http://www.givingitbacktokids.org/

Giving It Back to Kids, Huntington Beach, CA (2026)

09/02/2026

💓From a Shy Girl to a Confident Young Woman

My name is Lanh. My parents divorced when I was only one, and since then, my father has raised my three siblings and me on his own. Now over 50, his hands are rough and his hair is turning gray from years of hard work and sacrifice. Every time I see him, I am reminded of how much he has given for our family. His sacrifices became my motivation to study hard, dream bigger, and build a future he can be proud of.

I first learned about Dorothea’s Project Legacy after sixth grade, when my grandmother introduced me to it. I never imagined that this place would become such an important part of my life. More than six years later, it has given me countless memories, valuable lessons, and a transformation I never expected.

When I first joined, I was a shy and insecure girl who was afraid of making mistakes, had little confidence in myself, and no clear goals for the future. But the encouragement and support of the teachers and friends at Legacy slowly changed me. I learned to believe in myself, set goals, and work hard to achieve them. Just six months later, I began to see a different version of myself, more confident, motivated, and determined.

Eventually, I was accepted into the high school I dreamed of with an excellent score. Today, I have returned to Dorothea’s Project Legacy to share my experience and encourage younger students, just as others once encouraged me.

Looking back, I realize that Legacy didn’t just help me learn, it helped me discover who I could become.

Dorothea’s Project Legacy gradually became my second home, a place filled with love, encouragement, and people who believed in me. Through skills classes and STEM activities, I slowly overcame my shyness. I learned to speak in front of others, express my thoughts with confidence, and step beyond my comfort zone. Meeting people from different countries also helped me improve my English and opened my eyes to new cultures and ways of thinking. More than knowledge, Legacy taught me how to connect with others, keep learning, and believe in myself.

Six years passed in the blink of an eye. Sometimes, I wish I could slow down time and stay a little longer. I feel incredibly fortunate to have found GIBTK and Dorothea’s Project Legacy. What began as a community class became my second home—a place where I found my confidence, discovered my dreams, and grew into a better version of myself.

I am deeply grateful to my teachers, my friends, the donors, and especially Mr. Robert, one of the most wonderful people I have ever met. Thank you for believing in young people like me and for giving me the love, encouragement, and support that have shaped my journey. This place is not just a community class. It is a place that nurtures dreams, provides hope and support, and builds a bridge toward a brighter future. And for me, it will always be one of the most beautiful and meaningful parts of my journey growing up.

08/31/2026

💓The Greatest Gift Is Seeing My Child Healthy

I am An’s mother. There was a time when I was afraid that my little girl might never have the chance to grow up like other children.

When An was eight, she sometimes complained of chest pain, but I thought it was just a normal ache. We lived in a remote mountain village, and our family struggled to make ends meet through farming and seasonal work. Some days we had work, while other days we had no income and had to borrow money for food. We never imagined that An was living with a serious heart condition.

Then one day, a team of doctors came to our village to provide free health screenings. That was when we learned that our daughter had a congenital heart defect called an atrial septal defect. The doctors told us that An needed heart surgery.

I was heartbroken. As a mother, I wanted to do everything I could for my child, but I knew that our family could never afford the treatment she needed. I remember feeling helpless and frightened about what might happen to my little girl.

Thankfully, with the support of the donors and GIBTK, An received the heart surgery she needed. That surgery gave my daughter much more than a healthier heart. It gave her back her childhood.

As her mother, the biggest change I see is not just in her health. It is in the way she lives her life. I no longer watch her with the same fear I once had. Instead, I watch her run, laugh, play, study, and grow, just like any other child.

I will always be grateful to the donors and GIBTK for giving my daughter this chance. They did not simply help save her heart. They helped give her a childhood, a healthier future, and a chance to live her life like any other child.

08/26/2026

💓I Once Didn’t Know Where My Life Would Take Me

My name is Ha. When I was 11 years old, I left home and went to live at a social protection center. My family was struggling with poverty. My mother has kidney failure and needs dialysis, while my father often suffers from stomach ulcers. With five people in our family and very little income, my parents simply could not afford to support my education.

