May Le and Thanh Le are a mother and daughter who believe in and support the arts and who dedicate many hours of their time to numerous important causes, including those that better the lives of children, promote Asian culture, and advance the community as a whole.

 

A secondary school student, May Le’s natural love for children and people has been evident since she was a toddler. Alongside her mother, she has been actively involved in community volunteer events from a young age. Her second family is the Vietnamese Culture and Science Association (VCSA), where she participates in numerous events that help deepen her knowledge of Vietnamese language, culture, and leadership. Every year, she dedicates hundreds of hours with her parents to key projects like the Mid-Autumn Festival in collaboration with the Children’s Museum Houston, the Youth Leadership Development Camp, Walk for Wellness, Viet Cultural Fest, and other initiatives.

 

May’s passion for helping others took root when she volunteered with Kids’ Meals, preparing lunches for children in need. This experience opened her eyes to the inequalities many children face. Inspired, she brought home a lunch bag from the event and encouraged her classmates to decorate bags during school breaks. When Kids’ Meals launched a capital campaign to expand their facility, May contributed $10,000 from her savings, as did her sister. Her favorite annual activity with Kids’ Meals is the Trunk or Treat event, during which she gathers friends together to bring candy and spread joy to local families.

 

At school, May is known for her kindness and her ability to make friends easily. Throughout elementary school, she earned scholarships to attend writing camps. In third grade, her poem My Tree of Hidden Flowers was chosen to be printed as a bookmark for the Houston-Galveston Diocese by Catholic Literary Arts. Currently, she is a member of the National Honor Society and serves as the club's president.

 

May’s creativity shines through her love for art and dance. She won first place in an art contest organized by Southwestern National Bank and has performed in various local events with Mitsi Dancing School, including Lunar New Year celebrations, Asian American Heritage Month, and the Russian Nutcracker Ballet. Her dedication to supporting children extends internationally through her involvement with Sunflower Mission, where she helps build schools in Vietnam.

 

In the summer of 2024, May competed in the National American Miss pageant and won two prestigious awards: the Community Heart Award and the Feature Cover Page. Looking ahead, May is passionate about becoming a child psychologist to help children struggling with mental health challenges.

 

Thanh Le is a dedicated advocate for the Asian community and has been serving as the chairwoman of the Vietnamese Culture and Science Association (VCSA). She has volunteered with VCSA since 1995. Her decades-long journey in community service and leadership is marked by a profound commitment to fostering cultural understanding and advancing social initiatives.

 

In addition to her role at VCSA, Thanh has made significant contributions to various organizations. She has served as a board member of the Asian American Real Estate Association and as the past fundraising chair of the Houston Asian Junior Chamber of Commerce. Her dedication has earned her numerous accolades, including the Leadership Award and Officer of the Year from the Houston Asian Jaycees and Congressional Recognition for Outstanding Young Community Leadership from Sheila Jackson Lee. Thanh was also involved with the United Way Project Blueprint in the early 2000s to help engage more leaders through this program.

 

Throughout her career, Thanh has demonstrated a relentless passion for service, earning multiple awards and distinctions. She has been recognized as the Outstanding Volunteer of the Year at JPM Chase, Outstanding APA of the Year by the Organization of Chinese Americans, and received the NAVASA Outstanding Young Community Leader Award. Additionally, she has been honored as the Outstanding Member of the Year at the Vietnamese Culture and Science Association. Recently, Thanh was recognized as one of the Top 30 Influential Women of Houston.

 

Thanh's educational background reflects her commitment to excellence and continuous learning. She obtained her Bachelor of Administration in Management Information Systems from the University of Houston and furthered her education by earning a Master of Business Management from Regis University.

 

Currently, Thanh serves as the managing director of Crown ID Solutions, where she oversees urban development projects ranging from local to international levels, helping to build new communities. Her wealth of expertise and steadfast dedication to her professional endeavors are complemented by her meaningful contributions to society beyond the boardroom.

 

It is evident that May Le has followed in her mother’s philanthropic footsteps and that Tanh Le has handed down her belief in helping others to her daughter. Their shared endeavors, and those they achieve separately, have had, and continue to have, a positive effect on their community.

 

It is for all the reasons mentioned above, and many more, that May Le and Thanh Le have been named Star Impact Makers for 2025.