Kimmy Duong: A Life of Courage, Resilience, Success, and Impact
Kimmy Duong, born on January 12, 1945, in Nha Trang, Vietnam, rose from a childhood of
poverty to become one of the most remarkable immigrant philanthropists in modern history. Her
life is a story of resilience, courage, and purpose — a journey that transformed not only her own
path but also the lives of countless others through her philanthropy.
Raised in a modest family in Vietnam, Kimmy’s early years were marked by hardship. She lived
in a small home in a small town, but her parents instilled in her values that would shape her
future: her father emphasized the power of education, while her mother modeled compassion and
generosity toward others.
At the age of eleven, Kimmy left her hometown to live with her uncle so she could attend high
school — an opportunity unavailable in her village. When she was fourteen, she failed an
important exam and saw how deeply disappointed her father was. That moment became a turning
point in her life. Overcome with regret, she promised herself she would never fail again and
would live with no regrets.
At sixteen, when her father retired the family moved back to Nha Trang. Living again with her
parents, Kimmy continued high school and absorbed her mother’s example of kindness. She
remembered how her mother always carried a small side bag to save rice for beggars — a simple
but powerful act of giving that would stay with her forever.
This spirit of generosity later inspired the Kimmy Duong Foundation’s guiding message:
“Giving Back, Paying Forward.”
Kimmy’s goal is to help students understand that giving back and paying forward are not just
acts of kindness, but responsibilities that strengthen communities.
Influenced by her Buddhist background, Kimmy has always cared deeply for the poor and the
sick. Having grown up in poverty and arrived in the United States as a refugee in 1975, she
understands the challenges that hardship brings.
In 2015, she established the Kimmy Duong Foundation (KDF) to provide scholarships to
students, promote health, and create opportunities for those in need to build a better future.
Throughout her life, Mrs. Duong has generously supported charitable causes such as:
- The Vietnamese Association for the Handicapped
- Scholarships for high school students in Nha Trang
- Housing for the poor in Hue, My Tho, Nha Trang, and Phan Thiet
- Cataract surgery and medical care for the poor in Can Tho, Hue, and Nha Trang
In the United States, she has supported organizations such as the Code of Support Foundation,
as well as scholarship funds for veterans and students at the University of Maryland,
Montgomery College, Northern Virginia Community College, and George Mason
University.
To strengthen and sustain these efforts, Mrs. Duong formally established the Kimmy Duong
Foundation to ensure her charitable work continues for generations to come.
Professionally, Mrs. Duong built an impressive career in business and technology. After a 25-
year tenure at IBM, she joined Pragmatics, Inc. in 1987, where she served as Vice Chairman
and Chief Financial Officer (CFO). As CFO, she oversaw all corporate support functions,
including accounting, finance, budgeting, treasury, human resources, risk management,
contracts, purchasing, compliance, and corporate taxes.
Her outstanding leadership and philanthropy have earned her numerous honors, including the
Mason Medal from George Mason University and the Glen Martin Medal from the University
of Maryland. In 2009, she and her husband, Dr. Long Nguyen, donated $5 million to support
George Mason University’s engineering building. Between 2018 and 2025, the Kimmy Duong
Foundation donated an additional $25 million to the University of Maryland, Montgomery
College, Northern Virginia Community College, and George Mason University. In recognition of
their generosity, GMU named its School of Computing after the couple.
Mrs. Duong earned her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of
Saigon. In 2008, she was recognized by Profiles in Diversity Journal as one of the Women
Worth Watching.
Now retired as of November 2024, Mrs. Duong lives in Virginia with her husband, Dr. Long
Nguyen, and continues to dedicate her time and passion to advancing the mission of the Kimmy
Duong Foundation — empowering others through education, compassion, and the enduring belief in giving back and paying forward.