Thanks to your kind generosity, we have raised some US$22,000 for charity programs during the recent Chap Goh Mei Dinner.  This boosted our Charity Fund to around US$27,000.  We have since spent around US$12,000 on providing medical needs and paying for repair/replacement of doors and windows at the selected beneficiary Sponsor Society Centre 3 (Centre).  Another US$5,000 is approved for repair of leaking roofs and this work will commence in the next 2 weeks.

Many members have approached us and indicated the desire to visit the Centre to see what they can volunteer to help the needy orphans and disabled aged folks at the Centre.  Good news, we are organising a visit to the Centre on Saturday, 24 May 2008.  The program for the visit is as follows:

The Centre is in Tu Liem District, about 30 minutes drive from Somerset Hoa Binh (SHB).  As there are very limited parking space at the Centre, members going are urged to meet at Somerset Hoa Binh, 106 Huong Quoc Viet Street and be transported by bus to and from the Centre.  There is ample parking space at SHB.

The circus acts and traditional music performance will cost VND 6 million.  We will also need to pay for provision of lunch and purchase of diapers, milk powder and blankets for the residents of Centre 3.  There will be other costs like transportation and rental of sound system.

If you and/or your company wish to contribute in any manner, please let us know.  We hope that it will not be necessary to dip into the SBAV fund as we have reserved that for future projects IT and English courses for the orphans and handicraft sessions for the elderly residents.

Hope you can make time and join us at this event.  Please register with SBAV coordinator Ms Linh by Friday 16 May 2008.