M.E.M.O., a nonprofit organization, helps raise money to fund school scholarships and heart surgeries this summer in Vietnam

Last year, M.E.M.O. (Medical, Educational, Missions, and Outreach) was able to raise over $110,000 in order to fund 13 heart surgeries, 70 academic scholarships, and service over 1500 patients by hosting dental and medical clinics in Vietnam. This year, M.E.M.O. will be hosting its 11th annual service trip to Vietnam to carry out the mission of helping the underserved communities in South Vietnam both educationally and medically. M.E.M.O. will be hosting its annual Open Our Hearts 2017 Gala this upcoming May 7th to reach its goals. More information on location and tickets can be found here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/memos-11th-annual-open-our-hearts-gala-tickets-32571805146

Founded in 2007, M.E.M.O. has been sending members from its 3 chapters (UC Irvine, San Diego, and Los Angeles) with doctors and dentists to Vietnam to provide a multitude of healthcare services through hosting medical and dental day clinics to the locals in South Vietnam, visiting local orphanages, and sponsoring pediatric heart surgeries to those whose families do not have a means to pay for the costly operations, which range from $3000 to $5000.

Not only does the organization focus on providing healthcare services, but also aims to help educate the future generation through sponsoring a year’s worth of education to roughly 50 to 70 children at local orphanages in Vietnam.

What makes the organization unique; however, is that M.E.M.O. takes what its experiences abroad and applies it into the local community in Orange County. M.E.M.O. operates locally by volunteering at soup kitchens, charity clothing drives, elementary afterschool programs, free clinics, and many other service events. More information on how to donate to help M.E.M.O.can be found here: http://www.aboutmemo.org/ One of the organization’s major events held locally includes working in conjunction with the Vietnamese Physicians of Southern California (V.P.A.S.C.) to host an annual health fair, in which over 1000 patient were seen this last October 2016. Additionally, M.E.M.O. is currently collaborating with Project S.H.U.E., an afterschool program for at-risk youth in Westminster, CA to help teach children the importance of leading healthy lifestyles through growing vegetables and raising environmental awareness by teaching them about gardening.