School and community come together to help injured senior
Teachers, campus clubs and firefighters have joined forces to help one of SCHS’s student performers, senior Angelina Vuong, who suffered a critical workplace injury in April.
Due to Vuong’s condition and the severity of the accident, her mother travelled from Japan with her last $500. The fundraisers would help cover personal expenses.
The local Santa Clara Firefighters Foundation (SCFF) gave initial financial assistance to Vuong’s family since the accident. The foundation also set up a fund specifically for Vuong, which already received a little over $3,000. SCHS faculty and students hope to raise money to contribute to the fund through school wide fundraising events.
Key Club’s approved fundraiser,“Aid for Angie” plans to mimic Interact’s annual “Coin Wars” fundraiser, which raised $1,300 in March.
According to Key Club officer Cindy Lam, a bucket will be set up in each classroom after club members explain what the funds are for. The launch date for “Aid for Angie” is still undecided.
In addition, Interact and Key Club will work together to make corsages and boutonnieres for SCHS’s prom on May 23. The clubs plan to send 30 percent of the proceeds towards Vuong’s fund through SCFF.
“No matter how much we raise, I want Angelina’s family to know that Interact and Key Club are aware and that we care,” Interact co-president Vyvy Nguyen said.
However, the people in these clubs are not the only ones at SCHS who want to relieve some of Vuong’s financial stress.
Faculty member Anthony Butler strives to donate all of the proceeds from this year’s En Soiree, scheduled for May 21 and 22 in SCHS’s theater, to Vuong’s fund through the SCFF.
According to Butler, fundraising through En Soiree, a night of music, dance, and other performances, is a fitting way to fundraise for Vuong, who has become a familiar face for singing at many school rallies and events including Night of Acoustics and at both Renaissance rallies this year.
“She is someone who always performs at school, so it’s a great homage,” Butler said. “Angelina has done so much for the school, but we’re now in the situation of giving to her and we aren’t thinking twice.”
To donate, you can send a check to the SCFF headquarters at 1124 Walsh Ave. Santa Clara, with “Angelina” on the memo line.