WESTMINSTER : Refugee Aid Group Elects New Leaders

The Community Resources Opportunity Project, a nonprofit organization that helps Latino and Asian refugees in Orange County find jobs or learn English, elected new leadership recently.

The CROP board of directors elected An Nguyen, a resident of Fountain Valley and owner of ANA Funding of Garden Grove, as president. He will serve a two-year term.

“We have a lot of work to do,” Nguyen said, adding that the board must focus its efforts on fund raising, in addition to providing services to refugees. “We really need money.”

CROP employees and volunteers teach English classes, find work for disabled people and recent immigrants and provide skill training in such areas as electronic assembly, gardening and custodial work.

Much of CROP’s budget of more than $1 million comes from state and federal grants. But with the bleak economy and the state fiscal crisis this year, CROP officials said they must find new funding sources.

Elected to two-year positions were Dennis Catron, a real estate developer in Midway City, to the post of vice president and Lan Ngoc Pham, who has served two terms as president of CROP, as board secretary. Allan White, a software engineer from Westminster, will be treasurer.

Those needing assistance or who wish to volunteer can find CROP offices at 521 N. Figueroa St. in Santa Ana and 14550 Magnolia St. in Westminster.