Vietnam Children's Fund

Vietnam Children's Fund (VCF) is a non-profit organization based in Unionville, Virginia, United States helping children of Vietnam. [ [http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm/bay/search.summary/orgid/7976.htm VCF in Charity Navigator] ] [ [http://ngocenter.org.vn/RunScript.asp?page=Organisation_Listings&Abbr=VCF&DIR=DIR&
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It builds "turnkey" schools to modern standards ready for occupation.

[http://www.vietnamchildren.org The Vietnam Children's Fund (VCF)] is a non profit organization whose mission is to build a network of elementary schools in Vietnam as a living memorial to all those who perished in the war.

History

The Vietnam Children’s Fund was founded in 1993 by the late Lewis Burwell Puller, Jr. A Pulitzer Prize winning writer and severely wounded Marine. Puller believed that in war no one goes unscathed but that children, the most vulnerable of all, suffer the greatest hardships. He felt the Vietnam Children’s Fund was a gesture that could not only help close the past but ensure a brighter future for the children of Vietnam.

The first school, located on the old demilitarized zone in Quang Tri Province, was dedicated in Puller’s name in April 1994, the 20th anniversary of the end of the war.

VCF has now completed over 40 schools which serve more than 21,000 children. Many schools are built in the poorest and most remote areas of the country where the need is greatest.

Nature and Goals

VCF's signature design is a modern 2-story facility that serves 350 children (or as many as 700 attending in shifts) and provides eight classrooms, a library, electricity, and bathrooms. As the schools are often the newest and most structurally sound buildings in these communities they are also used for town gatherings, meetings and celebrations. In areas prone to flooding the VCF school may be the only 2-story building in a region where villagers can go to escape disaster. Quality control, accountability for funds, and sound engineering and design are keystones of the VCF activity in Vietnam.

VCF is a lean organization, maintaining low overhead and monitoring costs carefully. Normally 85 cents of each dollar raised goes directly to school construction! VCF does not take Government funds. Funding is all private from individuals, foundations, corporations and the Combined Federal Campaign. Corporate gifts include those from FEDEX, Coca Cola, Citigroup, Conoco and American Eagle Outfitters.

With a million babies born in Vietnam each year the need for new schools could not be met even with the most generous imaginable foreign aid from all countries and World Bank assistance. Thus, funds used by VCF do not duplicate or substitute for any activity of other donors. VCF meets a need that otherwise would simply not be fulfilled.

VCF hopes to build one elementary school in each of Vietnam’s provinces and to create enough classroom space to teach 58,000 children – the number of names on the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, DC.

Board of Directors

Terry A. Anderson, Co-Chair

Mr. Anderson is a former U.S. Marine who served in Vietnam. He was Associated Press Bureau Chief in Beirut when taken hostage by radical fundamentalists and remained a captive for seven years. He is Honorary Chairman of the Committee to Protect Journalists.

Kieu Chinh , Co-Chair

Twice a refugee in her homeland, Ms. Chinh is an award-winning actress and lives in California.

Anthony W. Accamando, Jr., President

Mr. Accamando, a Vietnam veteran, spent over three decades in the cable industry and is President of the Cable Television Foundation for Community Concerns, Pittsburgh, PA.

Susan Baker Watts

Ms. Watts has over 20 years experience in children's policy, nationally and internationally and is a dedicated children's advocate.

Thomas W. Kennedy

A retired Account Executive in the earth moving equipment industry, Mr. Kennedy maintains two antique homes in New England and travels extensively.

References

External links

* [http://www.vietnamchildren.org/ Vietnam Children's Fund Home Page]

ee also

*List of non-governmental organizations in Vietnam.
*Non-profit organizations