He’s a University of Waterloo professor who is featured prominently in a documentary about the 1975 evacuation of thousands of orphans from war torn Vietnam.
“A lot of people are interested in international adoptions and are intrigued by our story” and that led to this showing, Ballard said.
Ballard was just three weeks old when he and thousands of other Vietnamese orphans were airlifted during an American-led evacuation to protect the children from the impending threat of the Communist regime.
The orphans were adopted by families in the United States, Canada and Australia.
In their own voices, this movie tells the story of some of these Vietnamese adoptees growing up in America where they faced racism and being associated with an unpopular war.
Ballard is featured not only as a Vietnamese adoptee, but the film tells the story of the trials and tribulations he and his wife encountered as they tried to adopt a baby boy from Vietnam.
They were living in the United States when their plans to adopt fell through as the U.S. government ended its adoption program with Vietnam over allegations of baby selling, bribery and false documents.
In July 2008, the couple moved to Waterloo and started the adoption process again. Last May, they adopted Jayden, now 19 months, from an orphanage in Vietnam.
“Anyone involved in adoptions would be interested” in this film, Ballard said.
The documentary will screen at the Princess Twin at 46 King St. N. on Jan. 22 from 10:30 a.m. to noon.
Although admission is free, a ticket is required. The event is being held as a fundraiser for the Vietnam Education Society, a Canadian-based non-profit group that builds schools in Vietnam.
After the show, a discussion will be held featuring Ballard and his wife, Sarah Ballard, and Jared Rehberg, a cast member and the film’s associate producer.
The film coincides with a panel discussion on Jan. 21 at the University of Waterloo starting at 6:30 p.m. The panellists include three adult adoptees from Vietnam and Korea.
ATG loves passionate people like Ysa Le, whose commitment has supported so many artists in our community. Everyone who meets Ysa will know she has a bubbly, upbeat personality, always willing to land a hand and give words of encouragement.
Ysa began her involvement with arts activism in 2000 when she volunteered for the Vietnamese American Arts & Letters Association (VAALA), a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization. She served as Board President from 2004-2008 and is currently Executive Director. She has produced and co-produced many events and co-founded the biennial Vietnamese International Film Festival (ViFF). She recently developed the smART Program, which provides free art workshops to non-profit youth organizations in the Orange County and Los Angeles areas.
In 2005, Ysa was chosen by the Orange County Register as one of the “30 Vietnamese Americans to Watch” in celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Vietnamese American community in the United States.
Ysa is a graduate from the University of Southern California, School of Pharmacy and currently works as a pharmacist.
Full Name:
Ysa Le
Hometown:
Saigon, Vietnam
Current City:
Fountain Valley, CA
Ethnicity:
Vietnamese
What does it mean to you to “Go Against The Grain?”
Unconventional – swimming against the current – but it needs to be done in order to reach the other shore. Art has always been viewed a secondary in the Vietnamese community.
What made you decide to lead Asian American non-profit for the arts?
I believe art can build the community. It brings people together by creating understanding among people of different background and age groups. And I love artists’ energy, passion and creativity. Their work enriches my life.
What have been some of the challenges you faced/lessons you learned as an Asian American in this field?
Specifically as a Vietnamese American, I think in the aftermath of the War, the portrayal of Vietnam and Vietnamese people has been narrowed to “the war” by the mainstream media. Many of the artwork created by the mainstream artists would only focus on their own stories, leaving the Vietnamese people in the background with no voices of their own. All this would create un urge for community art organizers to present a diversity of stories from our own experience. Our diversity, in turn, would enrich the American experience and history.
What do you feel is your biggest accomplishment, and why?
I think my biggest accomplishment so far is to introduce new artists to the Vietnamese communities as well as others through different projects by the Vietnamese American Arts & Letters Association (VAALA).
What’s up next?
The fifth biennial Vietnamese International Film Festival (ViFF), which will take place from April 7-10 & 14-17, 2011 at University of California, Irvine (UCI), University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and Bowers Museum, Santa Ana. ViFF will showcase over 50 films made by filmmakers of Vietnamese descent from all over the world.
Want to get more involved in the arts and give back to you community? Want to grow your leadership experience and potential? Want to work with some pretty awesome people and help make a difference? ATG is seeking strong, energetic and passionate leaders to join our 2011 ATG Board!
