Daisy Tong serves as the Trustee for Area 4 and made history as the first Vietnamese American to serve on the Rancho Santiago Community College Board of Trustees in 2022 and representing the community of Garden Grove and Santa Ana. Growing up in District 4 as a 1.5-generation immigrant, Daisy understands her constituents' unique daily challenges. This insight enables her to advocate for them effectively as a Trustee on the Board.
Born in the Mekong Delta town of Sa Đéc in South Vietnam, both of her parents were members of the South Vietnamese Armed Forces and served time in prison camps after the Fall of Saigon. She emigrated to the U.S. in 1993 at the age of ten with her family as a political refugee.
From a young age, her parents instilled the importance of helping others and community involvement. Tong was taught that a thriving community is essential for individual success. With this mindset, she began her community service journey as a volunteer translator between parents and teachers. She participated in summer reading programs at the local library, contributed to the Christmas Toys for Tots program, and played a pivotal role in bridging the mainstream and the Asian communities. Tong was instrumental in establishing the annual Tet Parade in Westminster, contributing to a weekly Vietnamese newspaper, and hosting Vietnamese-language television and radio programs to discuss news and current events.
For the past two decades, she has dedicated her career to consultancy, specializing in communication and bridging the gap between the Asian and mainstream communities. Her clients range from government agencies and businesses to numerous local elected leaders. Tong made a bold career transition in response to life-changing events, including the challenges brought about by COVID-19. Despite her limited prior experience, she ventured into the world of real estate with success.
