News & Events
-2023-
December 2023
"Promo RM70 and RM76 classmates met up in Orange County over a bowl of Bún Bò. These encounters bring so much joy I wish I had the gift of ubiquity to participate in all of them simultaneously. On December 3rd, I drove to San Diego in my electric rental car to see Cecile Hong Chau Nguyen, RM83. We spent the afternoon together, and after HC helped charge up the car for the drive home." ~Thaivi
The next day, the Hiking Bunch of OC and several NDL and RM schoolmates met at Terrace by Mix Mix in South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa, CA, for the final reveal of the Piggy Bank Project that was started last April.
Several alumnae could not attend, but they all made sure to send in their contributions.
Alumnae present: Dieu Lien Nguyen Tang, Anh Dao Kieu, Bach Mai Ly, Minh Loan Le, Thuc Hien, Thaivi Tonnu.
We regret the following could not come: Kim Loan Le, Michele Huong Le, C Viet Hung Tran, Boi Ngoc Tu, My Van, Thao Hoang.
Our heartfelt gratitude goes to all of you. Donations from Tonya Do & Thien Huong have also just been received. Your support and friendship are much appreciated. We parted with the hope to meet again soon for more activities and closer ties to keep us together.
A special thank you goes to Phuong Duong, Kim Loan Le, and Lan Le who worked tirelessly from 2020 to 2022 along with many others to collect close to 5000 USD for the Dalat Hillside Project. Their efforts will be matched with a 5000 USD donation to JISF.
In December, we are also working to close our accounting for the year. Thanks to our generous donors and alumnae who joined hands with us, we are happy to announce we have collected 114,525.33 USD from January to December 2023, of which 10,000 USD have been sent to CND-VN. We are making steady progress toward our goal, and are looking forward to a bountiful 2024.
NOVEMBER 2023
November 30 was another happy occasion for JISF. East Coast Oiseaux met up with C Nhon Nguyen Nong and Anh Anh. The get together arranged by My Phuong Phan brought alumnae from both coasts together. In the words of C Nhon, “ In my mind you are a youthful group, full of passion and ready to give back and serve.” C Nhon hopes to have more opportunities for alumnae to meet and work together towards our mission.
OCTOBER 2023
JISF website is posted on Facebook’s Alumnae Group pages, Chim Ca Bốn Mùa and Một Thời Để Nhớ, with the consent of Group administrators who showed their unstinting support. We hope that alumnae will go to the site, read about our goal and mission, and give their support.
SEPTEMBER 2023
For our mini reunion on September 29, 2023, promo RM 70 classmates met quietly at St Ignace Church in Paris for a memorial mass for Anh Nguyen van Duc, Josée Kim Hoa’s late husband. We reconvened afterwards for lunch in the 13th arrondissement and talked about everything and nothing. JISF website was mentioned. Evelyne readied a birthday cake for me, and we took pictures. JISF gained more supporters on that happy day.
JULY 2023
-Orlando, FL. JISF mission was presented to a small group of Couventine friends from promo '74. This get-together was hosted by Mong Trang and Jean Louis Perrault in their beautiful and cozy residence in East Orlando.
Thank you for your friendship and support for JISF. Our gratitude extends towards each and every one present extends far beyond this news item: Van Nga & Anh Binh, Dieu Lien, Le Hang & Anh Minh, Phuong Lan, Minh Lan, Thu Van, Tuong Anh, Boi Ngoc, Do Quyen, Dieu Hoang and anh Tú, Quynh Dien, Nhu Mai, Phuong Anh, Kim Anh, and of course, our hosts.
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-Toronto, ON, Canada. Five friends from RM promo '70 met for five short days in Toronto, ON, Canada for our annual reunion. We painted the town red and stayed up all night...no, we didn't, but we did have a wonderful time catching up and celebrating one another! Sincere thanks to Pauline Binh Anh for her warm hospitality, and to all of you (Bich Thach, Dieu Khanh, Thanh Luong) for your unwavering support. Vive l'amitié!
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HCM City, Vietnam. Anh Linh I Elementary School has been demolished and rebuilding has begun. A new four-story building for classrooms and living quarters is slated to be completed by this time next year.
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April 2023
-Anh Linh I and Ai Linh Congregation living quarters under water from sewage backup and mounting tide waters. Renovations slated to start this year, and projected to be completed sometime in 2024. Sr. Lan Nhi has launched an appeal for contributions to build a taller and better AL I on higher grounds.
-Ai Linh Congregation will move to live on the top floor of AL II with boarders. AL I classes will move to AL II for the next school year.
-AL I classes will take place in the morning and AL II classes will take place in the afternoon.
-JISF has contributed $10,000 (U.S.) to the cost of rebuilding AL I!
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-Dak Foods have grapefruit rind chips and preserved artichoke flowers for sale. This turned out to be very popular snacks, and C Nhu Anh has been selling them like hot cakes. Thank you, C Nhu Anh, for your support!
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-The Hiking Bunch of Orange of County (members from NDL and RM promos 73, 78, 79) has started a piggy bank project in April of 2023 in support of JISF! Thank you, C Viet Hung, for hosting our lunch.
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-ECO (East Coast Oiseaux) Spring Fling 2023. JISF presentation @ event was well received and a piggy bank project was started at that time. Many thanks and big hugs to the hostesses and supporters that were present. Your generosity and welcome are truly inspiring.
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