Open positions:
* Vice President – 1. Is a member of the Board 2. Performs President responsibilities when the President cannot be available (see President Job Description) 3. Reports to the Board’s President . 4. Works closely with the President and other Board members. 5. Participates closely with the President to develop and implement officer transition plans. 6.Performs other responsibilities as assigned by the Board.
* Treasurer– 1. Is a member of the Board 2. Manages finances of the organization 3. Administrates fiscal matters of the organization, including audit and tax filing. 4. Provides annual budget to the board for members’ approval. 5. Ensures development and board review of financial policies and procedures. 6. Participates in fundraising for the organization.
* Director of Community Outreach – 1. Is a member of the Board. 2. Plans programs and presentations that will translate the organization’s mission to the community. 3. Provide organization linkage to other organizations. 4. Is an active participant in the committee’s annual evaluation and planning efforts. 5. Maintains a database of organizations and leadership connections for possible partnership opportunities. 6. Serve on Scholarship committee to review applicants and determines a final recipient. 7. Participates in fundraising for the organization
* Director of Public Relations/Marketing – 1. Is a member of the Board. 2. Creates and implements appropriate strategic vision and marketing campaigns. 3. Writes news stories and press releases 4. Creates and maintains website and social media (Facebook, Twitter, Blog). 5. Creates printed marketing and promotional materials including postcards, pamphlets, brochures and e-campaigns 6. Is an active participant in the committee’s annual evaluation and planning efforts. 7. Maintains active relations with national/local press and media and keeps press and newsletter databases updated. 8. Participates in fundraising for the organization.
* Director of Fundraising – 1. Is a member of the Board. 2. Strategizes and leads fundraising campaign to search for funds through grants and public solicitation. Organizes fundraising campaigns in tandem with the Public Relations/Marketing and Community Outreach Teams 3. Is an active participant in the committee’s annual evaluation and planning efforts. 4. Participates in fundraising for the organization.
November is National Adoption Month. ATG is proud to highlight Bert Ballard, a Vietnamese adoptee and adoptive parent. He was a film advisor and his family’s compelling story was featured in Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam. He is an assistant professor in speech communication at the University of Waterloo (Ontario) where he researches, speaks, and writes about international and transracial adoption, and he also co-founded an online humor blog for adoptees called Adopted the Comic. He is married with three children – Adria (8), Kyla (6), and most recently, Jayden (1).
Full Name Robert “Bert” Ballard
Hometown Rangely, Colorado
Current City Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Ethnicity Vietnamese
What does it mean to you to “Go Against The Grain?” To “go against the grain” to me means to carve a path that is different than others. Sometimes this is radical, sometimes it is subtle yet enough to make a difference or provocative enough to cause people to think. As an adoptee, in a lot of ways I think my life is a series of going against the grain – born in one country, raised in another; Asian on the outside, Caucasian on the inside; an only child with seven parents (2 birth parents, 2 adoptive parents, 2 stepmothers, 1 stepfather); in an interracial marriage and family; an adoptee who has adopted internationally; an academic who works to translate research and knowledge directly applicable to families and adoptees.
My hope is that with my life going against the grain I will challenge others to consider ways to reflect upon and take responsibility for their own lives. I hope they will be inspired to act in ways that positively impact and influence others and go against the grain in their own ways.
What made you decide to pursue a career in adoption?
At the 25 year reunion of Operation Babylift adoptees in 2000, it was the first time in my life that I felt like I fit, like I didn’t have to explain who I was to others. It was a wonderful feeling and it was one that I wanted other international and transracial adoptees to feel and experience. Originally my work took root in helping to create spaces and communities where adoptees could feel secure and safe in expressing and sharing their feelings. That moved to conducting research on adoptive families and adoption identity and writing and editing articles and books for scholarly, professional, and non-professional audiences. Recently, I organized the inaugural Intercountry Adoption Summit (http://adoptionsummit.uwaterloo.ca) that brought together representatives from influential countries and scholars around the world to dialogue about the current state of international adoption and its future. Through this evolution in activities and involvement, I try to remain grounded in my experience of finding fit and hope that my work can help families, adoptees, professionals, and researchers consider ways to reduce corruption in the adoption process and offer more support and awareness of what it means to adopt or be adopted.
