Vietnam Expedition 2010: This adventure philanthropy expedition, Roadmonkey’s third in Vietnam since 2008, will comprise nine days cycling through the picturesque southern Central Highlands, followed by a four-day, hands-on volunteer project: building a playground for ethnic Khmer children in Rach Gia, in coordination with Catalyst Foundation and members of the local Khmer community. For more information click here.

Click. Contribute. Donate today to support the Roadmonkey Vietnam Expedition 2010 Team!

The Word Magazine

Here's an article that gives you an overview of our work in Kien Giang....
(click on the image for the full article)

2010 Vietnam Aid Expedition in Kien Giang

Read our blog detailing our days in Kien Giang March 28-April 1.

The UPS Foundation Supports Humanitarian Program for Vietnamese Children with VND 147M Grant

Ho Chi Minh City, 22 December 2009 – The UPS Foundation today announced a community grant of VND 147M to The Catalyst Foundation Vietnam to fund its humanitarian relief programs for orphaned, abandoned and homeless Vietnamese children.

“We are proud to work with The Catalyst Foundation and this contribution is consistent with our commitment to support local community programs that demonstrate positive changes for the people who need them most,” said Jeff Mclean, General Manager of UPS in Vietnam.

Founded in 1999, The Catalyst Foundation’s mission is to equip families with tools to get out of poverty and to raise awareness regarding child trafficking at the grassroots level.

The UPS Foundation has actively been involved in the local communities in Vietnam, and had contributed grants to the Operation Smile project, Saigon Children’s Charity and the Loreto Vietnam Australia Program.

About The UPS Foundation
Founded in 1951 and based in Atlanta, Ga., The UPS Foundation’s major initiatives include programs that support community safety, nonprofit effectiveness, economic and global literacy, environmental sustainability and diversity. The UPS Foundation pursues these initiatives by identifying specific projects where its support can help produce a measurable social impact. In 2008, The UPS Foundation donated US$46.9 million to charitable organizations worldwide. Visit community.ups.com for more information about UPS's community involvement.

About UPS
UPS (NYSE: UPS) is the world’s largest package delivery company and a global leader in supply chain and freight services. With more than a century of experience in transportation and logistics, UPS is a leading global trade expert equipped with a broad portfolio of solutions. Headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., UPS serves more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. The company can be found on the Web at UPS.com. To get UPS news direct, visit pressroom.ups.com/RSS.

Order our HOPE Book Today

Catalyst Foundation is celebrating its first decade!  We have been actively working to provide a better life for children and families in the poorest areas of Vietnam.  With a “hands on approach” to community development, we are raising awareness and working to stop the root causes of child trafficking.  Through Catalyst’s initiatives, we are providing an education and increasing economic opportunities for over 200 children and their families.

Recently we asked some of our children and families in Kien Giang and Dong Thap provinces: “What is hope?” Their answers were simple and yet profound. They will give you a glimpse of their dreams and how similar they are to our own. We hope you will enjoy their stories as much as we have.

In celebration of our first 10 years, this is a book about “HOPE”!

Please send us an email if you would like to purchase a copy for $20 caroline@catalystfoundation.org.

November 17 was Give to the Max Day

A huge thank you for all your support...$5800 in 24 hours! Our goal is to raise $20,000 by December 31, 2009 to continue our anti-trafficking and community development work in Vietnam...every dollar STILL counts!

Maximize your impact.
Maximize the power of online giving.

Give to the Max day is a project of GiveMN.org

PROJECT BACKPACK seeks to provide every one of the 200 children in Catalyst’s Scholarship Program with the tools to succeed in school AND at home.  For $20 per month, you can sponsor a child’s “backpack”.  Each backpack enables children to stay in school by providing food and all-school related costs for one year. 

One $240 backpack provides one student:

• Backpack ($7)
• 3 school uniforms  ($15)
• School workbooks ($7)
• School supplies ($4)
• Textbooks ($4)
• 2 pairs of shoes ($8)
• 10 kg of rice/month for a full year ($75)
• Tuition for a full year ($120)

Catalyst Foundation improves the lives of at-risk populations through community development and capacity-building projects in Vietnam.  We are a small, grassroots organization serving our target communities through increased access to education, vocational trainings, and financial literacy. 

Annual Silent Auction Benefit & Dinner was a Success!

We had a wonderful evening with over 100 people helping us raise over $4000! The area’s finest professional and amateur chefs (Chef David Hyde, Ms. Kathy Culley and Ms. Yen Nguyen) prepared their Vietnamese inspired appetizer featuring the “secret” ingredient...tamarind! The results wer very close..but our first "iron chef vietnam" is David Hyde! Dinner was served by Chef Christian Ticarro and we all enjoyed the Live Entertainment from Pat & Sam Johnson! Click here to see some pictures!