For many years, I learned to live with that reality. But after finishing my university entrance examination, I faced another difficult moment. I had been accepted to study Human Resource Management at Duy Tan University, but I had nowhere to go and no way to pay for my education. I was only 18, and I was afraid that my dream of going to university would end before it even began.

Then, GIBTK opened a door for me.
I was welcomed into Lighthouse, a GIBTK home for young women over 18, where I had a safe place to live while continuing my education. But Lighthouse gave me more than a roof over my head. I had nutritious meals, care when I was sick, English classes, life skills training, Emotional Health and Leadership classes, and opportunities to learn, grow, and connect with others. Most importantly, I found people who believed in me.

When I first arrived, I was a shy young girl with very little confidence. Over the years, I slowly changed. I learned to believe in myself and realized that my difficult childhood did not have to determine my future.

Today, I am proud to say that I have graduated from university, found a stable job, and gotten married. I am building a family and a future of my own.

GIBTK did not simply help me finish university. They gave me a safe place to grow, people to guide me, and the confidence to dream again. They helped me understand that where you come from does not have to determine where you are going.
And behind my journey are the generous donors and supporters who chose to believe that a young girl like me was worth investing in.

To every person who has supported me, thank you. Your support didn't just help me through university. It changed the direction of my life.
Today, when I look at my life, my career, my marriage, and the future ahead of me, I know that I am standing here because someone once chose to give me a chance.
Thank you for being part of my story. Thank you for helping me believe in a future I once couldn't see.

08/24/2026

🥰A Gift That Became a Family

My name is Kieu. When I was just 15 days old, doctors discovered that I was born with a congenital heart condition. I grew up in a poor family in a remote area of Vietnam, where my parents struggled every day to provide for six family members. My older brother had to leave school when he was only in Grade 7 so he could work and help support our family. There was simply never enough money.

When I was five years old, my heart condition became increasingly serious. I needed heart surgery, but my family could not afford it. We had already missed two surgery appointments because of our financial situation. I spent weeks in the hospital while my family prayed for someone to give me a chance to live.

In 2013, that chance finally came. I received the heart surgery I desperately needed through the support of generous donors who believed my life was worth saving. That surgery did much more than repair my heart. It gave me a future I once could not imagine.

Growing up, I was able to continue my education and later pursue vocational training in hairdressing and nail care. I worked for more than a year before getting married. Today, I have a loving husband and twin boys who will soon celebrate their first birthday. Although our life is simple, we have a happy family and a future to look forward to.

Today, I am grateful to be living a life I once could only dream of. Looking at my family, I realize that the heart surgery I received years ago gave me far more than a second chance at life. It gave me the opportunity to study, work, build a family, become a mother, and share that blessing with my children. One life changing gift changed not only my life, but the future of my family.

Sometimes I think about the little girl I was, lying in a hospital bed at five years old, not knowing whether she would have a tomorrow. Today, I am a wife and a mother. I have learned a profession, had the opportunity to work, built a family, and watched my children grow. A heart surgery that once seemed impossible changed the direction of my entire life.

Today, when I hold my two sons in my arms, I know that the gift I received years ago continues to live on in the next generation.

08/19/2026

🥰617 Children Equipped for a Safer Future

Drowning is a serious and often overlooked danger for children, especially in remote and mountainous communities where access to water safety education and proper swimming facilities can be limited. That is why our Drowning Prevention Program is so important.

Recently, through Dorothea’s Project Legacy, we had the privilege of presenting swimming certificates to many children from difficult circumstances who completed our classes. These certificates represent more than simply learning how to swim. They represent confidence, courage, and a valuable life skill that can help protect them when it matters most.

Seeing these children grow from being afraid of the water to swimming confidently and proudly is one of the greatest motivations behind our work. Every child who learns to swim is one more child equipped with the knowledge and confidence to stay safer around water.

Today, we are proud to share that this program has equipped 617 students with essential swimming and water safety skills. Behind that number are 617 young lives given an opportunity to learn, grow, and become more confident.

