6th Annual Charity Ball
LAS would like to thank all of our sponsors, guests, and volunteers for making the 6th Annual Charity Ball a success! All of our hard work and efforts go back to the community via our programs and scholarships. Thank you for helping us in our mission and goals!
Program Book (PDF)
Connecting the Past with the Future.
Good Evening and Thank you everyone for supporting the Asian Community. I would like to recognize those who are connecting the past with the future. Euy Dao, Cookie, Ting, Noy, Noel, Meiling, Boon, and many others. They are impacting our community as well as having an impact and beyond. I really feel that this moment in my life there’s no better place to be than doing this important work with them. For instance, We’re taking on problems that are impossible to solve and showing that you can create hope and do the impossible.
The personal lessons are the most valuable. For example, I’ve learned my fallibilities in a deeper way. You’re confronted with your own imperfections in a much more powerful way, but within that weakness you discover a greater strength. Also, I’ve discovered that there are so many good people yearning to be a part of something bigger and bolder if given enough resources. There’s a wonderful saying by a great leader “together we are strong but with other people we are invincible.” Tonight! I feel that we are manifesting some invincibility and for me this is a fundamental lesson.
Thank you and good evening.
-Neo Douangpraseuth
LAS President
The photos above provided by Philip Murray and LAS Volunteers
Speech By Meiling A. and Noel K.:
Why are we embracing our Lao heritage, what made us cross over to be active in supporting our Lao community?
Sabaidee took took tahn. Kanoi maen Serichanto Noel Kenemanisoth, ah-nee maen Meiling Arounnarath. My name is Noel Kenemanisoth and this is Meiling Arounnarath. We are both new additions to the LAS board, representing the newer generation. We were asked to speak tonight about what motivated us to recently become active in supporting our Lao community. We had similar lifestyles growing up. We didn’t grow up anti-Laotian, but we grew up not exactly knowing our Laotian-halves, as we consider ourselves – as many of you do – both Laotian and American.
Meiling: Kap Jai, Noel – Thank you, Noel. Well, it took just one simple request from LAS, back in 2007. I heard bits and pieces from my mom about this group called the Laotian-American Society, in Atlanta. Because I resided in North Carolina at the time, I still felt removed from the group and the Laotian community in the metro Atlanta area. My parents convinced me that I could make a difference in the Laotian community as a role model and as a doer, because I like to see things getting done for my Laotian people. At the same time, I had always wanted to help my generation and younger generations of Laotian-Americans succeed in life, in their education, and in their careers. My secret hope is that Laotians will become more well-known in society to the point where we are rarely asked anymore: “Where is Laos?” Then, in 2007, LAS reached out to me and asked me to be a keynote speaker for their Education Award Ceremony. However, I was still unsure if my generation and other generations viewed me as a role model, but something pulled me in to where I couldn’t refuse the opportunity to show our community that there are young, educated Laotian-Americans in today’s society.
That one simple request from LAS snowballed into me having the chance to write for the national Lao Roots Magazine. As I researched and wrote multiple stories for this magazine, my eyes were opened to the many things I DIDN’T know about my Lao culture, history and heritage – such as the unexploded bombs left behind in the grounds of Laos and the true conditions of the refugee camps. I made so many wonderful connections in the broader Lao community through this magazine, and even though it’s now folded, I still had a longing to help my Lao community. I eventually moved back to Atlanta, and LAS approached me earlier this year to become a part of their new board. They named me Director of Education, and the rest is history.
Noel: Kap Jai, Meiling (thank you, Meiling). My curiosity in who I am stayed with me throughout my childhood, and even now, in my adulthood. I remember eavesdropping as a child on my parents when I heard any conversations relating to our motherland because they, along with the other older-generation Laotians, kept their painful experiences out of reach from their children. Growing up, I felt alienated from my peers and all of the Laotian community because I didn’t grow up going to the temple, unless it was for cultural reasons, such as the Lao New Year. I remember seeing a bookshelf in the corner of the room, inside the temple, full of old, thick, red-cover books. I somehow knew they were important, but I was intimidated to ask the monks, and even Grandpa Mang, to give me a slight glimpse at the books – which I knew inscribed a wealth of knowledge about my roots. So I carried on with my life.
Then, three years ago, as a college graduate, I realized my Laotian peers whom I grew up with no longer shared my same path in life. In some ways I felt hurt, angered, and confused. I couldn’t understand why other Asian ethnic groups were more prominent in the professional world, but it was rare to find a Laotian among them. And in some ways, it discouraged me as well. I can understand why it’s hard for anyone to succeed, especially when they are left to pave the way themselves and for others with little guidance. As I moved on, I knew I wanted to help the Laotian community, especially through this huge sweep of job layoffs and lack of knowledge of healthcare and government assistance due to language barriers.
