Job Opportunity: Researcher/Writer
News Article: English / Vietnamese
Interview: Vietnamese
Press Releases:

• Vietnamese American Exhibit to Open in 2006 [1/14/05]
• The Vietnamese American History & Heritage Project in 2006 (English / Vietnamese) [1/25/05]

FUNDRAISING STRATEGY FOR THE FIRST VIETNAMESE AMERICAN EXHIBIT

PHASE TWO:  February - June 2005
PHASE ONE:  November - December 2004 (completed)

Happy new year to all of you! Thanks to the efforts of the core Washington D.C. group and donors from around the country, the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program raised approximately $107,000 from 31 “Founder’s Circle” donors by December 31, 2004—ALMOST DOUBLE the original target of $60,000! Four donors gave at least $10,000 each. We reached this target over 6 weeks, an unprecedented grass-roots fundraising effort for us at the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program.

As indicated on the prior solicitation letter, we will be using the start-up funds to hire a Vietnamese American scholar who will work closely with Dr. Franklin Odo, our director, to conceptualize the design and collection for the exhibit. We held a press roundtable on January 25, 2005 to announce the job description and requirements for this position so it can be publicized widely. We would like to have an open, fair and transparent process in filling this position. We also secured gallery space at the Smithsonian for the exhibit which will open in 2006. We are also building a dedicated website for the Vietnamese American 30th anniversary commemoration.

We are now poised for the second phase of the fundraising campaign – we need to raise another $80,000 to install and travel the exhibit for a couple of years. We hope to raise these funds by June 30, 2005 so we can scout venues for the traveling portion of the exhibit which takes about a year to plan.

Why give to this effort??

• This will be the first Vietnamese American exhibit at the Smithsonian
• The exhibit will honor the history of survival, sacrifice, and triumph of the Vietnamese people against overwhelming odds.
• The Smithsonian is the largest museum complex in the world - it has the reputation, capacity and distribution channels to reach as many people as possible with this exhibit.
• The APA Program can create public programs, curriculum, and other events which can be combined with the exhibit to maximize impact on the public.
• This effort will be the legacy left behind by the 30th Anniversary of Vietnamese immigration.

How can you help to make this exhibit possible? Become a sponsor of the exhibit by giving generously to APA Program.  The Smithsonian is a 501(c)(3) organization. All contributions are tax deductible to the full extent of the law. Contributions are welcome from individuals, corporations, foundations, trusts and nonprofit organizations.