Organization
Cambodian American Association of Georgia
The Cambodian American Association of Georgia (CAAG) is a volunteer-run Cambodian American community association in Marietta, Georgia. It serves Cambodian American families in the greater Atlanta area.[1][2] It is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, tax-exempt since March 2012, and its members are all volunteers.[2][3] It works to keep Cambodian culture, heritage and language alive among young Cambodian Americans and to introduce Cambodian culture to the wider American public.[2]
Programs
Board members who are Khmer teachers lead the association's Khmer language classes, and it keeps a traditional classical music band.[4] Each spring it celebrates Khmer New Year (Choul Chnam Thmey), which Cambodians living abroad may hold on a weekend. On April 13, 2019, and again on April 13, 2024, the celebration included the Miss Cambodia of Georgia Pageant; the 2019 contestants met the community at a meet-and-greet on February 17.[4][1]
The association holds an annual banquet: the seventh on September 9, 2017, the eighth on September 8, 2018, a ninth in 2019, the tenth on September 19, 2020, and the 2023 banquet on September 16.[4] The association also takes part in Golf for Charity.[1]
CAAG fields two teams, Angkor Wat and Phnom Penh, in the annual Atlanta Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival, where members build leadership and community ties. Board member Sorin Yin, the boat team captain, has been part of the program since 2011, and in 2023 the association invited new paddlers with no experience needed.[4][1] In 2020 its boat racing took place on September 12.[4]
Scholarships
Through its Youth Program, CAAG runs a Scholarship and Awards Program and mentors high school students for further study and careers.[4][2] With the Asian/Pacific American Council of Georgia (APAC), it offered the CAAG/APAC Scholarship in 2023 and 2024.[4] The 2024 award was open to Georgia high school seniors of Cambodian descent who had a grade point average of at least 3.0 and planned to start college in fall 2024. Applicants were chosen on academic achievement, leadership, extracurricular activities and community service. Applications were due on March 27, 2024, and the award was presented at APAC's 39th Annual Unity Gala on May 11, 2024, at the Sonesta Gwinnett Place Atlanta in Duluth, Georgia, which applicants were required to attend.[2]
Community
The association takes part in community events that raise awareness of Cambodian culture and give members a chance to volunteer.[1] Its sponsors and supporters have included United Parcel Service, United Way, Hong Kong Supermarket, Polished&Company, Allstate agent Daravy Beng, Prudential representative P.Q. Le, the Asian/Pacific American Council and Who's Who in the Asian American Community.[4]
Board and officers (2026)
Officers and board members in 2026.[4]
- Bora Lam, co-founder, former president and board advisor
- Sopheap Lam, co-founder, public relations
- Ra Pel, president
- Roth Than, vice president
- Monica Nuth, secretary
- Ham Sonny Van, treasurer
- Sarath (Sara) Srei, IT and web administrator
- Heang Cheahel, board member and Khmer teacher
- Toni Ly, board member and Khmer teacher
- Rosanna Fraser, board member
- Sorin Yin, board member and boat team captain
- Wantha Samran, board member, traditional classical band
- Stephanie Sam, board member, youth and social media
- Yeung Moeun (Sky Moon), board member
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Cambodian American Association of Georgia, home page
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Cambodian American Association of Georgia, Application for 2024 CAAG/APAC Scholarship
- ↑ TaxExemptWorld, Marietta GA 30066 organizations
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 Cambodian American Association of Georgia, website