Mai Le Han
Mai Le Han is nonchalant when she sums up her reasons for donating to the Royal Alexandra Hospital.
"It makes me happy."
If that's true, then Mai Le is one of the happiest people we know. Since 1996, she has faithfully donated to the Royal Alex as well as many other worthwhile charities here in Edmonton and around the world. Mai Le's long history of giving to the Royal Alexandra Hospital has helped several important projects getting the green light, including special enhancements in the neonatal intensive care unit, where our smallest patients receive life-saving care.
Mai Le has an intriguing background, one which makes her constant philanthropy even more impressive. Born into a wealthy family in Vietnam, Mai Le had an easy life as a child. "We had a cook, a driver and all kinds of servants. I never had to do anything myself," she explains. As a teenager, Mai broke with family tradition and decided to seek her own fortune. She started her own business, a small grocery store, despite the path that her family originally had planned for her. "I am a fighter. I fight against everything!" she says with a laugh.
Eventually, life got too difficult in Vietnam. Her family went their separate ways, mostly relocating to the United States. She moved to China, but the culture shock of that enormous country proved too much to bear. Mai Le started to look for somewhere else to call home. In 1979, she chose Canada. "At that time, I didn't know anything about Canada. But I knew it had snow!"
On arriving here, Mai Le worked during the day as a housekeeper and at nights in restaurants. At the same time, she furthered her education, studying to learn English and the ways of her new country. Eventually she got a job in the kitchen at the Four Seasons restaurant and became interested in cooking. "At that time, I didn't know anything about cooking," says Mai Le with a smile. "For many years, someone else always did the cooking! But I wanted to learn, so I kept on nagging my boss to let me try." Her boss gave her a chance, and Mai Le soon learned her way around the Four Seasons' busy kitchen. Mai Le's culinary ambition then led her to the NAIT School of Hospitality and Culinary Arts, where she completed the Baking Program.
Now in her retirement years, Mai Le still keeps busy with a part time job at Northlands and part time classes in English. Despite leading a hand to mouth existence at times, Mai Le has always found the resources to donate to worthy causes. "Even though sometimes I didn't have any furniture or have to spend money on school, I think I can still do something to help people."
"I thought it was about time for me to pay back society," says Mai Le in regards to her donations to the Royal Alex. She also sponsors children in the Far East through World Vision because "Children should have a long life."
Donors like Mai Le are an inspiration to us all.