We had the good fortune of connecting with Thien-An Nguyen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Thien-An, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
As you probably know, behind every success there is a great team. It applies equally to a family, a workplace, a club, and your local community. Creating and building a great team is a challenge. It requires skill, great leadership, and some luck. Although no club is the same, but high performing clubs all have one thing in common – outstanding team members. When you have an outstanding team behind you, you can do the impossible.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am humbled, privileged, and blessed to be the Charter President of Houston Unity Lions Club, and MD-2 District 2-S2 Texas Hunger Chairperson. I am a Lion, and I am proud to be a part of this marvelous family around the world. It was no stroll in the park, since Houston Unity Lions Club is a nonprofit. My members and I must raise funds frequently, obtain sponsors, get creative, and serve without any payments. Instead, we must invest time, money, effort, and faith into the club. Luckily, I have a dedicated team that backed me up and continuously join me in service of unpaid labor. They inspired me, challenged my limit, and touched me with their selfless acts and kindness. Putting kindness into action is what Lions do best. The Houston Unity Lions Club remain committed to serving during the trying and difficult time. We took the risk and pushed ourselves to help others during the pandemic, to remain positive, to lift each other up, and simply just being compassion human beings.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Funny you ask this because my best friend did come to visit me for a week. I took her to my favorite restaurants which happened to be our club’s top sponsors: Vit Nuong Nha Trang, Banh Cuon Hoa, Yummy Pho and Bo Ne (Katy). These restaurants serve authentic Vietnamese cuisines, crawfish (seasonal), and tasty Asian snacks that cannot be found anywhere else. It is not because they are our sponsors that I favor these restaurants, but their foods are delicious. I believe in supporting the mom and pops stores in the community. Especially when they give back regularly and help the community. Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First and foremost, I want to thank the number one person in my life, my mother, Mrs. Khanh C. Dao. Without her unconditional love, constant support, inspiration, and unwavering assistance, I wouldn’t be able to do what I did. I also wanted to thank these amazing friends who have been with me even before the club was formed. They encouraged, motivated as well as joining me in serving the community, even during the pandemic: Trang Luong, Van Ho, Tami Phan, Nhu Le, Oanh Le, Thien-Huong Tran, Helen Thuy-Van Nguyen, Bich Thuan Nguyen, Alex Nghiem, Johnny Duong, Minette Chiu, and Maria Emee Nisnisan.

Website: http://www.HoustonUnity.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HoustonUnityLC

Image Credits
Ms. Nhu Le

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