Devata Inaugural Launch!

With great excitement and pride, we organized our first event: our inaugural celebration of the Devata Giving Circle!

A coming out party of sorts, we invited our friends, families, and major supporters to celebrate the creation of our giving circle. Our program included an introduction to our inspiration, our members, yummy Cambodian food, and drinks donated to us by our friends and supporters.

The purpose of this event was to celebrate our first year as a giving circle, as well as recognize Banteay Srei, the first organization to receive a grant from the Devata Giving Circle.

After a year of fundraising and organizing, we were proud to give a donation of $2500 to Banteay Srei. A twenty-five percent matching gift was also made by AAPIP to Banteay Srei.

This year in 2011, we hope to raise $10,000 to provide more grants to organizations that support Cambodian-American women and girls.

Our program MC was Navin, who guided us through our collective story. Chivy spoke to our troubled past, presenting the sad and gruesome history of the Khmer Rouge and the consequent struggles of Cambodian refugees arriving in the US.

Banteay Srei, our guest of honor, brought its members to speak to the organizations programs. Nhuanh Ly shared the founding story and overview of Banteay Srei, while girls that participated in Banteay Srei's programs spoke about the impact it had on them.

All Devata members introduced themselves, sharing their life experiences and inspirations for founding and joining the Circle.

The Global Fund for Women gave us their office for free to host our event on May 25, 2011, 6-8pm. Other contributors to the event were:

• Sara Pratt of Mumm Napa (for the bubbly champagne!);
  
• Devata Circle Member, Sopath Mey's mother (for the delicious food!);
  
• Michael Dalla of Hint Water for drinks;
• Yasai Market (for the free fruit!);
• Kelly Ma Freedmand of Kelly Freedman Photography (for the photography);
  
• Lisa Chen (for the photography);
  
• Daria Shelton of Kilkhor Design (for our logo and brochure design);
  
• Paul and Gloria Chuop Jertberg;
• Friends and Family 

Thank you everyone who attended the event and supported us in this formative year. We look forward to more events and success in the future!