CNN's Betty Nguyen to Keynote the Vietnamese American National Gala in San Francisco

CNN's Betty Nguyen to Keynote the Vietnamese American National Gala in San Francisco

Third Annual National Event Celebrates Vietnamese American Achievements

SAN JOSE, Calif., April 11 /PRNewswire/ -- The Vietnamese American National Gala (VANG) is proud to announce participation by CNN anchor, Betty Nguyen in the 3rd Annual Golden Torch Awards. "I'm truly honored to take part in an event that applauds the many ways Vietnamese Americans have enriched this country and achieved great success in all aspects of life," said Nguyen.

This black-tie event will take place on Saturday, May 6, 2006 at San Francisco's Westin St. Francis Hotel. Previous years' speakers have included US Secretary of Transportation, Norman Mineta and US Secretary of Labor, Elaine Chao.

VANG celebrates and recognizes Vietnamese American accomplishments. At the awards dinner, the Golden Torch Award will be presented to distinguished individuals and organizations for their contributions to the Vietnamese American community and America. More than 1,000 attendees are expected.

"Betty is not only recognized as a national journalist but to the Vietnamese American community she is a celebrity with superstar appeal," said Ryan Hubris, VANG 2006 executive director. "Through her charitable work and compassion for the community, she demonstrates what it means to be a strong and successful Vietnamese American woman."

Betty Nguyen is a news anchor for CNN. She has anchored several breaking news events, including the death of Pope John Paul II, the London bombing attacks, the tsunami disaster in South Asia and the Iraqi elections. In September 2005, Nguyen traveled to Houston to cover thousands of Hurricane Katrina victims seeking shelter in the Astrodome. That same month, she also traveled to South Vietnam to cover deadly flooding caused by annual monsoons.

Before joining CNN, Nguyen was an anchor for KTVT in Dallas. Nguyen began her career as a morning anchor and reporter at KWTX in Waco, Texas. She has received numerous honors including an Associated Press Award, a Legacy of Women Award, and a regional Emmy Award.

Nguyen is the co-founder of Help the Hungry, an organization that strives to alleviate global hunger as well as provide humanitarian relief to needy families around the world. Her philanthropic work also earned her a spot in the Philanthropy in Texas Hall of Fame.

The 3rd Annual Golden Award Gala dinner is part of a four-day celebration which includes the VANG Celebrity Golf Classic and the San Francisco City Hall Reception on Thursday, May 4, 2006; VANG Leadership Conference, the Napa Valley Wine Tasting & Tour, and VANG Welcome Reception on Friday, May 5, 2006; San Francisco City Tour and Gala dinner on Saturday, May 6, 2006; and a Sunday Farewell Brunch.

VANG is the premier Vietnamese American gathering in the nation. VANG is the Vietnamese American community's version of the Oscar(R), but it has a broader scope in recognizing professional achievements and community contributions. The black-tie dinner gala brings together nearly a thousand Vietnamese American luminaries, elected officials, corporate sponsors, and community and business leaders, to honor some of America's best and brightest.

Wells Fargo is the proud Title Sponsor of this year's celebration, along with the Viet Heritage Society (VHS) which is the host of VANG. VHS is a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization based in San Jose, CA. Its mission is to preserve and promote Vietnamese culture and history through the establishment of cultural venues and educational programs that foster community understanding and appreciation. VHS is currently developing the first Vietnamese Heritage Garden in the nation. The ground-breaking ceremony is scheduled to take place on Saturday, August 19, 2006 at Kelley Park in San Jose, CA.

For additional information on VANG, please visit www.vangUSA.com or contact Ryan Nguyen Hubris or Angie Pawlicki at 408-270-8000, or at info@vangUSA.com.

Source: Viet Heritage Society

CONTACT: Ryan Nguyen Hubris, Executive Director, VANG 2006,
+1-408-505-7388, or Angie Pawlicki, Press Secretary, or +1-408-270-8000, both
for the Viet Heritage Society

Web site: http://www.vangusa.com/

Web site: http://www.vietheritagesociety.org/

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