Angie Wong
Event Coordinator

Hey everyone :)

My name is Angie Wong. I am a fourth year student studying at Carleton University as a Psychology major. After my undergrad, I plan to do my Masters in Sports Psychology – especially focusing on the mental training of athletes.

When I joined Begin 2 Believe at the beginning of summer, I did so to be more involved with the community. I always enjoyed attending the volleyball events and I was looking for a way to be more involved with the event planning. So when the opportunity arose, I was on board as helping out as an Event Coordinator. Volunteering is one of the best ways to learn and develop skills outside of school. It allows you to apply what you are learning about yourself as you complete your education. I really enjoyed meeting new people in B2B and I've become good friends with a lot of people on the team. I've also met more people that I can play volleyball with. B2B is a great way to get yourself out there if you don't know where to start in terms of volunteering.

As an individual on the Carleton volleyball team, we planned many events and tournaments to fundraise for our team. I saw the Event Coordinator position with B2B as an opportunity to develop transferable skills such as tournament planning, event promotions, taking initiative, teamwork, and active listening. It was very helpful that I could draw on my B2B experiences when it came to planning events for the volleyball club.

Arvin Jain
Chief Accountant, Board of Director

Hey guys!

My name is Arvin Jain and I am part of the B2B Board of Directors. I am also the Chief Accountant and I got involved with B2B through one of my best friends David Nguyen. I am a University of Ottawa graduate with an Honours Bachelor of Commerce Degree with specialization in Accounting. I currently work for Deloitte & Touche LLP and am working towards obtaining my CA designation.

I have been involved with B2B since its inception and have seen a small group of friends grow into a big organization. I have gained amazing experiences with this organization and I hope to contribute my accounting knowledge to effectively use our resources in order to raise funds for registered charities. I have been involved with organizing events, researching charities to find where our funds will make the most impact, B2B finances, and playing in our events (yes, I like to have fun too).

When I'm not working on B2B related things, I like to stay active. I enjoy going to the gym and playing basically any sport. I like to try new things and with the help of David, I have been able to make a difference and give back to the community.

B2B is a great organization with a young and ambitious team. With so much knowledge and determination, the possibilities are endless. I am so glad to be part of this organization and hope you will help us raise awareness and make a difference.

Charity sees the need, not the cause.

David Nguyen
Founder/CEO/Executive Director

Hello friends!

My name is David Nguyen and I am the Founder/CEO/Executive Director of Begin 2 Believe. I recently graduated from the University of Ottawa with a Bachelor in Science, Honors in Biopharmaceutical Sciences. I started Begin 2 Believe as a SFUO club during third year and it just grew from there with your support into an official registered not-for-profit organization! We are also a registered community partner with the University of Ottawa SASS-ELS. Feel free to contact us for volunteer opportunities!

Currently, I work at Health Canada and dedicate the rest of my time to organizing fundraising events because I felt that I could be more productive and contribute to the community towards a better future! I am also a member of the United Way Next Generation Cabinet, so watch out for new and upcoming events this year!

On a final note, I thank you all for your continuous support over the years! I strongly encourage you to continue a healthy and active lifestyle outside our sporting events and to raise awareness of our services, so that together we can make others Begin 2 Believe.

I also would like to take this opportunity to thank our lovely and valued volunteers and members who dedicated their time to make ends meet to build a stronger community!

Last but not least, feel free to contact me at david.nguyen@begin2believe.com if you have any questions or require advice. I am more than happy to help!

Sincerely,

David Nguyen
Founder/CEO/Executive Director
August 2010

Jane Au
Secretary

As an Ottawa native, I began volunteering while a teenager. Whether I was offering my time at a local hospital or festival, I always found it a rewarding and enjoyable experience.

I joined Begin 2 Believe in my third year of university with a few close friends to help fundraise for The Friends of the Ottawa Hospital, but we did not realize how positive of an impact it would become. Now, as a graduate from the University of Ottawa with a Bachelor of Science in Biopharmaceutical Sciences, I have watched Begin 2 Believe evolve from a small group of close friends to an organization made up of more than 20 dedicated members. I have met a lot of interesting and enthusiastic people as a member of this organization. I have also created friendships that will last for many years to come.

In addition to helping organize events, I have also been involved in responding to collaboration requests with other registered charities and attending charitable donation meetings. My goal is to continue supporting Begin 2 Believe to the best of my ability, so that we can continue our charitable work and help build Ottawa into an even better community to live in.

Jennifer Leung
Human Resources Advisor

I am a graduate from the University of Ottawa with an Honours Bachelors of Science in Psychology degree. I'm currently in the process of completing a Master of Arts in Educational Counselling program at the University of Ottawa.

I joined B2B primarily because I had friends in the group but as time went on, I felt that B2B's purpose and goals were admirable and to be esteemed. I have always enjoyed volunteering and giving my time for worthy causes.

As I have a degree in Psychology, I thought it would be helpful to contribute my educational knowledge and skills. For me, it was essential to determine the needs and concerns of our own members. I felt that in order to provide services to others, we need to first understand what our own members want and need from B2B. I hope to continue helping B2B accomplish their goals in any way that I can.

Kristy Zhou
Photographer

Bonjour!

This is Kristy, here. I am a graduate from the University of Ottawa with both a Bachelor in Science, Major Biochemistry degree, and an Honours in Commerce (option Finance) degree. I am currently doing an internship at FASHION Magazine as a fashion editorial intern. And, I will be doing a Masters of Science in Healthcare Management next fall.

As a friend of David, I have always thought of B2B as a fun organization that people both could get involved with and participate in events. These past couple of years have allowed me to contribute my time into a great community group. When the photographer position opened up, I jumped at the chance to improve on my photography skills and socialize with all these friendly people. As the photographer of the organization, I hope to capture all the amazing times we can share together through these charitable events.

Hope you'll have a great time with us!