March 6, 2008

Dear [member_name_first],

This year marks the 20th anniversary of East Meets West working in Vietnam!

Twenty years ago, EMW was a dream in the mind of Le Ly Hayslip, a Vietnamese woman living in America who founded EMW to build a bridge of reconciliation between Vietnam and the U.S. after the war. What started as a small nonprofit organization serving a few thousand people in central Vietnam has grown into the largest non-governmental organization working in the country today. EMW's programs are nationally-recognized models for innovative development and we now work all over the country, reaching millions of Vietnam's most disadvantaged populations.

While we look back with pride at the achievements of the past 20 years, we also look to the future as we contemplate the continuing development of East Meets West. Our newly launched mission statement expresses the values that continue to ground EMW even as we expand our programs to other countries in Asia:

This is a landmark year for all of us here—and we hope you willl please join us in celebrating this milestone by making a birthday gift to EMW. Every contribution helps bring opportunity—to an individual, a family, a community— and with it, the hope for a better life.

Best regards,

Peter A. Singer, M.D.
Chairman
EMW Board of Directors

RECENT EMW NEWS

EMW Executive Director awarded medal by
Vietnamese government for invaluable service to country

On his fifth anniversary as Executive Director at East Meets West, the Vietnam Union for Friendship Organization (VUFO) awarded John Anner a medal for his leadership and invaluable contribution to Vietnam over the last 5 years. VUFO manages international nongovernmental organizations in Vietnam and the award was a big honor for both John and EMW. Read more.

EMW Dental Team to celebrate 50,000 children served

In Da Nang on March 12, the EMW Dental Team will celebrate having served their 50,000th patient. Over the last 12 years, EMW's Dental Program has provided more than 180,000 modern dental services to poor children in cental Vietnam. Find out more about the dental program here.

EMW Breaks Ground on National Hospital of Pediatrics in Hanoi

Lauching what promises to be the biggest project ever undertaken by East Meets West, a groundbreaking ceremony was held  in January at the National Hospital of Pediatrics (NHP) in Hanoi. The NHP is the largest pediatric care facility in the country. With grants from Atlantic Philanthropies, EMW will rebuild the entire medical campus, a project that will take around seven years and cost upwards of $40 million. Read more.

Irish Aid Fixes Children's Hearts

Irish Aid has announced a new grant to EMW for $7,000 to provide heart surgeries to seven children in northern Vietnam. Most of these children will come from Thai Binh province, where East Meets West has a large program assisting people with disabilities. Read more here.

QUICK LINKS

Latest Vietnam Blog: "Getting a Haircut in Saigon"

New Fact Sheets! Download one-page fact sheets of all EMW programs.

Program Updates: Download latest EMW Quarterly Program Reports.