Unique Lives that Inspire Asia

September 10, 2010

By Ulara Nakagawa

3. Dien S. Yuen, Philanthropist

Dien Yuen is the chief philanthropy officer at Give2Asia, a US-based non-profit that provides philanthropic advise to individuals, families, foundations and corporations ‘that care about Asia.’

She’s also an advisor of OneVietnam Network, an online platform that connects people and groups to philanthropic opportunities in Vietnam. She’s fascinated with global giving trends and Asia-based philanthropy.

When and why did you initially go into your current line of work?

I’ve been in the philanthropic sector for over 13 years in non-profit and for-profit settings.

After law school, I started my career at the American Cancer Society as a Gift Planning Director. I was able to work with cancer survivors or those that lost loved ones to cancer and heard about their stories and how they wanted to find a cure or support those struggling with the disease. It was heart-warming work, but also difficult as I lost my grandmother and uncle to cancer.

Then, I was offered an opportunity to work with a foundation that promoted philanthropy in the Asian-American community. I learned about the sensitivities of working with high net worth donors and I realized that many of the successful immigrant entrepreneurs generously gave back to their country of origin. Thus, began my study in diaspora philanthropy, which then led me to Give2Asia, the current organization I’m with.

At Give2Asia, I work with donors that have a personal, professional or business connection to Asia. They support education projects, hospitals, livelihood opportunities and many other causes that have improved life for people across Asia. And these donors want to make long-lasting, positive social change.

Do you have a personal connection to Asia?

Since I was born in Asia and travel there frequently, I have a strong connection to the people and social issues in Asia. My parents are from Guangzhou, China. I was born in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) in Vietnam but I grew up in Adrian, Michigan.

What would you most like others to know about the needs of the communities in Asia that you work with?

The indigenous non-profit sectors and its leadership are growing rapidly across Asia. They bring innovative approaches to bear on systemic and chronic issues such as HIV/AIDS, trafficking, environmental issues and other human rights abuses. More than ever, we need a way to raise awareness about these issues and to support local leaders. These unsung community leaders have concrete ideas about how to approach the problems in their own communities and they can achieve results with modest grants. Their humble and sometimes unassuming work doesn’t make it to the front page of newspapers, or attract the attention of donors. But their work creates micro-changes that will eventually reach a tipping point.

What motivates you to continue the work you do?

My family was very fortunate to have left Vietnam during a difficult time for the country and its people. We settled in the United States, where we all gained a college education and moved on to professional positions. However, not everyone is as lucky. Our survival in the US was difficult at first, but we had some generous family and friends that helped us navigate our first years in a strange land. Given the opportunity to give back, I’d choose to continue my role in philanthropy.

I’ve tried walking away and there’s this invisible thread that brings me back. In the near future, I’d like to move to Asia and use my philanthropic advising skills to help donors and social leaders in Asia.