The First Senior Center of Georgia is hosting “A Night of Vietnamese Immersion,” a first-of-its-kind, black-tie gala on Saturday, May 16, an experience akin to the best Broadway and Disney World can offer.
Proceeds from the event will benefit the nonprofit and its mission to provide senior services to Vietnamese seniors in metro Atlanta. The First Senior Center of Georgia has several new initiatives, including in-home meal delivery, subsidized daycare services, and holistic care.
Vietnamese nonprofit geared toward seniors
Vietnamese refugee Von Tran founded FSCofGA in 2018 after identifying the unmet needs of seniors in Gwinnett County and metro Atlanta.
Tran and her family fled communist Vietnam in 1983, eventually making it to Dallas, Texas, more than 18 months later with the help of a sponsor. Today, the family lives in metro Atlanta and helps operate First Senior Center of Georgia.
“This gala will be our most elaborate, dynamic event yet,” Tran said. “I cannot wait to introduce our guests to the richness and beauty of Vietnamese culture and cuisine.”
The nonprofit now operates one of the largest food pantries in the Southeast for families experiencing food insecurity. Vietnamese seniors face unique challenges, including language barriers, food insecurity, isolation, and lack of transportation.
At the black-tie gala, attendees can expect cultural entertainment, authentic decorations, delicious Vietnamese food, and a live auction. Performances include Vietnam’s famous “Lion Dance,” an opera, and traditional music.
Tran’s nonprofit work has been recognized by US Congressman Hank Johnson, Georgia state representatives, Gwinnett County, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and The Atlanta Business Chronicle.
Honoring a Gwinnett County legend
Since its establishment in 2018, the First Senior Center Of Georgia has evolved into a lifeline for low-income seniors, providing food pantry assistance, benefits enrollment, wellness programs, affordable housing support, transportation, and crisis management.
The nonprofit operates out of a 30,000-square-foot facility just outside the city of Norcross at 5555 Oakbrook Parkway, just off Interstate 85.
As a special thank you, the nonprofit is honoring Gwinnett County legend Wayne Mason. His public service and community work, spanning almost eight decades, laid the groundwork for Gwinnett County’s now vibrant, thriving community.
The county’s status as an international hub can be traced directly to Mason’s work in civic leadership, business, and philanthropy. In the 1970s, Mason served on and later led the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners, developing several initiatives that spurred growth.
In 2021, US News and World Report ranked Gwinnett as the seventh most diverse county in the United States, with 180 nationalities and 130 languages spoken. There are about 27,000 Americans of Vietnamese descent living in Gwinnett County.
The evening also features a pop-up shop with Vietnamese clothing, skincare products, fabrics, and jewelry, designed to fund the nonprofit’s senior services.
“We are beyond excited for our ‘Vietnamese Immersion Gala,’” Tran said. “The culture and traditions of Vietnam are a part of everything we do at FSCofGA.”