What have been some of the challenges you faced/lessons you learned as an Asian American in Academia? I suppose my “industry” is academics right now, but I’ve definitely worked in the adoption world too. I think the biggest challenges for me personally being an Asian American who is adopted run along two lines. The first is credibility. As an Asian American, I’m most often viewed as young and therefore lacking in knowledge or experience (and am often mistaken as a student by many of my academic colleagues). As such, I often have to “prove” that I belong, am knowledgeable, and have the appropriate credentials to be in academics (in fact, many at the Summit came to tell me how surprised they were that I was not a 50-year old white male named Bob!). The second is always being seen as a kid. Working with adoption professionals, who are often older, I find they still see me as a “kid.” Even though I am asked to be a trainer or speaker, many still position me as a “child” with much to learn. On my good days, this provides me opportunities to educate others; on my not so good days, it is frustrating and I wonder if I will ever be judged on my education, knowledge, and character over how I look.
What do you feel is your biggest accomplishment, and why? Without a doubt, being married for 11 plus years and so far raising 3 children is my greatest accomplishment! There are few things in life as challenging or as rewarding as committing to one person for the rest of your life. It hasn’t always been easy for either of us, especially for myself coming from a family with so many divorces and remarriages and having married into a family with so many brothers and sisters! But it has been an amazing journey where I have learned so much about myself, most importantly that I am worthy of being loved by someone. As for being a parent, there is nothing more challenging and vulnerable than helping a human being come into her or his own; I’ve learned more from my children (two biological, one adopted; two daughters, one son) than I think they have from me. The hugs and cries of “Daddy!” when I come home from a long day makes it worth it and reminds me how important these relationships are in my life.
What’s up next? Right now I’m working on two volumes coming out of the Intercountry Adoption Summit, which I hope will foster interdisciplinary research on international adoption while becoming important research contributions to international adoption as a whole. I am working on publishing work around my idea of “narrative burden,” and considering ideas for research on international and transracial adoptive families in Canada. I’m working on planning a screening of Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnamin Waterloo, Ontario, where I live. And I am also trying to get some sleep (and help my wife get some too) with our new 1 year-old son who we recently adopted from Vietnam in June 2010!
(l. to r.) Ken Malcolmson, president of SMU's Alumni Board of Directors; George W. Bramblett Jr.; Stephen Mulholland; Tammy Nguyen Lee; Gary Crum; and R. Gerald Turner, president of SMU.
Tammy Nguyen Lee, a graduate of SMU’s Meadows School of the Arts, will receive the 2010 Southern Methodist University Emerging Leader Award on Thursday, October 21. SMU President R. Gerald Turner will present the award at the Distinguished Alumni Awards black-tie celebration at the Fairmont Hotel in Downtown Dallas.
Dr. Turner wrote, “The Emerging Leader Award recognizes an alumnus or alumna who has graduated within the last fifteen years and has distinguished himself or herself as an emerging leader in a particular discipline, organization, or cause that has brought distinction to the University.” Arlene Manthey, SMU Associate Director of Development for Student Affairs, said, “Tammy was a student leader who made a real impact on not only her peers but others, like me, who had a chance to work with her as a staff advisor.” Continued Manthey, “She has continued to be a bright and shining star using her talents that were honed as a student leader and has become a change agent through the film and entertainment industry. Tammy…is inspirational, visionary, courageous, focused, accomplished, and always willing to step up to the plate and make a difference.”
“This has been an incredible year, full of many personal and professional landmarks and milestones,” said Lee. “It is very validating to be honored by my mentors and peers in this way. What a wonderful gift, especially during a 10- year reunion. I am very humbled and appreciative of those who have helped me along the way.”
Lee was an active student leader and honors graduate from Southern Methodist University’s Meadows School of the Arts in 2000, during which time she was leader with Program Council and East Asian Student Association, voted 1st runner-up Homecoming Queen and served as Miss Asian American Texas from 1999-2001. She has experience as an actress/model, with credits spanning across movies, television, commercials, industrials and national campaigns. After graduating from SMU, Lee received a Master of Fine Arts from the elite UCLA Producers Program in 2004. She has been the recipient of numerous scholarships, leadership and service awards, volunteered with various community organizations and served on the Board of Directors of Women in Film.Dallas. She is President and Founder of ATG Against The Grain Productions, a nonprofit organization that promotes Asian American cultural awareness through outreach programs and raises money for aid to orphanages in Asia. She currently is the Director of Development for Original Programming at AMS Pictures, one of the largest production companies in the southwest, where she oversees the development of a heavy slate of projects that she has successfully developed and sold to WE tv, HGTV and truTV (Girl Meets Gown, Ma’s Roadhouse).
