Le is an example of how an education can set a person for stellar success. She fled Vietnam in 1975 and knew no English when she arrived in Houston. She mastered the language of her new country and graduated summa cum laude. Age age 19, with an undergraduate Bachelor of Science from University of Texas, Austin, she began her career at Texas Instruments.

Two decades later, Le became the first Asian American and the only female at the company to be elected to the highest position as a senior fellow, which is equivalent to a senior Vice President. During her 35-year career, she led the company's memory product line across five countries and three continents to generate multi-billion dollar revenue. Le holds 24 patents and currently serves on the board of directors of several public companies. She is also the principal founder and a senior advisor of Sunflower Mission, a non-profit organization supporting education in Vietnam since 2002.

Asian Premier magazine spoke with Le about the Mona Foundation.

How did you become involved with the Mona Foundation?

DL:  In 1999, after I gave a talk at a technology conference, Dr. Mahnaz Javid, approached me and asked if I would consider joining her to form Mona Foundation. After leaning about her idea and the focus on education, I asked her to give me sometimes to finish taking care of some family matter. My father passed away a few months later. Shortly thereafter, I officially joined. Dr. Javid currently serves as the CEO and President of the organization.

What makes the Mona Foundation unique from other non-profit groups?

DL: Mona Foundation's approach is unique, effective, efficient, and transformative for these four reasons. First, we work with proven grassroots organizations to build local capacity to assess and address their own needs. Second, we provide long-term support to enable and sustain positive change. Third, we believe that positive change is only sustainable when the participants develop certain moral capabilities - integrity, equality, trustworthiness, and selfless service -- not only improve their own lives but to also become a source of social good. Fourth, we maintain a humble posture of learning and we engage with our donors and partners in an ongoing process of consultation, and reflection to improve our impact year over year. Through this process, we build trust and collaboration with our partners and the communities involved.

How can people join and support the Mona Foundation?

DL: You can become a Mona Youth Ambassador and promote the power of education, or create a Mona Global Citizens Club in your school. volunteers can join the Mona Global Citizen Clubs through supporting the education for the children in need and through service to the community. Or you can start a Move4Mona 5K Wall/Run Challenge in your town.

You can also donate your vehicle (working or not), or boat, or farm equipment, or even your plane. We partner with another non-profit, CARS (Charitable Adult Rides Services), to handle everything from vehicle pick-up to sales, to issuing your tax receipt. We receive 70% of the proceeds which go to support the education of students in need.

Please share with us some background about the Mona Foundation.

DL: Mona Foundation has been working in global development for the past 22 years and supports grassroots initiatives that provided education to all children, empower women and girls, and emphasize ethics and service to the community.

In 2020, while battling Covid-19 and despite seemingly unsurmountable challenges, 17 out of 19 of our partner projects transitioned to online education. Thus, enabling the continuing education of 2,286,575 students (both in-person and online) in 12 countries. They include the United States, Vietnam, Mongolia, India, Haiti, Panama, Brazil, China, Gambia and Sierra Leone.

We adhere to the highest standards of accountability and transparency as indicated by our platinum status with GuideStar, and Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance Seal of Approval as an "Accredited Charity" have ing met its 20 standards, and Charity Navigator 100/100 Compass Score, and "Give with Confidence". -- DQ

For more information visit MonaFoundation.org.