Introducing our New Focus & Mission
May 1, 2009

Dear Friends,
Catalyst Foundation is starting an important new phase of fulfilling its mission as a critical agent of change for the children of Vietnam. As we reflect on the last ten years of Catalyst’s engagement with capacity building projects, we are excited to refocus our mission in order to meet the evolving needs of our children and communities.

Please visit our new website to learn more. We recognize that we could not do this critical work without you, and are thrilled to introduce the many successful programs that have been implemented by our team. Cheers to another ten years of empowering communities!

With deep appreciation for your support,
Caroline Nguyen Ticarro-Parker
Executive Director

There is a group           
Called Catalyst
Brought to our community           
The dumpsite community
Made up of the misery of our people
Earning a living is so hard
Living in such a poor and cold place
All year round, together with flies and mosquitoes
The poor children, naked
They have no clothes to wear
No money for school
There was a dream
Hard to believe it would come true
One day
It seemed a miracle
Angels came to the people                       
Bringing forth happiness and hope
Thanks and sincere gratefulness
For your kind humanity
Infinite charity
We hope it is here for good
Please accept the gratitude
Of all our community members

April 27, 2009 Poem by Ms. Mai
Mother of 3 children attending our school

Human Trafficking Challenge Grant

Thanks to a generous $12,000 Challenge Grant from the VA NGO Network, every contribution you make TODAY to Catalyst Foundation is matched dollar for dollar.

Catalyst Foundation firmly believes in working collectively with local communitiesin raising awareness, providing access to education, increasing economic opportunities, and generating a sense of empowerment.

The International Labor Organization (ILO) estimates that over 1.3 million persons have been trafficked into forced labor within Asia, representing over 55% of the world’s trafficking industry. For many years, Vietnam has been known as a “source country” for child trafficking. We work in partnership with local staff and communities to provide educational scholarships and life skills trainings that spread awareness of trafficking.

We made our goal of $12,000 on August 2, 2009. THANK YOU!!

In the News

30 April 2008 - After Adopting from Vietnam, One Family Gives Back
PottsMerc.com

27 March 2008 - American NGO offers homes and health care to poor
Vietnam News Agency

25 March 2008 - 100 US volunteers tour Vietnam
Quan Doi Nhan Dan

23 March 2008 - Kids’ two-week charity program in Mekong Delta and HCMC
Thanh Nien News

14 February 2008 - Winthrop Medical Team on healing mission to Vietnam
MaineCoastNOW.com

4 February 2008 - Doctor going back to Vietnam as part of Aid Group
Kennebec Journal, Morning Sentinel

2 February 2008 - Missions to Vietnam & Mexico help Poor
Connecticut Post

26 January 2008 - Aftermath of Adoption - Adjusting to the Culture
Nguoi Viet

27 December 2007 - Habitat's Rainbow Village Project Spells Hope...
Habitat for Humanity

18 December 2007- Project Gives Hope to Trash Dump Kids
Viet Nam News

26 October 2007 - Underpriviledged girls win art prizes
VietnamNet Bridge

16 August 2006 - Man hopes to raise money for Vietnamese kids in bike trip from Astoria to Minnesota
The Daily Astorian
 
15 August 2006 - Northfield man will bicycle 2,000 miles to support homeless families in Vietnam
Asian American Press - Twin Cities Daily Planet

31 July 2006 - 2,000 mile bike ride to aid kids in Vietnam
Northfield.org

20 March 2006 - Expat youths take part in charity on trip home to Vietnam
Thanh Nien News
     
1 January 2005 - Reaching Out to Help
Northfield News

21 March 2004 - US Medical volunteers help local children
Vietnam News Agency

21 December 2003 - Couple Adopts Vietnamese Children, then Does More
St. Paul Pioneer Press

November 2003 - Catalyst Foundation
Nha Magazine

27 June 2003 - Vietnamese Culture Camp
Asian American Press
      
10 February 2003 - A Volunteer Mission to Vietnam Catherine McLaughlin, RN
Nursing Spectrum, National Magazine for Nursing Professionals
       
June 2002 - Vietnam Aid Expedition
Vietnamese Broadcast News, Minnesota

21 November 2001 & November 2002- Adopting Diego
For Kids Sake, Radio Show

16 October 2001 - Born in Vietnam
St. Paul Pioneer Press

21 September 2001 - Vietnam Heritage Camp
Asian American Press

29 August 2001 - Mac-Grove couple takes up the plight of Vietnamese orphans
Villager Newspaper

23 June 2001 - Foundation Helps Vietnamese Orphans Rise Above Poverty
Burnsville This Week Newspaper
       
November/December 2000 - Local Heroes
Twin Cities Parent Magazine