“We started the KNOWAutism Foundation to promote autism awareness and to provide education and resources to other families affected by autism.”
“Even though life was hard going from one therapy session to another and then to school, the world started to make sense again. Looking back, I know that if we had not been in denial and had our son diagnosed earlier, it would have been better and easier for both our son and us.” —Tammy Tran Nguyen
Tammy Tran Nguyen is a business owner in her beloved Houston community, the founder of the KNOWAutism Foundation, the wife of Wayne Nguyen, and the proud parent of two, Julia and Reagan.
Tammy is the daughter of two Chinese-Vietnamese immigrants. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a BBA and the University of Houston Law Center with a JD. She worked at Tenneco Gas and Dell Computers during college and at Alexander & Alexander after graduation before deciding she was not the corporate type.
When Tammy first met her husband, Wayne, there was an instant connection. Although they were both corporate-trained, they shared a strong entrepreneurial spirit. After marriage, they started their real estate investment firm, Concentric Three, Inc., and continued the family restaurant business.
Tammy has always been committed to her community and the schools that her children attend. It was her son’s autism diagnosis that took her on a different journey, and she became an active philanthropist in Houston.
She started the KNOWAutism Foundation in 2013 to help promote autism awareness and provide education and resources to children and families affected by autism. Under her leadership, the foundation raised millions and provided direct financial assistance to hundreds of families with the cost of tuition, therapies, and special interests.
KNOWAutism formed meaningful partnerships with The River Performing and Visual Arts Center at TUTS and The Houston Ballet to further help children with special needs. KNOWAutism also started its own community outreach program and helped special education classrooms throughout the greater Houston area.
Tammy and her husband supported numerous non-profit organizations in Houston, such as Operation Smiles, UNICEF, The Houston Ballet, The Houston Symphony, the Chinese Community Center, the Crohn & Colitis Foundation, and the March of Dimes, just to name a few. She is a member of the Houston Symphony League and the Houston 20s. She currently serves on the boards of the Houston Symphony and the KNOWAutism Foundation. She is honored to serve on the Cal State Fullerton Dean’s Advisory Council.
She has received many honors for her work in the community. She received the Inspiration Award in 2013 from the Chinese Community Center and was the recipient of the 2019 Wallis Annenberg Public Service Award from Operation Smile for her work with children and families who are in need of humanitarian intervention. She was named the Tiffany’s & Co Hometown Hero in 2020 for her work during the pandemic.
Tammy loves the performing arts, photography, and travel. There are two things she cannot live without: her family and her morning coffee.