about
TRONG & RANI

Building quality homes is especially meaningful for Trong because of his own vulnerable childhood.  As a 9-year-old boat refugee fleeing communism in Vietnam, Trong survived modern-day pirate raids only to be shipwrecked on a remote island for two years.  He endured much of that time alone in a cave. Trong survived that tragic experience by beginning to teach himself the art of homebuilding.  Then he used banana branches and coconut leaves; now a world away, he crafts award-winning luxury homes in Western Washington.   Trong's traumatic past now compels him to use his building skills to help provide safe shelters for others, and his childhood experiences to be a voice for the victimized children around the world.

Rani Hong is a national and international speaker. She has contributed to the crafting of precedent-setting Washington state laws and has participated as an advisor to U.S. Congress and to other International Parliaments. Additionally, Rani is a United States American Embassy speaker for the Department of State.    She has been recognized as the National Woman of Courage by the Moms in Business Network, and named a Soroptomist Regional Winner for Women Making A Difference.  Rani has shared her story at numerous speaking panels, trainings, churches, evening events and Press conferences.  In addition to being the spokesperson for The Tronie Foundation, Rani works with journalists in print, radio, and broadcast to be a voice for those enslaved.

Trong and Rani Hong, Founders of the Tronie Foundation, combine their professional skills with their desire to improve the lives of exploited women and children.  They have encouraged a movement to stop selling people for a profit.  Together they have had a global impact over 120 countries and have reached literally billions of people with their message of hope.

Now married and raising their own family in Western Washington, the Hongs founded the Tronie Foundation to provide worldwide restoration of victims of human trafficking and those vulnerable to exploitation.  A subsidiary of the Tronie Foundation, “Homes of the Freedom,” is opening the Northwest's first recovery shelter for human trafficking survivors.  Ultimately, supporters envision this shelter as becoming the template to expand these shelters across the United States.

The Hongs share  their own histories as survivors of childhood atrocities to help bring attention to the plight of those who suffer.  Their stories have appeared in local, national, and international media, including on "The Oprah Winfrey Show."  The Hongs are recipients of many awards, including the Tom Wales Foundation Passionate Citizenship Award.