actors in the growth of current and future U.S. philanthropy are America's minorities. By the end of 2000, 28.7 percent of the U.S. population was non-white (79.13 million people) compared to 12 percent a century ago. By 2015, that portion is expected to rise to 30 percent.

Let us pause, however. It is important to acknowledge that economic good times have not resolved the nation's poverty problem. Indeed, poverty rates for full-time workers have stayed constant in the last two decades, and wealth concentration in the uppermost tiers of income levels has increased. Moreover, the economic elevator goes both up and down. Three-quarters of Americans can expect to see their annual income rise or fall by 5 percent in any given year.

Still, it is important to recognize that economics is creating new philanthropic leadership in American minority communities.  In the Hispanic community, poverty rates have dropped to their lowest levels since the late 1970s. Less than a quarter (23 percent) of Hispanic households are below the poverty level and median income rose 6 percent between 1998 and 1999. Latino business leadership is also stepping into the front lines of philanthropy. The New America Alliance has been formed by Latino entrepreneurs interested in addressing deep-rooted problems within their own community as well as in creating greater opportunities for Latino entrepreneurs.

In the African American community, the philanthropic spirit is not, admittedly, a "new new thing." Charitable giving in the black community dates from at least the late 1700s, when Richard Allen and Absalom Jones founded societies of free men to support poor widows and orphans.

Indeed, the Underground Railroad of 1804 certainly qualifies as a black philanthropic effort, with a social return on investment that would satisfy even the most hard-nosed of today's Venture Philanthropists! Economics is further enabling this history. In metropolitan Boston, with the fastest growing urban black population in the nation, household incomes among blacks rose 40.2 percent in the 1990s. This change is striking in comparison to the overall Massachusetts increase of only 16 percent and the national increase of 11 percent. Nationally, 25 percent of African American households are in the top two quintiles (top 40 percent) of income. In the black community, 53 percent of households made charitable donations in 1997, up from 51 percent in 1993. This contrasts with a decline in the national average from 73 percent to 69 percent in the same period. Some 60 percent of African American giving flows through church communities.

Immigrant minorities are also major philanthropic players. In recent years, the U.S. has received more than 1 million immigrants annually, 660,000 legally and an estimated 300,000 without documents. The U.S. is now home to nearly 30 million foreign-born residents. More than 25,000 high-tech emigres from India have settled in the U.S. to lead the technology explosion. They now run more than 750 technology companies in Silicon Valley alone. Immigrant giving is global. Beneficiaries are not just communities in which immigrants live and succeed, but also those back home. In 2002, the U.S. recorded $32 billion in remittances to Latin America alone from foreign born workers sending money to their home countries. Nearly 23 percent of all international remittances originate in the U.S.

In the U.S., minority leadership in philanthropy tends to focus resources on deep and historically intractable social problems, seeking to work creatively at the community level. Minority resources also focus on opening up market opportunities for their communities, so that progress on the educational and social fronts will lead onward to progress and stability economically. While the "new philanthropy" that generates 8-figure donations to academic centers may grab the headlines, it is quieter, less flashy minority philanthropy that may be making the most creative investments in street-level solutions to the nation's enduring social and educational inequities.

So, the longer America can preserve and extend economic growth, the more new entrants to philanthropic leadership will come from America's minorities. And the more robust and creative will be the philanthropic landscape.

Sources:
"Black Philanthropy Conference Taps into the Collective Wealth of the Black Middle Class in New England," Business Wire, May 22, 2000.

Celia Dugger, "Return Passage to India: Immigrants Pay Back," New York Times, February 29, 2000.

Denise Meredith, "Black Philanthropy Will Continue to be a Strong Force," The Business Journal (Phoenix), April 21, 2000.

"Latino Leaders Form Philanthropic Alliance," The Los Angeles Times, January 12, 2000.

Migration News, November 2000.

D Hernandez, "With Fewer Dollars to Go Around, More are Going Around the World," New York Times, July 14, 2003.

Population Reference Bureau.

U.S. Bureau of the Census.

*Susan Raymond, Ph.D., is Sr. Managing Director, Research, Evaluation, and Strategic Planning for Changing Our World Inc., a leading consulting firm helping nonprofits and private and corporate philanthropists achieve their goals.  Dr. Raymond is also Chief Analyst for onPhilanthropy (www.onphilanthropy.com), a global resource for nonprofit professionals, and the author of The Future of Philanthropy: Economics, Ethics, and Management (from which this article was adapted), published by Wiley & Sons.