Earlier this year, I received an invitation to be a part of the Laotian American Society as the Secretary on their board. In these five short months of being a part of LAS, I feel I am beginning to reach my potential as a leader, a helper, and a communicator between generations in my community. But I am also, simultaneously, a student and a teacher when it comes to learning and spreading knowledge about my Lao culture, history, and heritage. I want to one day become the person who will bridge the gap amongst all generations in what we call our Lao community. I’m finally fulfilling my curiosity.
Photos
Download the LAS Charity Ball Photo Calendar!
Laotian American Society
6th Annual Charity Ball
Volunteers and Credits
Food Department
Nang Phouangphet
Dao Malaythong
Pian Phouangphet
Noy Lounnarath Bozarth
Nok Chanthraboutda
Chey Voravong
Christy Bounsouk
Kim Ting Pathammavong
Souk Khaikham
Glen Hatsavongsa
Julee Keovixay
Nancy Chai
Pikul Kongphachit
John Kongphachit
Phetsamone Vongkhamsy
Xao Vongkhamsy
Douang Vongprachanh
Vee Soukavong
Michael Tanrattana
Sarah Phongsavath
Joy Fongsamouth
Krista Banda
Neo Praseuth
Bounthom Vongkhamchanh
Khamsouk Vongkhamchanh
Yana Soukavong
Desserts
Keomany Chantharath
Lendall Chantharath
Pikul Kongphachit
Toy Pomsopone
Ott Vongprachanh
Food Donations and Other Preparation
Ouday Arounnarath
Joy Arounnarath
Liam Kenemanisoth
Thip Athakhanh
Lao Video
Golden 7 Restaurant
Atlanta Asian Foods
Sakprasit Family
Decor
Ashley Thweatt
Keomany Chantharath
Lendall Chantharath
Hosting and Check-In
Noy Lounnarath
Ladda Indhara
Phouthone Nguyen
Kassie Venita Vongsitthy
Kim Liemkeo
Khammy Viengvilay
Singh Lo
Paula Phetsadasack
Performers
Ketsana Vilaylack
Caffeine Band
Keck Pathammavong
Dang Pathammavong
Sean Pathammavong
Paul Air-Noy Malaythong
Noel S. Kenemanisoth
Voranath Chanthavong
Jay
Joy Somphon
Vanh Phetvixay
Phanh Phetvixay
Khoune Taysavang
Lao Bamboo Band
Somlan Charlie Khonesavanh
Jack Saiyavong
Sinsamouth Vongsavath
Suriya
Phon
Soukee
Royal Lao Classical Dancers
LAS Natasinh Dance Group
Indara Indy Malaythong
Intila Tila Malaythong
Sarah Phouangphet
Emily Lounnarath
Mollie Chanmaly Pathammavong
Lauren Viengvilay
Ariana Kingmala Pathammavong
Elizabeth Bee Vichathep
Nina Siharath
Raffle and Door Prizes
Cookie Morey
In Kind Donations
Vatsana Salon
Beads after Beads – Bharat Bhatia
Super H
Oriental Food Mart
Atlanta Asian Foods
Michelle Le
Legacies of War – Channapha Khamvongsa
Other Support
Event Photography
Philip Murray
Donald Douglas
Lao Language Translations
Archan Bounnong
Cookie Morey
Amphone Sengchanh
Caffeine Band Gear Rental
Voranath Chanthavong
Program Book Printing
United Parcel Service
Program Book and Photos
Our Sponsors and Supporters:
Walmart
Platinum Level
Pak-Lite
Gold Level
Chick-Fil-A
Gold Level
Georgia Beauty School
Gold Level
Super H Mart
Silver Level
Thai Association World Center
Silver Level
Saigon Group
Silver Level
Georgia Asian Times
Silver Level
Ann Rithmixay
Silver Level
Thank you to all our Supporters:
Center for Lao Studies
Laotian American National Alliance
Legacies of War
Sieng Lao Radio Canada
Bouasavanh Creations
Oriental Food Mart
Phnom Penh Restaurant
Dee Thai Restaurant
Atlanta Asian Foods
Golden Seven
Lao Runners Company
Lao Oversees TV
Beads After Beads
Vatsana Salon
Lao Video
Rithmixay Family
Siharath Family
Vongprachanh Family
Thavisouk Phrasavath
The photos above provided by Donald Douglas.
