First Financial Security, Inc. (FFS) is delighted to announce that Leyna Nguyen has been named this year’s recipient of the prestigious FFS Give Back Visionary of the Year Award. This award recognizes Leyna’s exceptional commitment to community service, particularly through her nonprofit organization, Love Across the Ocean (LATO).
Founded in 1997 by Nguyen when she was working as an Emmy-winning journalist, LATO is dedicated to helping impoverished children and families in Vietnam as well as refugee families in California. The organization’s mission is to provide basic human needs such as food, clothing and shelter, and to foster brighter futures through education. LATO has built and renovated schools, paired students with sponsors to cover their schooling costs and provided humanitarian relief during natural disasters.
Leyna’s dedication to LATO is evident in her hands-on approach. She and her volunteers are personally involved in the purchase and distribution of goods, ensuring transparency and that all donations directly benefit those in need. LATO’s programs include the "Meaningful Gifts" program, where donors can help families become self-sufficient through the donation of farm animals, including pigs, cows and chickens, which provide families with a source of food and income, transforming their lives.
Another vital part of LATO is their “Sponsor a Child” program through which sponsors — for less than $2 a day — can feed a child three meals daily and send them to school. LATO ensures that the sponsorship funds are used solely for education and meals by conducting home visits and maintaining direct contact with the children’s schools.
Leyna’s commitment to giving back extends beyond her work with Love Across the Ocean. Since joining FFS, she has provided billions of dollars in financial protection to communities, offering security and peace of mind and empowering countless families in the process. Leyna’s background as a broadcaster, where she won five Emmy awards and made history as the first newscaster to serve as an anchor for two news networks in the same market, has uniquely positioned her to understand and address the needs of the communities she serves. Her ability to relate to diverse backgrounds has been a key factor in her success, and she continues to inspire others with her story of resilience and triumph.
FFS introduced the Give Back Visionary of the Year Award to honor agents who go above and beyond in their efforts to support their communities through charity, volunteer work, financial education and other impactful initiatives. Leyna’s dedication to her clients and her community makes her a very deserving recipient of this award.
Congratulations to Leyna Nguyen on being named the 2024 FFS Give Back Visionary of the Year! Her tireless efforts promise a bright future for the many families she will continue to support, and her story is a shining example of how one person can make a significant difference in the world.