You may contact the author at: sraymond@changingourworld.com

(http://www.onPhilanthropy.com)

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Solving the Mysteries of the Greatest Untapped Source of Fundraising Revenue
10 PRINCIPLES FOR SUCCESSFUL U.S. HISPANIC FUNDRAISING

By Gladys Miranda and Jaime Townzen

The focus of marketers on the U.S. Hispanic population is growing rapidly. It's a new, vital market, with the potential to greatly increase revenue.  Top American corporations have recognized the value of making it a priority, and they are investing millions of dollars to reach this segment.  However, for nonprofits, this is a relatively untapped market.

Recent research reflects that Hispanic buying power will escalate from $700 billion today to more than $1 trillion in just two years. The current 43-million-strong Hispanic population will expand to more than 1/5 of the total U.S. population in just over a decade. And, being younger than the current general market donors, with a median age of 25, newly acquired Hispanic donors represent a great lifetime value potential as well.

Understanding of Hispanic culture and acculturation issues is imperative in successful fundraising strategies.  This ethnic group shares strong roots in family, customs, values and religion, but their lifestyles and language-preferences (English, Spanish or both) are strongly impacted by levels of acculturation: recent immigrants, foreign-born with varying lengths of residency in the U.S., and first-, second- and third-generation Americans.

Appropriate use of Spanish-language and bilingual communications combined with the best marketing practices and culturally relevant messages will enable fundraisers to expand their market presence, increase their donor file, and create a new source of revenue by targeting this ever-growing segment of the population.

10 key Hispanic fundraising principles:

* COMMIT TO THE MARKET
As with any new audience segment, organizations must make realistic long-term commitments to grow their Hispanic file and increase donor lifetime value.

* EMPLOY MULTI-CHANNEL BRANDING
Using a multi-channel strategy to develop brand awareness is imperative to gain trust in this segment. This can be achieved by sharing culturally relevant messages and offers via television, radio, print, direct mail, online, and face-to-face events.

* BUILD RELATIONSHIPS
Brand awareness among Hispanics also includes building relationships with members of the community, media personalities, well-known Hispanic celebrities, political figures and key religious leaders.

* TARGET HIGH-VALUE SEGMENTS
Identify and target the most committed Hispanic donors based on lifestyle, levels of acculturation and demographics.

* APPEAL TO HISPANIC HEARTS AND VALUES
All creative materials should incorporate culturally and linguistically sensitive messages combined with images where family, community, and culture are central elements.

* ADDRESS LANGUAGE NEEDS AND ASPIRATIONS
Most Hispanics recognize that English language proficiency is necessary for success in American society.  For this reason, bilingual communications in donor acquisition that capture language preference (Spanish, English, or Bilingual) for cultivation are stimulating much stronger response rates and becoming the standard strategy.

* MAKE IT EASY TO GIVE
Hispanic customs and varied levels of acculturation call for a variety of payment options to increase ease of giving, including gifts by credit and debit card, check, money order and wire transfer.

* CLOSE THE LOOP
Spanish language and/or bilingual continuity must be infused across all touch-points of communication infrastructure, including phone centers, fulfillment material and the internet.

* TRACK RESULTS AND REFINE STRATEGIES
Regularly reviewing results is the best practice for tracking progress and revisiting strategies in a timely manner for any successful Hispanic marketing campaign.

* BEGIN NOW
Now is the time to get your Hispanic program off the ground. Don't waste any more time letting this generous group of potential donors choose organizations other than your own!

By following these 10 principles along with fundraising best practices, nonprofits will be able to successfully launch, cultivate and grow a Hispanic program, that in a short time can be expected to emulate the results of even their greatest revenue-generating programs.

*Jaime Townzen is an Account Supervisor and Gladys Miranda is a Creative Director. Both work for the Russ Reid Company, the leading agency partnering exclusively with nonprofits in direct response fundraising, public relations and government relations. Over the last 10 years, the Russ Reid Company has successfully developed the country's largest Hispanic fundraising program for nonprofit organizations. You may contact the authors at: gmiranda@russreid.com or jtownzen@russreid.com

(http://www.onPhilanthropy.com)

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 NEWS

HISPANIC FOUNDATION OF SILICON VALLEY NAMES ITS FIRST EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Long time community leader with family history of involvement takes helm of foundation on April 17

The Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley (HFSV) today announced it has reached a major milestone in its history by naming Teresa Alvarado its first ever executive director.

Alvarado, who was selected by the HFSV Board of Directors after a year-long national search, takes the helm April 17 of the five-year old foundation which has established a solid track record of grantmaking, volunteerism and leadership development in the Silicon Valley Latino community.