Lee will also speak on a symposium panel for “The Art of Entrepreneurship” at 8 a.m. on Friday, October 22, hosted by the SMU Cinema-Television (CTV) division. Later that day, SMU CTV hosts a free encore community screening of Lee’s award-winning feature documentary Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam from 3-5 p.m. in the SMU Owens Arts Center in the Greer Garson Screening Room 3531. Lee’s directorial debut depicts the historic effort that airlifted over 2,500 orphans out of Vietnam during the last days of the Vietnam War and these adoptees’ complex journey to make peace with their controversial past. This year marks the 35th anniversary of Operation Babylift. A Q&A will follow with Lee and two local Babylift adoptees. Finally, Lee will serve as one of the Homecoming Parade dignitaries on Saturday, October 23 and will attend the Homecoming football game as a guest of President Turner.
To attend the SMU Operation Babylift screening, RSVP to trevinot@smu.edu or call 214-768-2129. For more information on ATG Against the Grain Productions, please visit www.AgainstTheGrainproductions.com
ATG is excited to bring to your consciousness Twisted Optiks (aka Ronnie Chea), a talented hip hop musical artist who performed at our recent Fashion for a Passion event.
“I’m just a humbled emcee blessed with a God-given talent to rock the mic. It’s been a long journey to get where I am and I wouldn’t change it for a thing. Twisted Optiks – see things in a different perspective; cross-eyed or as I see it ‘Eyes on the Cross.'”
Full Name
Ronnie Saroun Chea
Hometown
Wichita, Kansas/ Fort Worth, Texas
Current City
Carrollton, Texas
Ethnicity
Cambodian
What does it mean to you to “Go Against The Grain?”
I believe that going against the grain means to seek alternate paths of life other than the norm. Being Asian and working with hip hop sets me apart from the norm. Where I stand out is that I want my music to make an impact in people’s lives and give them inspiration to also go against the grain and follow their dreams and ambitions, and not just live a life with regrets.
What made you decide to pursue a career in music, specifically this type of genre? My parents loved music, either in singing it or making it. Of course my music is not necessarily similar to my parents’ music, but the ambition to let our musical talents shine is definitely apparent. I fell in love with the hip hop culture and the use of the English language to create poetry upon music. I went from writing poetry at age 16, to producing music, to surrounding my life around music. I currently instruct audio engineering to probation students in South Dallas, and it is a blessing to be a part of making a positive impact in the lives of my students.
Well to sum up what my style is, I love lyrical, underground hip hop that appreciates the culture, life and the need to make a change in the mess on the radio that people assumes is hip hop. I always loved how a picture can be painted from words and loved creating rhymes that reflect reality, my life and what I face each day.
What have been some of the challenges you faced/lessons you learned as an Asian American in a very competitive industry?
As an Asian American, I realize that this path I chose is quite narrow and people being successful in my field are few and far between. I realize that there are many who strive to make a name for themselves in the talents they have and even when they give their all, are rarely acknowledged for it. I spent a great deal of time finding out who I was in the hip hop scene before I came to the understanding of who I am today.
I chose not to follow the trends, as I realize that it can be a big risk for me. I realize that what I have to offer is not your “usual” and may be less likely to catch much recognition or fame. But my greatest aspiration is to give the world an “alternative” to the lukewarm, uninspiring, and demoralizing sounds we call “radio hip hop.” Not all songs are bad, but what I hear now a days is built solely for commercial use and offers no benefit or motivation for the listeners other than promiscuity and violence. I’ve seen the ups and downs of the industry, but I realize that what I get out of life is what I put in. My aim is to reach that single person that needed the music at that very moment to encourage them to face life’s struggles and to overcome them with victory.
What do you feel is your biggest accomplishment, and why?
My greatest accomplishment, in all honestly, is that I am alive. And I don’t just mean breathing and being able to function. I mean that I am actually living my life with a purpose and a mission. I’m not a doctor, lawyer, computer science or business major, but I am one who decided to go the road less traveled. If this path wasn’t for me, it would have fizzled out a long time ago. But I am still going strong and growing each day more. Each day I am honing my skills and perfecting my craft. God’s got me here for a reason and I will do all I can to share my message of love through music.
