The Compassion Flower (TCF)
Our Story
Our team is a diverse group of volunteers hailing from Australia, America, Singapore, and Vietnam. We come from different backgrounds and cultures, but we share a common goal of making a positive impact in our community. Together we bring a unique perspective and skill set to the table, and we are proud to work towards a common goal
Meet The Team
Advisory Board
Le-Quy Nguu
Advisor, Medical Team Lead
Dr. Le Quy Nguu is a highly experienced Traditional medicine physician and the Lead of all TCF missions in Viet Nam. He currently practices oriental medicine at the Nhan Ai clinic in Hue. With over 45 years of medical practice and research, he has written and published 45 volumes of books and dictionaries covering all health issues and oriental medicine in Vietnamese Nom Script. Dr. Nguu has received numerous awards for his contributions to the field, including the Knight of Information technology in Viet Nam in 2005.
Lisa Iavelli
Lisa Iavelli has been a dedicated member of The Compassion Flower since 2005. Her passion for humanitarian work was sparked by her friend Ngoc Nguyen, who worked with her at Qualcomm. Despite never having visited Vietnam, Lisa's contributions to TCF in America have been remarkable. She has played an active role in fundraising, advertising, and advising for several TCF events and cultural orientations for newly arrived Vietnamese students. In her free time, Lisa enjoys gardening and has recently started taking piano lessons. Her favorite Vietnamese dishes include Pho, Bo Luc Lac, and Banh Canh.
Merrill Findlay, Ph.D.
Dr. Findlay is a multi-talented Australian author, scholar, and social innovator. Her work is characterized by a deep commitment to progressive social movements in Australia and beyond. Merrill's contributions to the arts have been recognized with numerous awards, including a Regional Arts Australia 'Outstanding Contribution Award' in 2012. In addition to her creative pursuits, Merrill has also participated in medical missions in remote Vietnamese villages.
To learn more about Merrill and her work, visit https://merrillfindlay.com/about.
Board Of Directors
Tuan Hoang, President
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Tuan Hoang is a highly experienced Vietnamese American who has worked with various high-tech companies in Silicon Valley for over 40 years. He currently works as a Telecommunications Engineer for a California State Public Transit System company in the Bay Area, CA. In his free time Tuan enjoys participating in and promoting non-profit Vietnamese social activities, as well as hiking, biking, and golfing in his hometown Danville California.
Ngoc Nguyen, Ph.D., Director, Co-founder
Dr. Nguyen's life journey has been one of resilience and success. Born in Vietnam, she fled her home country the early 1980s and settled in Australia, where she earned degrees in Computer Science and Business and Information Technology. Ngoc has worked for prestigious organizations such as CSIRO, RMIT University, and Qualcomm. Her passion for helping others was inspired by her mother's devotion to impoverished people, and she has been involved in charity work since the age of 12. Ngoc's dedication to humanitarian work is truly inspiring. After forming The Compassion Flower in 1990, she has spent the last 35 years serving those in need and human trafficking survivors in Southeast Asia, particularly in Vietnam. Her hard work and commitment to helping others led her to obtain a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration from Walden University in 2018. Today, Ngoc serves as the Director of The Compassion Flower, an American non-profit organization.
Thu Trinh LE. Vice President
Thu-Trinh is a dedicated member of TCF who has been organizing fundraising events in America to support the organization's humanitarian missions in Vietnam. She earned a Bachelor of Linguistics in English from the Hue University of Pedagogy and taught English in several high schools and language centers before migrating to the United States in 2005. Today, she lives in Orange County and works at Applied Medical Resource Corporation in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA.
Mai Khuong, Secretary
Ms. Khuong is a talented Vietnamese American who resides in Orange, California. She holds a bachelor degree in business from San Diego State University and a master's degree in education San Diego University. Mai has worked for Merrill Lynch and taught at San Diego County before moving to Orange County. She is active member of The Compassion Flower and works with the Treasurer to manage the organization's budget, prepare financial reports, and create brochures. Mai is also a professional singer and an excellent cook, often preparing food for The Compassion Flower's fundraising events.
Ally Hoang, Fundraising Officer
Ally is a highly skilled fundraising officer with a background in corporate accounting. She holds a's degree in Economics from Fullerton in California and has been managing TCF's fund accountancy the past 10 years. In addition to her impressive professional experience, she has also participated TCF disaster relief missions in Vietnam in recent years.
Members and Volunteers in VietNam, Singapore & Australia
Australia
Trang Hoang, MD, TCF Representative in Australia.
Dr. Trang Hoang is a highly experienced and charming physician who earned her Bachelor of Medical degree from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia She has practiced in several hospitals before joining Dr. Trung-Hieu Dinh in operating the For Life Medical Clinic. In addition to her medical expertise, Dr. Hoang is also an exceptionally talented musician who can play six different instruments and has a gifted voice that attracts audiences in every concert she participates in. She is a key member of TCF in Australia and carries out medical missions for tribal people in the high mountains of Vietnam.
Anh-Dzung Nguyen, TCF Chief Reprentative in Australia
Mr. Nguyen is a highly qualified professional with a Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical and Electronics from Melbourne University, Australia. He has extensive experience working as an IT Infrastructure and Operations Manager in several high-tech companies before retiring. In his childhood, he was inspired by his mother's humanitarian work Viet Nam and has continued to pursue this passion with his family through their involvement in The Compassion Flower missions.
Singapore
Thuy Duong Ho, Representative in Singapore
Duong is a dedicated TCF representative in Singapore who has been in funding and supporting various charitable activities. She joined the TCF team as an interpreter for USNS Mercy Pacific Partnership 2012 in Vinh City, Vietnam. With a bachelor's degree from the National University of Singapore, Thuy Duong has also studied in Sweden and Japan for various courses in urban planning and sustainable development. She has worked at the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore and an firm as a project manager before joining Google Singapore. Thuy Duong is passionate about traveling, photography, and dancing.
Thin Tran, Liaison officer in Singapore
Thin is an invaluable member of TCF, serving as the liaison officer in Singapore. Since joining in 2010, she has dedicated her time to participating in various charitable activities in Vietnam. Her commitment and passion for TCF's mission are truly inspiring.
Viet Nam
Như Hồng Phan, Chief Representative in Viet Nam
Như Hồng is a highly experienced humanitarian worker with over 15 years experience working with The Compass Flower team and other organizations. She earned a degree in Linguistics, majoring in Vietnamese literature, from Hue Technical College. Since 2010, Như Hồng has been involved in all major TCF projects and has held the Chief Representative position since 2022.
Bao-Quyen LE, Education Team Lead in Viet Nam
Quyen is a valuable member of TCF, having joined as an assistant to the Representative in Vietnam in early 2016. With a Master's Degree in Chemistry from Hue Pedagogical University, Quyen is an essential liaison officer for TCF in Vietnam. She has been doing volunteer work with TCF for the last ten years and plays a crucial role in interacting with students and people in the target communities, contributing significantly to TCF's education mission.
Cathy Ho, Education Team Lead Assistant.
Cathy is a remarkable individual who has been volunteering with TCF for the past years. She has been valuable assistance to the education team leader and conducting need assessments for most TCF scholarship applications. Cathy is also actively involved in various TCF missions in Thua Thien Hue's rural areas. Additionally, she is an outstanding student at Hai Ba Trung high school in, currently in her final year.