"The time was right to make a strategic investment and hire an executive director," said Ivonne Montes de Oca, HFSV board member and co-founder of the foundation. "Our foundation is at a point in its history when having someone with passion and a clear vision will help strengthen the critical role we play in harnessing the resources, enthusiasm and commitment of Silicon Valley Latinos to improve our community."

Alvarado, 41, brings a unique blend of corporate and nonprofit experience to her role as executive director. She joins HFSV from Pacific Gas and Electric Company where she spent seven years as a government relations representative for the San Jose region serving as the liaison between the utility company, elected officials, governmental bodies, and community leaders in Silicon Valley, as well as external stakeholder relations and corporate contributions to nonprofit agencies in the region. She also has served on the board of directors for the Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley for six years, including two years as president.

"I am truly honored to be able to serve the community in this capacity," Alvarado said. "The Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley has developed a depth of knowledge and experience that makes it uniquely qualified to understand and respond to the key issues affecting the Latino community in this region."

"The Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley plays an important role in showing how strong philanthropy within the Latino community really is," said Carmen Castellano, president of the Castellano Family Foundation. "HFSV provides an important link between individuals, corporations and foundations that want to contribute and the resources, knowledge and opportunities for them to take action."

Although the Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley was officially established in 2000, it was born out of the long tradition of community building and grantmaking started by community leaders with the Hispanic Charity Ball in 1989.

Teresa, along with a cross-section of leaders who serve on the organization's board of directors, is committed to building upon the solid infrastructure of financial management, organizational efficiency, measurable community impact and mission-driven programs.

With seed funding from the Peninsula Community Foundation in 2001 and a strategic partnership with Community Foundation Silicon Valley over the past three years, the Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley has been able to build its infrastructure and reach this turning point in its history.

"The Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley has a long tradition of understanding and supporting the needs of the Latino community in our region," said Peter Hero, president of Community Foundation Silicon Valley. "Teresa is a dynamic leader with deep roots in our community. Her experience and reputation are what an organization like HFSV needs at this moment to leap to the next level."

Alvarado said, "HFSV's long history and reputation are key factors that attracted me to this position and are critical to the future success of the organization."

Alvarado's life-long commitment to community involvement is a family tradition. She is the daughter of Santa Clara County Supervisor Blanca Alvarado and sister of Jaime Alvarado, executive director of the Mayfair Community Initiative and co-founder of Teatro Vision. Her brother, Mike Alvarado, has been active in San Jose's Evergreen community for many years. She also has two older sisters, Leticia and Monica. Her father, Jose J. Alvarado, was a prominent radio program host and businessman in the 1940's and 1950's in San Jose.

Through her more than 20 years of involvement in a variety of nonprofit organizations in Silicon Valley, Alvarado has developed a keen understanding and grasp of nonprofit governance. She has played key leadership roles on boards of directors and committees, including as founder of the Latina Coalition of Silicon Valley, and board member of CompassPoint Nonprofit Services, YWCA of Silicon Valley, Franklin McKinley Education Foundation, San Jose-Evergreen Community College District Foundation, and Rotary Club of San Jose.

Her involvement and commitment to the community has been recognized by California State Senator Elaine Alquist, who named her San Jose Woman of the Year in 2005, and by the NAACP of Silicon Valley which bestowed its Freedom Fighter Award to Alvarado in 2005. She was also named a Bank of America Neighborhood Excellence Initiative Local Heroes Award winner in 2005.

About the Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley
The Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley (HFSV) cultivates philanthropy to inspire Hispanic children and families to achieve personal greatness. HFSV engages leadership and bridges resources to invest in a thriving Hispanic community. For more information, visit www.hfsv.org.

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(http://www.hfsv.org)

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May 2006

BICH THINKS BIG

By Jackie Bong Wright
Asian Fortune

Political Stand

Nguyen Ngoc Bich, chairman of the Board of National Congress of the Vietnamese Americans, didn’t waste any time catching Dennis Hastert before his visit to Vietnam.  As Vietnam strives to gather support for entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO), Bich sent the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives a list of Vietnamese American concerns, and asked him to convey them to Hanoi.

Bich reminded Hastert that Vietnam is still considered a Country of Particular Concern for its poor record on religious freedom and that it is among the worst violators of human rights generally.  He asked Hastert to bring up the Vietnam law (CP/31) that allows Vietnamese local authorities to put people under house arrest, noting that the law now affects two of the country’s most prominent Buddhist leaders -- the Most Venerable Thich Huyen Quang and Thich Quang Do -- as well as Dr. Nguyen Dang Que and a dozen other dissidents.  Bich also asserted that Prime Minister Phan Van Khai’s agreement to legalize the United Buddhist Church of Vietnam and Protestant “home” churches, made last year w