You can help us reach even more children. Become a sponsor of the Drowning Prevention Program and help give a child the gift of safety, confidence, and a life saving skill. Click the link below to support this program.
https://givingitbacktokids.org/the-drowning-prevention-project.php

08/17/2026

💓18 Years Later: A Second Chance at Life
My name is Thinh. In 2008, I was a 17-year-old boy living with a congenital heart defect called a ventricular septal defect.

I was the youngest of three children. My parents were farmers, and our family struggled financially. I had lived with my heart condition since birth. My parents took me to different hospitals and spent what little money we had on medication, always hoping that somehow I could get better without surgery.

But I didn't. As the years passed, my condition became more serious. My parents knew I needed surgery, but the cost was far beyond what our family could afford. We were frightened and desperate, not knowing what the future would hold for me.
Then, in May 2008, everything changed.

Thanks to the generosity of the donors, I was able to receive the heart surgery I desperately needed. That operation was more than a medical procedure. It gave me a future.

It gave me the chance to grow up without constantly wondering whether my heart would allow me to see tomorrow. It gave me the opportunity to study, work, fall in love, start a family, and dream about the future.

And today, 18 years later, I am living that future.
I am healthy, energetic, and working as an insurance consultant with BIDV Insurance. Every day, I help individuals and families protect themselves from the financial difficulties that can come with illness, accidents, and unexpected events.

But perhaps the greatest gift is waiting for me at home. My wife and I are raising two beautiful sons. Our older son is two years old, and our youngest is just five months old. My wife stays home to care for our children, and together we are building a loving family that I once could only dream of having.

For all these years, the organization has continued to keep in touch with me and follow my journey. From a frightened 17-year-old boy waiting for a life-saving operation to the husband and father I am today, this connection has lasted nearly two decades.

When I look at my children today, I understand more deeply than ever what that surgery meant. The donors did not simply help close a hole in my heart. They opened the door to an entire lifetime. Because of their kindness, I was given the chance to become a healthy man, build a family, have a meaningful career, and watch my children grow.

I will always carry that gratitude with me.Thank you for giving me a second chance at life.

08/12/2026

💓More Than a House, It Was Hope

For years, rain was something my family feared. My name is Be Thi Nguyen, and I live with my husband and our two children in Quang Nam, Vietnam. We have always worked hard to provide for our family. My husband and I farm rice, and whenever we can find extra work, we take it to earn a little more for our daily expenses. But our old home made life even harder.

Built in 2003 with bamboo walls, wooden pillars, and a rusty corrugated iron roof, the house could not protect us from the rain. During the rainy season, water would leak through the roof and pour into our home. I often worried about what would happen to my children and wondered how we could ever afford a safer place to live.

Then, in August 2019, everything changed. With the generous support of the donors through GIBTK, our family received a new home. For us, it was more than a house. It was safety. It was stability. It was hope.

Today, our home is still in good condition. We have even been able to build a small kitchen next to our living room. It has become the place where our family gathers, shares meals, and dreams about the future. And I have seen those dreams become reality. Our older son has graduated in Automotive Technology and is now working in the field he studied, earning around $275–$315 per month.. Our younger son is now in Grade 11 and continues to work toward his own future.

As parents, we may not be able to give our children everything. But because we have a safe home, we can give them something precious: the chance to stay in school, to dream, and to believe that their future can be different.

Today, when I look at our home, I don't just see walls and a roof. I see the future that the donors helped build.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you to the donors and everyone at GIBTK who helped make this possible. You didn't just give our family a house. You gave us a place to dream, and a reason to believe those dreams can come true.

08/10/2026

🥰The Gift of Growing Up

When I look at my son Hoang today, I sometimes find it hard to believe how far he has come. He is now 15 years old, tall, strong, and healthy. He has a good appetite, exercises regularly, and even goes to the gym to stay fit. But for me, every time I see him healthy and full of energy, I remember the days when I was so worried about his heart and his future.

