Leadership

Student Led Initiative

Our dedicated team of unique students are always utilizing their skills and passions to forward our Non-Profit Organization. We’re always pushing ourselves to stay ahead of the curve and striving to better our community. Meet some of our incredible leaders below.

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Catherine Van

Founder and CEO

Hello everyone! I am Catherine Van, a current senior at Jersey Village High School focusing on Health Science. I am a fast-paced, community-oriented individual with a consistent mind for leadership. At Jersey Village, I’m a Speech and Debate member and the President of our local chapters of Key Club and H.O.S.A. (Future Health Professionals). I enjoy baking for my small business, Bites by Catherine; going to concerts; and teaching taekwondo to young children at my local taekwondo school. The fundamentals of The Giving germinated in 2018 when I learned the importance of helping our -large- homeless community obtain necessary resources during the 40th Annual Thanksgiving Superfeast at the George R. Brown Convention Center; combined with entry into high school leadership, passion for teamwork/equity, and a further understanding of Houston’s community in need, sprouted the foundation of The Giving in 2021. My civic devotion to aiding our city's homeless has exponentially expanded the public knowledge and compassion needed to relieve this marginalized community. The Giving has allowed my character to dedicate self-purpose, practice leadership, and expand coordination skills while contributing to the homeless community as a continuous first-hand, direct impact.

Chief Historian

Kellen Wilson

Henry Pham

Vice-President

Hey, y’all! My name is Henry Pham, and I am a senior attending Jersey Village High School. I am a member of my school’s choir and participate in various clubs such as Key Club, Student Council, Mu Alpha Theta, and HOPE Club. I always strive to meet new people and learn from others, and Giving is the perfect gateway to reaching these goals. Growing up, I was taught that it is crucial to give back to the community that raised me and help others to the best of my ability. These are a few of the many reasons why I choose to work with The Giving. Other than music, I love trying new foods, gaming, watching dramas, and volunteering around Houston metropolitan area with the people I love. I aspire to major in Finance to one day become a financial advisor and help others manage their money in a plethora of ways. The Giving focuses on empowering others and provides a platform for the younger generation to broadcast their voices. I am beyond excited to see the amazing things this organization has to bring and am grateful to be a part of a wonderful group of people.

Rachel Fung

Social Media Manager

Hello! My name is Kellen Wilson, and I am a senior at Cypress Park High School. I am a speech and debate student serving as a member of the executive council of Cypress Park's Speech and Debate team. I have worked with organizations such as Parks for People and Lakes for Lives. I am a photographer, and The Giving furthers my passion for photography. I Joined The Giving Houston with aspirations of being able to help out my community more and the ability to put my photography skills to good use. Growing up, my political values have driven my passion for wanting to help people. Political views have become so important to me; ideally, I want to go to the University of Houston for political science and broadcasting. I want to use my knowledge of political science to talk about current issues and get people to care about them. I idealize being a news anchor, show host, or journalist in life, but that's for my future. For now, I just want to help out the best I can in my area.

Kristine Ly

University of Houston Ambassador

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Saadika Salauddin

Cypress Springs- CFISD Ambassador

Hello everyone, my name is Rachel, and I’m currently a junior at Travis High School. I’m currently focusing on business and plan on majoring in business at UT Austin. I’m an active member of my school’s DECA and serve as the assistant VP of written events. Alongside business, I’m part of my school’s orchestra as a violinist and pianist. Organizations that I’m involved in that are also aimed towards volunteering are Travis Helping Hands, Key Club, and the FBISD equity coalition. As for my hobbies, I enjoy trying new foods, hanging out with my dog, and exercising at the gym. I have a drive for volunteering- whether it’s through helping people, animals, or the environment- I want to make this world a better place for everyone. I encourage everybody to volunteer as it’s a highly satisfying activity. I hope to create a fun and rewarding experience with everybody I volunteer with and contribute more to our society and community. I am looking forward to serving as The Giving's social media manager and posting future events and updates.

Hello everyone, I’m Kristine Ly, and I’m really excited to be a part of The Giving! I’m a sophomore attending The University of Houston and am working towards a path to pursue a medical career. I was an active member in volunteering clubs at my high school, such as Key Club and HOPE Club, as well as of academic clubs, such as Mu Alpha Theta, Science National Honors Society, and Science Olympiad. Besides school activities, I spend time volunteering at my church to help foster a healthy environment at Lo Duc Church and also enjoy exploring and creating recipes in the kitchen! I chose to get involved with The Giving because of my personal values in giving back to the community and helping those in need; I personally find that being a dedicated volunteer brings feelings of fulfillment and peace of mind, and I hope to create similar experiences among willing participants who are eager to contribute to society. I am especially looking forward to being able to serve my community, experience and witness my and others’ personal growth, help others become more aware of our community’s needs, and expand civic participation in the youth.

Hey Everyone! My name is Saadika Salauddin, and I am excited to be an Ambassador for The Giving Houston! I am currently a Junior at Cypress Springs HS. I serve as the Junior Class and Mental Health Alliance President in which I contribute to making sure all of my classmates’ voices are heard. I also serve as the Speech and Debate President, as well as the Social Coordinator for Future Lawyers in Practice. Both of these organizations help further my interest in the career, Law! I quickly learned of the intersection between Community Outreach and Law and wanted to become involved with more volunteerism. In doing so, I learned that volunteering can be a very fulfilling experience, not only for yourself but for others. As such, I chose to get involved with The Giving because of its direct impact on the homeless community. I am grateful for the opportunity to give back to the city I grew up in, and am eager to share this opportunity with others!

Valerie Perez

Cypress Springs- CFISD Ambassador

Hey, y’all! My name is Valerie Perez, and I am thrilled to have been selected as an ambassador of The Giving. Currently, I am a junior at Cy-Springs High School, where I am the volunteer coordinator for our school’s Key Club. Through this position, I’ve come to realize the importance of giving back to the community, as well as discovered an aspiration for community improvement. Though I am still exploring possible career options, my interest in helping marginalized communities has remained constant. I am a firm believer that no matter the circumstances everyone is deserving of equal opportunities. Having witnessed many instances of inequality inside and outside my home has inspired me to take action. Through The Giving, I hope to provide the homeless with the necessary resources to give them a chance to thrive.

Kalina Phongsa

Volunteer Representative

Hi guys! I’m Kalina Phongsa and a senior at Jersey Village High School. Aside from volunteering with The Giving, I am also an active member of Hope Club and HOSA. When I’m not participating in school-related activities, I like to paint, listen to music, and spend time with my friends. I’m currently following a path to the medical field to become a radiologist because helping others, sick or well, has never failed to interest me. I decided to join The Giving after volunteering in the 2nd care package assembly and distributing them to the homeless community by hand. These small but impactful experiences have allowed me to understand homelessness a lot more and have encouraged me to keep doing what I can to give them the hope they may need. What I have could be things others do not, and being a part of this team will allow me to fill in those missing pieces of my community.