Đức Nguyễn | our inspiration
Đức Nguyễn immigrated to the United States in 1975, following the war. He became a steadfast advocate for the Vietnamese community, dedicating himself to supporting his neighbors until an accident in 1994 left him a quadriplegic.
Though we never had the chance to know our grandfather personally, we continue to hear of his profound impact on the Vietnamese community in the Seattle area through the stories shared with us. Our grandmother reminds us that every action we take is like planting a seed for the future. Today, we see ourselves living in the shade of the trees planted by our grandparents’ civic engagement.
It is now our turn to carry that legacy forward—sowing the seeds that future generations will inherit.
Alex-Phong Đức Nguyễn, Board President
Lauryn Thùy-Duyên Nguyễn, Community Engagement
our roots | where it all began
When we see a need, we are compelled to act. Before there was a Đức Foundation, there was Grandma Neo’s PHỞ-Raisers and Lauryn’s Big Drive.
Grandma Neo’s PHỞ-Raisers ($4,000) | benefitting West Seattle HS Athletics
Our family hosted a restaurant-style pop-up dining experience, serving our grandma’s famous, made-from-scratch, phở, also known as Vietnamese beef noodle soup.
Lauryn’s Big Drive ($21,421) | benefitting AJGA and The First Tee of Greater Seattle
Through the AJGA Leadership Links program, Lauryn secured pledges for the number of birdies she recorded during her 2018 and 2019 golf tournament rounds.
Rooted since 2018, our foundation continues to draw strength from giving back to the community
$217,000 contributed to local communities and programs
our impacts
Severson Leadership Scholarship Fund | $10,000
Đức Foundation partnered with the Highline Foundation to offer scholarships to high school seniors graduating from Evergreen High School, our mom’s ala mater, located in public housing suburbs of Seattle.
The Neo Mask Project | $33,000
Our grandma dusted off her industrial sewing machine and worked tirelessly, for over 9 months. We raised $33,000 which was donated to local food banks and other nonprofits to help alleviate the economic pressures caused by the pandemic.
2020 and 2021 Nguyễn Junior Am Golf Tournament | $40,415
The charity golf tournament raised over $24,415 for the Washington Junior Golf Association in 2020 and in 2021 raised $16,000 for the Washington Junior Golf Association and First Tee of Greater Seattle.
2022 Nguyễn Junior Am, Presented by Starbucks | $30,000
The 3rd Annual Nguyễn Junior Am benefitted CJK Community Homes, The First Tee of Greater Seattle, and the scholarship endowment for Đức Foundation.
2023 Nguyễn Junior Am, Presented by The Puyallup Tribe of Indians | $30,000
The 4th Annual Nguyễn Junior Am benefitted Friends of Little Saigon, The First Tee of Greater Seattle, and the scholarship endowment for Đức Foundation.
2024 Nguyễn Junior Am, Presented by The Puyallup Tribe of Indians | $20,000
The 5th Annual Nguyễn Junior Am benefitted The First Tee of Greater Seattle and the scholarship endowment for Đức Foundation.
A seed of service sown today will
grow a thousand leaders tomorrow
our current | youth-led initiatives
Educational Campaigns:
Our youth-led educational initiatives are designed to uplift and inspire learning within our community. Through tutoring programs and scholarships for disadvantaged youth, we work to remove barriers and create equitable access to education. By empowering young people to lead outreach efforts, we nurture a culture of lifelong learning, resilience, and academic success.
Volunteer Programs:
Our youth volunteer programs empower young people to create meaningful change through service. Whether organizing food drives, supporting the elderly, or leading local initiatives, our volunteers discover the importance of giving back and civic responsibility. These experiences cultivate empathy, leadership, and a deep sense of social duty—shaping today’s youth into the compassionate leaders of tomorrow.
our future | $1 million scholarship endowment fund
At Đức Foundation, we envision a future where at-risk youth have access to higher education opportunities that empower them to reach their full potential and thrive as contributing members of society. Through scholarships and dedicated support, we are committed to breaking down barriers to education and creating pathways to success.
Since our founding, the Đức Foundation has awarded more than $25,000 in scholarships annually to inner-city youth in the Seattle area pursuing trade schools and community colleges. Looking ahead, we are committed to increasing our impact by allocating $50,000 annually to our scholarship fund.
Our vision extends beyond local borders. We aspire to honor our parents’ heritage by supporting youth in Vietnam—offering English studies to elementary students and providing F-1 visa sponsorships and financial scholarships to high school graduates seeking to attend college in the United States.
