Attending the ceremony, there is Vice-chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Tran Cong Thuat, representatives of the sponsorial Association for poor patients and the provincial study promotion Society. On the side of the East Meets West Foundation, there is Mrs. Hoang Thi Hang Tam, Deputy Director of the Foundation and its members.

The East Meets West Foundation is a non-governmental organization of United States. Its objective is to help poor people in some such fields as supporting disabled children, building infrastructures, preventing natural calamity, education and training and health.

The East Meets West Foundation has operated in Quang Binh since 2003 with total financial support from US$50,000 to US$80,000 each year to help poor people, especially the people in disadvantaged communes, mountainous areas, far-flung and remote areas.

In 2007, the Foundation supported US$88,300 to build schools, house of gratitude and a system of rural fresh water, provide a support of heart surgery and grant scholarships.

In 2008, the Foundation will continue to provide US$145,759 for Quang Binh province, in which building a system of rural fresh water for communes in Tuyen Hoa district with US$32,737 and Quang Trach district with US$42,875; supporting the Spell scholarship program with US$60,147 and the heart surgery program US$10,000.

With its efforts in the past years, the East Meets West Foundation has contributed to helping localities in eliminating hunger and reducing poverty and improving the people's life.

N.Y