Richard and Eric Dong
Richard and Eric Dong, 17-year-old and 16-year-old brothers and residents of Arcadia, seem like your average teenage boys. However, underneath their boyish smiles, you’ll find two talented and philanthropic teens that have been recipients of multiple academic and musical awards including the President’s Volunteer Service Award at gold level, and 2
nd place at the America Protégés International Piano and Strings Competition.
But Richard and Eric are only proud of their academic and musical achievements, but also their achievements in community service and philanthropy. It is a passion that has burned within them as long as they can remember.
In August, Union Station Homeless Services announced the establishment of
The Richard and Eric Dong Endowment Fund at Union Station, benefiting children that are experiencing homelessness. A contribution of $25,000 has been received for the Endowment Fund from Richard and Eric Dong. The fund will provide scholarships for children in sports, music and the arts, children’s books, staff appreciation, and Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights educational programs.
A very special endowment ceremony was held on August 8 at Union Station’ Family Center, a 50-bed shelter for families with children experiencing homelessness. The endowment ceremony, attended by Congresswoman Judy Chu and former State Assembly member, Honorable Mike Eng, included an incredible classical piano performance by the brothers of Hungarian Dance by Brahms, Rondo Alla Turca by Mozart, Rhapsody in G Minor by Brahms, and Etude Opus 10 no. 12 by Chopin.
“It was important for us to keep the legacy and ideals of justice, equality, and freedom for all that Robert F. Kennedy embodied, alive,” explained Richard and Eric from the podium. “We felt that Union Station embodies those ideals. Therefore, to honor Mr. and Mrs. Robert F. Kennedy, we chose to create this endowment on the 50th anniversary of his last campaign.”
With 45 years of providing life-changing services, Union Station Homeless Services is the largest homeless services provider in San Gabriel Valley. The nonprofit provides outreach, shelter, housing and supportive services to adults and families who are experiencing homelessness. Last year, they helped more than 700 find housing – that is nearly 2 people a day.
This is the fourth endowment fund that the Dong brothers have made with their personal investment earnings and from piano performance fundraisers. Spurred on by a desire to make a lasting impact in the lives of those in need, the brothers quoted Robert F. Kennedy, “The future is not a gift, it is an achievement.”
For questions regarding giving opportunities, or if you would like more details regarding the Richard and Eric Dong Endowment Fund, contact Dana Bean, Director of Development and Communications at Union Station Homeless Services at (626) 240-4558 or email your inquiries to dbean@unionstationhs.org.
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A full transcript of Richard and Eric Dong’s speeches are included below:
(TRANSCRIPT OF RICHARD DONG’S SPEECH)
Thank you, Ms. Dana Bean, for your warm welcome and kind introduction. Honorable Congresswoman Judy Chu, State Assemblyman Mike Eng, Mrs. Anne Miskey, Mrs. Betty Fishman, my parents, guests and friends, Good afternoon! Eric and I are honored to be here today. Union Station is truly an exceptional place. We still remember the first time we were here for a tour by Ms. Stephanie Harris around the buildings, family centers, and library. We were… startled. We were especially inspired by the hard-working families, the talented and generous kids, especially when a child offered her own chocolates to my father, and the staff we met such as Mrs. Mowlavi, Ms. Bean and Ms. Harris who are extremely passionate in what they do.
Union station is an amazing community which has inspired us to be involved, so we started by donating clothes, books, notebooks, pens/pencils and toys, we then did piano performances for the families where we also taught the children at this center.
Today, we are very proud to establish an endowment fund named the Richard and Eric Dong Endowment Fund at Union Station Homeless Services. The fund is designed to provide scholarships for children in sports, music and the arts, leadership, and human rights promotion; books to the family library; staff appreciation and recognition; and Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights educational programs. It is in memory of Robert F. Kennedy on the 50
th anniversary of his last campaign and in honor of Mrs. Robert F. Kennedy for their legacy and ideals of justice, equality and freedom for all. In order to benefit the families and children, today we have an additional Check for the immediate use of scholarships and books this year because as Coloni put it: “Marriage can wait, education cannot.”
This is actually our 4
th endowment fund made by our personal investment earnings and from our piano performance fundraisers. We are profoundly inspired by the words of Robert F. Kennedy “The future is not a gift, it is an achievement.”
We would like to thank those who helped us to make this happen, the inspiration from Congresswoman Judy Chu during our internship in her office, our schools Clairbourn and San Marino High, the International Leadership Foundation, and of course, our parents and friends….
Thank you, Thank you all!
(TRANSCRIPT OF ERIC DONG’S SPEECH)
Hello Everyone, good afternoon! Today, my brother Richard and I would like to perform a few piano pieces to celebrate this event and to show our thanks for your friendship and help in making our endowment fund at Union Station possible. The first duet piece is Hungarian Dance by Brahms, then Rondo Alla Turca by Mozart. In addition, Richard is going to play Rhapsody in G Minor by Brahms for a Happy 2018, and Etude Opus 10 no. 12 by Chopin, a dream for a beautiful life. I will perform Etude no.11 by Moszkowski, it is about joy and happiness. The other piece is Sonata in C major by Haydn which expresses gratitude and friendship.
Hope you enjoy our performance, thank you all!