What’s up next?
I am currently working on finishing a new album and possibly a music video. No set dates as of yet but I will try to get things done as soon as possible!
Nini Nguyen and Alex Tran at 2010 Fashion for a Passion
Dallas based non-profit ATG Against The Grain Productions turned the Design District’s LandCo/7 Senses venue into a fashion extravaganza for its 2nd-annual Fashion For a Passion event – and the stylish certainly came out to play. Approximately 300 volunteers, philanthropists, and fashion fans joined to support the cause. The centerpiece of the event, emceed by bagsnob.com blogger Tina Craig and actress/model LeeAnne Locken, was the fashion show featuring designers Chloe Dao (season 2 winner of Project Runway); Khanh Nguyen for Nha Khanh; Nikki DuongKoenig for Cykochik Custom Handbags; Prashi Shah for Prashe; Judy Yang; Cac Lam for 2FeMale; and Susie Tachibana. Each designer donated looks for a live auction benefiting ATG. With plenty of party frocks, cocktails, and musical guests such as Mina Chang and Houston-based JR Kim, the fashionistas defintely had fun. And the best part: the evening’s proceeds will benefit orphanages in Asia and ATG’s community outreach initiatives, designed to aid Asian American students pursuing degrees in the arts.
Click here to read the original event coverage and photos.
Proceeds from charity fashion show to benefit international orphanages
Dallas-based nonprofit ATG Against The Grain Productions held the 2nd Annual Fashion for a Passion (FFAP) this past Saturday night at LandCo/7 Senses in the Dallas Design District. It was a packed house with nearly 300 volunteers and philanthropists who joined to raise $10,000 for ATG’s supported orphanages in Asia, the newly started Against The Grain Artistic Scholarship to support Asian American students pursuing a degree in the arts and year-round community outreach programs.
FFAP Emcees Tina Craig and LeeAnne Locken - Photo courtesy of Loc Truong Photography
“I was very impressed by the hard work that the ATG team put into the event. The FFAP show was such a high-quality and well-run event, and I’m sure that’s a direct reflection of the outstanding leadership and effort from ATG,” said Milton Lai, representing Hotels.com, a Producer Level Sponsor. “I think the partnership with ATG was exceptional, and I’m glad we could play a part in supporting the event and such a worthy cause. [It was] definitely a great night, great fashion, and great work for the orphanages.”
The centerpiece of the event featured a knock-out fashion show with a live auction of select pieces from each presenting designer’s collection and other exclusive pieces from designers around the world. Presenting designer collections were showcased by Chloe Dao (Season 2 winner of Project Runway), Khanh Nguyen for Nhã Khanh, Nikki Duong Koenig for Cykochik Custom Handbags featuring Freedom Parc, Prashe, Judy Yang, Cac Lam for 2FeMale and New York-based designer Sumie Tachibana. Additional fashion pieces were provided for the live auction from Ann Hoang, CC Couture, Dolly Pearl, Lizzi London, and Lyly Thanh.
Melissa Brown (Page Parkes) modeling Sumie Tachibana - photo courtesy of David Loi (Infini Studios)Kamille Carlisle (Campbell Wagner) modeling Cykochik Custom Handbags by Nikki Duong Koenig - Photo courtesy of David Loi (Infini Studios)Keegan Wheeler (Page Parkes) modeling 2 Female by Cac Lam - Photo courtesy of Loc Truong
The event featured artistic, musical and design talents within the Asian American community. Event highlights include dynamic musical performances by Houston based JR Kim, Xuan Nguyen and Miles Machon, hip hop performer Twisted Optiks and a surprise performance by Mina Chang. The Live Auction of designer pieces hosted by beautiful and witty emcees LeeAnne Locken (actress/model, She’s Got the Look) and Tina Craig (Bagsnob.com, former MTV Asia veejay) provided many memorable moments throughout the evening.
“We are so thrilled that this year’s Fashion for a Passion was a huge success and continues to not only promote awareness for our social cause overseas, but also the profiles of emerging designers and artists in our community,” said Against The Grain President/Founder Tammy Nguyen Lee. “ATG brings together a volunteer base with a lot of heart, soul and passion. Saturday’s turnout makes all the hard work so rewarding, and we are humbled and honored by the overwhelming support. We doubled the amount raised from last year’s event, a huge accomplishment, and are looking forward to growing what we can do globally.”