Hoang was born with a heart condition. In 2018, my family received an opportunity that changed our lives forever. With support from GIBTK and generous donors, Hoang was able to receive the heart surgery he needed. At that time, I only hoped that my son would become healthier and have the chance to grow up like other children. I never imagined that one day I would see him become the strong young man he is today.

After his surgery, I took Hoang to three follow up appointments. Each time, I hoped to hear good news. Eventually, the doctor told us that his health had improved so much that he no longer needed further follow up. I cannot describe the happiness I felt hearing those words. For a mother, knowing that your child is healthy is one of the greatest gifts in life.

Today, Hoang is not only healthy, but he is also building his own future. After finishing Grade 9, he decided that he wanted to learn automotive maintenance and repair. His teacher helped introduce him to Da Nang College of Transport Technology, and Hoang chose this path because it is something he truly enjoys. He has already started attending classes, learning practical skills and continuing his general education. He dreams of having a stable career and becoming a skilled mechanic one day.

I know there will be challenges ahead, but when I see Hoang healthy, going to school, learning what he loves, and making plans for his future, I feel hopeful.
Sometimes I think about what his life might have been like without that surgery. And then I look at him today. He is growing up. He is studying. He is dreaming. He is becoming the person he wants to be.

The surgery gave my son more than a healthier heart. It gave him the chance to grow up, to learn, to choose his own path, and to dream about a future.

To everyone who supported Hoang and families like ours, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your generosity changed my son’s life in ways that words can never fully express. You gave me something every mother hopes for: the chance to watch her child grow up healthy and look forward to tomorrow with hope.

08/07/2026

🎋Through our Emotional Health & Life Skills Program, we equip children and young adults with the confidence, resilience, and practical skills they need to navigate life's challenges. They learn to communicate effectively, manage emotions, solve problems, build healthy relationships, and most importantly, raise their voice to express themselves with confidence and believe in their own potential.

Every year, thousands of students in schools, children living in our Homes, and university students participate in these life-changing lessons. By investing in emotional well-being alongside education, we are preparing the next generation not only to succeed academically, but also to become compassionate, confident, and resilient leaders in their communities.

Because true transformation goes beyond meeting physical needs. It means nurturing both the body and the mind, giving every child the opportunity to become the strongest, most confident, and most authentic version of themselves.

08/05/2026

💓The Place Where I Found Hope

My name is Chau. I grew up in a small, aging house that my grandparents left behind. Every day, my mother left before sunrise to take whatever work she could find, while my father, who has difficulty walking because of a childhood illness, could only do light jobs when his health allowed. No matter how hard they worked, our family often struggled just to make ends meet.

As a child, I often wondered if this was all life would ever be.
At school, I rarely spoke. I was too afraid to answer questions because I thought I wasn't as smart as everyone else. When I didn't understand a lesson, I stayed silent. Little by little, I lost confidence and convinced myself that I would always be one step behind.

Everything began to change when I was accepted into Dorothea's Project Legacy 2.
For my family, the opportunity to attend free after-school tutoring classes was more than just financial support, it was a chance we never thought we would have. The teachers here never made me feel like I wasn't good enough. They patiently explained lessons until I understood, taught me how to study more effectively, and showed me that every small step forward mattered. More importantly, they helped me believe in myself.

Slowly, I changed.
The boy who was once too shy to speak in class began raising his hand. The student who believed he would always fall behind started catching up, and eventually began earning good grades.

Today, I am proud to be recognized as a good and excellent student. But the greatest achievement isn't what's written on my report card. It's the confidence I have gained, the courage to dream bigger, and the determination to keep moving forward, no matter how difficult life may be.

I believe that one day I will be accepted into university. I believe I will find a good job, support my parents, and give them a better life after all they have sacrificed for me. I also hope to help children who are growing up in families like mine, because I know how much a single opportunity can change a life.

I am deeply grateful to Dorothea's Project Legacy 2 and to all the teachers and supporters who believed in me when I struggled to believe in myself.

Giving It Back to Kids

09/02/2026

08/31/2026

08/26/2026

08/24/2026

08/19/2026

08/17/2026

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