Dental Program
New Volunteer Policies
A letter from EMW Dental Director Dr. Charles F. Craft for those interested in volunteering for the EMW Dental Program.
To all EMW Dental International Volunteers:
I am writing to inform you all that starting July 1, 2009 we will be asking volunteers to make a $100 payment to the East Meets West Dental Program which will go to cost share our ever increasing administrative expenses that are associated with processing all of the many details of foreign dental visitors to Vietnam.
This fee will help us offset the overhead that our program incures while providing in-country support for: visa processing, local travel and lodging arrangements, meetings to prepare MOU aggreements with children’s centers, staff preperations for outreach trips and supervision of actual patient care.
With over 100 volunteers a year, these extra duties have forced the EMW Dental Program to hire an additional administrative assistant in order to keep up with all of our normal program demands. And with the rising inflation and poor economy this has had a negative effect on our overall program operating budget. We manage complex clinic, trailer and outreach projects which treat over 12,000 children per year and provide over 50,000 dental services annually. Our international volunteers are the lifeblood of our program who work side by side with our Vietnamese staff to provide this tremendous amount of care. Without your concern and compassion our children would not receive the great benefits of modern professional dentistry. We ask for your understanding of our current situation and thank you in advance for your dedication to our program which has treated over 65,000 needy children since 1996.
This Administrative Fee should be paid to the “East meets West Foundation” and earmarked for the “Dental Program." Checks should be sent before your trip to the EMW office in Oakland:
Development Department
East Meets West Foundation
P.O. Box 29292
Oakland, California 94604
Or you can send your payment through EMW's online donation form here.
East Meets West is a registered US 501 (c) (3) charity organiation. You will receive a tax receipt from EMW once the funds have been recorded.
Once again, thank your for your support of our humanitarian dental program for children in Vietnam. We promise you will have a rewarding and unique lifetime experience during your visit!
Warm regards,
Dr. Charles F. Craft
East Meets West Dental Director