ATG Against The Grain Productions, a Dallas-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, promotes Asian-American cultural awareness through compelling media projects and raises funds for international orphanages. Their premiere documentary feature, Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam, has received the Audience Choice Award for Best Feature Film at the Vietnamese International Film Festival and the Documentary Audience Choice Award from the Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival. For more information, visit www.AgainstTheGrainProductions.com or www.TheBabylift.com.
Thank you to everyone who contributed your talents to the 2010 Fashion for a Passion charity event. With your help, we were able to have one heckuva show and raise $10,000 (a 200% increase from last year) for our supported orphanages, new ATG Artistic Scholarship fund and year-round community outreach programs. Thank you so much!
Read below all the wonderful comments that are coming in:
What the Designers had to say:
“It was wonderful event. It was pleasure to be in such well organized and successful event. Honestly, it was really nice to see the Asian community, young and old, come out and support the cause. I am game for next year if you need.”
– Chloe Dao (Designer, DAO Chloe Dao)
“Thank you for the opportunity to be a part of this event…”
– Vi Hoang (Designer, Dolly Pearl)
“Thank you so much for letting me be a part of the show. I had a great time and enjoyed it very much. Thank you for working so hard to put up the show.”
– Cac Lam (Designer, 2FeMale)
“Great job! I had a blast! My first “real show,” thanks to you!”
– Lyly Koenig (Designer, Lyly Thanh)
“…It was such a fabulous event, thank you for letting me be a part of it all. It was a pleasure working with you and the ATG crew – you guys are just amazing. I’m definitely a fan and would love to help out with future ATG events/initiatives.”
“… Fashion for a Passion was such a huge success! Thank you for allowing us to be a part of this wonderful cause again!”
– Khanh Nguyen (Designer, Nhã Khanh)
“Thank you so much for planning a fabulous event and allowing me to participate. Everyone was so welcoming, helpful, and truly sweet. You have a great team of people!”
– Sumie Tachibana
“I am so honored to be part of this event and get to meet so many great people. The night was a great success and would love to part of FFAP again next time.”
– Judy Yang (JudYang)
What the Sponsors/Guests had to say:
“I was very impressed by the hard work that the ATG team put into the event. The FFAP show was such a high-quality and well-run event, and I’m sure that’s a direct reflection of the outstanding leadership and effort from ATG. I think the partnership with ATG was exceptional, and I’m glad we could play a part in supporting the event and such a worthy cause. Definitely a great night, great fashion, and great work for the orphanages.”
– Milton Lai (Hotels.com)
“It was great to see everything come together. We definitely had a good time and [were] very happy about the turnout at Lumi. I would love to work with you on future events with ATG.”
– Susie Bui (Lumi Empanada & Dumpling Kitchen)
“What a great party and show…it all turned out great, and I am so happy to have been able to work with you and would love to continue help out however we can in the future.”
– Damaris Grogan (Page Parkes Management)
“The second annual Against The Grain Fashion for a Passion event on September 25 was one of the most inspiring I’ve attended in a long time.”
“My friend and I had a total blast! I’m more than happy to help for such a great cause… You guys totally rocked in organizing the event!”
– Joie Chau Pham (Luxe Petals)
“It is our pleasure to be part of your event, and we are thrilled that it was a great success…”
– Michelle Byrd (Ben E. Keith)
“Thank you again for allowing us to be a part of Fashion For A Passion. We were thrilled to be there and found the evening to be wildly successful!”
– Ryan Glenn (Subjective Media/The Photo Stand)
“Last night was a great event. Very well organized. Great Job!”
– Steve Peris (Guest)
“I had a blast… Thanks so much to everyone who participated.”
– Arienne Cartier (Guest)
“Great job…Your event was beautiful and very organized and energetic.”
– Mina Chang (Musical Performer)
What the Volunteers had to say:
“Good cause, good fun and a whole lot of fashion at the second annual charity event Fashion for a Passion to benefit world orphanage. Against the Grain did an amazing job at promoting, producing and organizing such a fantastic event to raise awareness and supports for their humble cause. Great job to everyone.”
