For Immediate Release
January 4, 2010
Contacts:
Roberta Longworth 703-324-8300

Vietnamese American Community ‘paves the way’ for Thomas Jefferson Library

""Fairfax, VA – On Saturday, January 2nd, the coordinators or the Gateway to Freedom Project were recognized for their work to benefit the Fairfax County Public Library at the Vietnamese National Institute of Administration annual New Year’s luncheon. The celebration, complete with the lion dance, musical entertainment and remarks by distinguished guests was held at the Fortune Seafood Restaurant in Falls Church.

Penny Gross, Fairfax County Supervisor of the Mason District, was on hand to commend the group for raising $45,150 by selling more than 300 engraved bricks to pave the walkway around the newly renovated Thomas Jefferson Library in Falls Church. The names of generous sponsoring supporters, donating $1,000 or more to the Gateway to Freedom Project, will also be included on a plaque that will be on display in time for the library’s grand opening this summer.

The Fairfax Library Foundation will serve as fiscal agent for this first-time project. Bobbi Longworth, executive director of the Fairfax Library Foundation, acknowledged Toa Do, Hoan Vu, Le Thi Cao, Mong Hoa Tong Le, Huong-Hoa Nguyen and Kim Chi Nguyen with an engraved pen as a small token of appreciation for their work.

“Thank you, friends for enhancing your library,” said Longworth in Vietnamese, “and Happy New Year!”

About the Gateway to Freedom Project
The Gateway to Freedom Project is a public private partnership between the Fairfax County Public Library System, the Fairfax Library Foundation, and two Vietnamese organizations in the area: the Vietnamese National Institute of Administration Alumni Association, East Coast USA (NIAAA) and Quang Da Mutual Association, East Coast USA (QDMA). This project is a tribute to the Vietnamese refugees in Fairfax County, as well as in the United States.

Fairfax County Public Library Foundation, Inc., doing business as Fairfax Library Foundation, is a private, nonprofit corporation committed to providing supplementary support to the Fairfax County Public Library. The Foundation, while reinforcing the need for continued and increased public support for the library, serves as a catalyst for attracting private funding from individuals, businesses, organizations and foundations to enhance library services for our community.