THERESA TRAN, LOWER SCHOOL DIRECTOR, SHARES WHY SHE SUPPORTS POLY.
My mother, Kim Thuc Tran, is one of the most philanthropic people I know. When I was a little girl, one of my jobs was helping her balance the checkbook. Sitting beside her, I noticed the checks she wrote to our local church, veterans’ groups, The Salvation Army, and many other nonprofit organizations. Even though we did not have much, giving back was always important to her.
As refugees from Vietnam, my family understood deeply that our new life was made possible by people who gave their time, resources, and support to families like ours. I learned early that philanthropy is not only about how much someone gives. It is about gratitude, responsibility, and the belief that we each have a role in caring for something larger than ourselves.
That lesson has stayed with me. My parents had been French teachers in Vietnam, and with the support of their sponsors who believed in them, they were able to return to school and become educators once again in the United States. Having experienced the power of generosity firsthand, they understood the importance of giving and paying it forward. Their example shaped the way I think about generosity and service.
I am proud to give to Poly. I respect and honor the traditions of a school founded in 1907, and I appreciate that Poly continues to think deeply about what our students, faculty, and families need now. Poly remains grounded in its values while asking important questions: Who is our community today? What does it need? How do we prepare our students for the world they will inherit?
When I began as Lower School Director, I knew I wanted to create more intentional alignment across the K-12 experience, and I dreamed of building an Outdoor Education program for our fifth grade students. I do not think I fully realized that dream had become a reality until I found myself standing on the windy deck of the Catalina Express as we made the bumpy journey to Catalina for our inaugural fifth-grade trip. Nothing could dampen the students’ joy, and they could not stop smiling! In that moment, I was reminded of what is possible when a school is willing to dream, plan, invest, and create experiences that children will carry with them for years.
When I give to Poly, I support this kind of joyful, thoughtful, and meaningful education, one that helps children feel known, valued, challenged, and loved. I give because I believe in the faculty and staff who give so much of themselves. I believe in the students we are helping shape and the families who partner with us. I believe that supporting Poly is one way to help ensure that this extraordinary school continues to thrive for generations to come.