– Quoc Cong “QC” (Volunteer, XO Photography)
“It was a great night. You did a fabulous job of pulling it together!”
– Tina Craig (Emcee, Bagsnob.com)
“Thank you, Tammy, for including me as a part of such an amazing event!! YOU are inspiring & amazing!!! Much love.”
– LeeAnne Locken (Actress/Model, She’s Got the Look)
“It was an honor to be invited to work for such a great cause again…Congrats goes to ATG, sponsors and volunteers for making it happen.”
– David Loi (Volunteer, Infini Studios)
“We had a blast…Great job on your end, too. Very well done.”
– Trevor Hyslop (Volunteer, Day 18)
“Tammy, you and your team were absolutely wonderful. Anytime you need anything, please do not hesitate to ask. I have to say, in all of the years that I have done events, yours was by far the best put together most calm and just fun event I have done.. Please pass along our gratitude for such a fun and pleasant group!”
– Dianne Gomez (Toni & Guy)
“Thank you, Tam and George, for the opportunity! It was a lot of fun!”
– Keisha Murrell (Volunteer, FFAP Show Coordinator)
“I was honored to be a part of Against the Grain this year…I really appreciate and admire people like the two of you with such big hearts reaching out to help others and having an organization that allows us to be a part of it. Great hearts are contagious, and you guys totally inspire me.”
– Nini Nguyen (Volunteer, FFAP Show Coordinator)
“You all did an excellent job, and I really respect you and George for your generosity for the cause…”
– Cuong Nguyen (Volunteer)
“It was a great event…”
– Travis Petty (Volunteer, Frozen Fire Films)
“I’m so glad i was able to make it to the event and help out with my small bit for such a wonderful cause…Keep up the great work!”
– Alex Tran (Volunteer, Miss Vietnam Global)
“Had a blast…”
– Chi Tran (Volunteer, Infini Studios)
“Against The Grain did an amazing job at promoting, producing and organizing such a fantastic event to raise awareness and support for their humble cause. Great job to everyone…It was a pleasure to participate.”
Proceeds from charity fashion show to benefit international orphanages
Dallas-based nonprofit ATG Against The Grain Productions will host the 2nd Annual Fashion For a Passion (FFAP) with the purpose to join the talents and abilities of artists and philanthropists to raise funds for international orphanages and ATG’s community outreach programs and scholarship fund. The event takes places from 7-10 p.m. on Saturday, September 25th at LandCo/7 Senses located at 1202 N. Riverfront (formerly Industrial) in the Dallas Design District.
The night’s festivities include music, art, food, cocktails, a silent auction and fashion show, followed by a live auction of select pieces from each presenting designer’s collection and other exclusive pieces donated from designers around the country. The evening will be emceed by actress/model LeeAnne Locken (She’s Got the Look) and fashion blogger Tina Craig (Bagsnob.com).
Vietnamese singer-songwriter Xuan Nguyen said, “FFAP is a chance to be able to use my passion for music to help improve the lives of others, but it means even more to me because this event is to help children. I feel blessed to have the opportunity to unite with other talented artists in other industries to help those in need. Being able to sing and give back at the same time is wonderful.”
Twisted Optiks aka Ronnie Chea
Cambodian hip hop artist Twisted Optiks, also known as Ronnie Chea, said, “To be in an event such as FFAP gives people opportunities to not only network, connect and build relationships with others with the same mindset, it also gives us a moment to let our talents shine and be either be heard or seen. We can take part in an environment that appreciates our gifts and influence us to continue pursuing our particular dreams and ideas.”
Photographer Sam Sieng, who is of Cambodian, Chinese and Vietnamese descent, said, “It is refreshing to see up- and-coming designers get recognized for their vision, dedication and work ethic. I am honored to be invited to participate in an event that showcases individual talent and also promotes new artists as a collective from various avenues of artistic media. The fact that it is a charitable event makes it even more worthwhile.”
ATG Against The Grain Productions, a Dallas-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, promotes Asian-American cultural awareness through compelling media projects and raises funds for international orphanages. Their premiere documentary feature, Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam, has received the Audience Choice Award for Best Feature Film at the Vietnamese International Film Festival and the Documentary Audience Choice Award from the Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival. For more information, visit www.AgainstTheGrainProductions.com/events or www.TheBabylift.com.
By Frances Barrick, Record staff
