The East Meets West Foundation (EMW) is “the foundation for learning, healing and health." EMW's work reflects the belief that every person should have access to clean water, proper medical treatment and a decent education. Without these fundamental elements of a good life, children cannot thrive and adults cannot be fully productive members of society. Founded in 1988, EMW has a 20-year track record of innovative and effective work in Vietnam and a vast portfolio of completed projects. EMW projects and programs are known for their high quality, long-term sustainability, emphasis on results, and significant scale.

Mission Statement

The East Meets West Foundation transforms the health, education and communities of disadvantaged people in Southeast Asia by building partnerships, developing opportunities and creating sustainable solutions.

Program Areas

The East Meets West Foundation’s core programs focus on providing low-income children with a good education, clean water and vital medical care.

Key interventions include a surgery program to heal heart defects in children (Operation Healthy Heart), a scholarship program to improve educational outcomes (SPELL), a dental program, support for children with disabilities and an innovative Clean Water Program that brings piped water to over a hundred thousand people in Vietnam.

EMW is also partnering with Atlantic Philanthropies to build key components of Vietnam’s medical and educational infrastructure, including university libraries and general hospitals. Recently completed projects include a 200-bed cardiovascular center in Hue and a twelve-story English Language training center in Da Nang.

Locations

Headquarters : Oakland, CA
Vietnam offices: Da Nang, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Thai Binh, Kon Tum, Quang Ngai

 

Leadership

Dr. Peter Singer, Chairman of the Board
John Anner, Executive Director
Mark Conroy, Overseas Country Director
Craig Fox, Chief Operational Officer
Rad Kivette, Director of Development in Vietnam
Minh Chau Nguyen, Chief Strategy Officer

 

Key Statistics*

Number of employees: approximately 85
Annual Consolidated Operating Budget for 2008: $21 million

 

Geography of Program Areas

For the first 10 years, EMW's work was only concentrated in Central Vietnam. Now EMW works in 16 provinces throughout the country.

Funding

EMW has a number of institutional grantors, corporate donors and thousands of individual donors which together form a unique partnership with the Vietnamese people.

History

East Meets West was born from one woman's dream of helping to heal the wounds of war between the United States and Vietnam. In 1988, LeLy Hayslip, whose life story was chronicled in two books she wrote and in Oliver Stone's film, Heaven and Earth, returned to her village of Ky La in Central Vietnam to plant the seeds of peace and start the process of healing she so much desired. From the cornerstones of LeLy's early projects - Mothers Love Pediatric Clinic and Peace Village Medical Center - East Meets West has grown to be a highly respected non-government organization (NGO) in Vietnam. Although LeLy is no longer with East Meets West, the people of Vietnam will always be grateful for her vision and gifts. In the early 1990's, a grant from USAID (United States Agency for International Development) allowed East Meets West to construct the Village of Hope, a safe haven for 150 at-risk children from Central Vietnam.

For more info

For more information, contact our Communications Department by email or call us at 1-800-561-3378.