Helping Orphans Worldwide HOW), Inc.
It takes a village
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Education 4 Life Program
An educated community is a prosperous community. Education provides the necessary foundation for economic growth, sustainability and at its most basic level, survival. HOW is very passionate about the educational needs of children worldwide and believe that ensuring their future benefits all of us around the globe.
HOW's Education 4 Life program provides a real and meaningful difference to school age children in Vietnam. Sponsored children receive tuition, school supplies, uniforms, tutoring and even a bicycle to travel to and from school.
Children living with EB (Epidermolysis Bullosa)
EB is a rare genetic skin disease that causes the skin to be so fragile that the slightest friction can cause severe blistering inside and outside the body. Today there is no cure. HOW is working with local doctors and nurses to provide wound care, education and medical supplies.
Hunger Relief Program
Our Hunger Relief program supplies food and nutritional supplements to undernourished children and adults living in poverty across Vietnam. Local volunteers make personal deliveries, making every dollar count. As an independent program, Hunger Relief supports children and families in desperate need of nutrition.
As one of our most successful programs, your contributions have funded thousands of hungry children and hundreds of families each year. HOW would like to extend a special thanks to your ongoing support as well as to our volunteers who are well versed in the illnesses of third world countries and make the extra effort to provide the nutrition and feeding support they need.
The Gift Of Life Program
The HOW Gift Of Life Program provides HIV/AIDS & Tuberculosis (TB) patients with necessary medical care and further educates the wider community against the stigma of these potentially deadly diseases. Helping Orphans Worldwide funds life saving medications, surgical procedures, medical equipment and educational tools for distribution across Vietnam.
It is estimated that approximately 300,000 people are currently infected with HIV/AIDS in Vietnam, although this number is likely higher given the shame associated with the disease; discrimination often discourages people from seeking medical assistance. HOW believes strongly that education and raised awareness is the only way to break down the social stigma associated with HIV/AIDS and TB, a disease prevalent among those infected with AIDS.
We have now added working with elderly and abandoned people living in rural area hospice.
The Starfsh Program
Helping Orphans Worldwide founded the Starfish Program in April of 2010 to provide comprehensive care to children in need. Since then, hundreds of children have benefited from life saving surgeries, routine clinical care, wound care, nutritional support and educational services.
Starfish members typically face a long road to recovery; on average care lasts approximately one year but can extend to as much as three years. During this time, HOW is responsible for any nutritional needs, medical and educational services. HOW cares for the little Starfish until they are strong and healthy.
The Perpetual Giving Program
Based in Quang Tri, HOW provides families with a gift that keeps on giving; our Perpetual Giving program extends beyond the basic gift of livestock to teach impoverished families how to become "livestock farmers." Recipients receive livestock, including cows, goats, chickens, ducks and pigs as well as guidance on livestock nutrition, disease and basic care to afford financial security for generations.
After establishing a sustainable means of income via offspring, these now independent farmers pay it forward and share offspring as well as their training to another family. As a result, communities at large become self sufficient and HOW is able to introduce sustainable development into otherwise impoverished communities.
Ready 2 Learn
Costly tuition consumes most family budgets for education, leaving little to no money for supplies such as backpacks, pencils, crayons, notebooks, calculators, etc. READY 2 LEARN is HOW's latest program geared towards education. HOW supplies children in need with the educational supplies necessary to succeed.
Not only does this program support educational efforts for children, it enables families to focus limited funds on essentials that are often lacking including food, water, clothing and medicine. Join us today and support a child in need.
Where we work
External reviews

Photos
Videos
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Helping Orphans Worldwide, HOW's (HOW) mission is to continue to build a global community committed to providing hope,
health and education to underprivileged children and families in need.
HOW has many programs:
Helping Orphans Worldwide founded the Starfish Program in April of 2010 to provide comprehensive care to children in need. Since then, hundreds of children have benefited from life saving surgeries, routine clinical care, wound care, nutritional support and educational services.
Starfish members typically face a long road to recovery; on average care lasts approximately one year but can extend to as much as three years. During this time, HOW is responsible for any nutritional needs, medical and educational services. HOW cares for the little Starfish until they are strong and healthy.
The HOW Gift Of Life Program provides HIV/AIDS & Tuberculosis (TB) patients with necessary medical care and further educates the wider community against the stigma of these potentially deadly diseases. Helping Orphans Worldwide funds life saving medications, surgical procedures, medical equipment and educational tools for distribution across Vietnam.
Based in Quang Tri, HOW provides families with a gift that keeps on giving; our Perpetual Giving program extends beyond the basic gift of livestock to teach impoverished families how to become "livestock farmers." Recipients receive livestock, including cows, goats, chickens, ducks and pigs as well as guidance on livestock nutrition, disease and basic care to afford financial security for generations.
Our Hunger Relief program supplies food and nutritional supplements to undernourished children and adults living in poverty across Vietnam. Local volunteers make personal deliveries, making every dollar count. As an independent program, Hunger Relief supports children and families in desperate need of nutrition.
As one of our most successful programs, your contributions have funded thousands of hungry children and hundreds of families each year. HOW would like to extend a special thanks to your ongoing support as well as to our volunteers who are well versed in the illnesses of third world countries and make the extra effort to provide the nutrition and feeding support they need, and introducing clean farming for sustainability.
An educated community is a prosperous community. Education provides the necessary foundation for economic growth, sustainability and at its most basic level, survival. HOW is very passionate about the educational needs of children worldwide and believe that ensuring their future benefits all of us around the globe.
Costly tuition consumes most family budgets for education, leaving little to no money for supplies such as backpacks, pencils, crayons, notebooks, calculators, etc. READY 2 LEARN is HOW's latest program geared towards education. HOW supplies children in need with the educational supplies necessary to succeed.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
HOW has responsible volunteers (including the founder) on the ground to follow up and research each recipient and follow up with each program.
We have a videographer (board member) who documents each and every donation, in order to show our wonderful donors exactly where each cent of their donation is helping.
HOW has ZERO paid staff and no offices. 100% of our donors money goes directly to each program.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Thanks to HOW's transparency donors have been kind enough to reach out to us, through social media and keeping our donors informed.
We answer all questions directly and instantly.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Each program has grown and progressed but the detail is far too involved to go into detail as each program changes and grows with experience and time.
We began in 2007 and up until now (2019) we have educated doctors, and nurses about Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), provided several hundred cows, pigs, goats, ducks, pigs, school supplies, surgeries, nutritional needs, wound care supplies, medical equipment, clothing, tutors, and the list goes on.
The next big plan for HOW is to address clean water in Central Vietnam. We would like to not only provide clean water but we are working on getting the community involved to make sure each dollar of profit goes back into this program to assist in providing employment and clean water in Quang Tri, Vietnam.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Helping Orphans Worldwide HOW), Inc.
Board of directorsas of 07/17/2019
Tan Vo
Helping Orphans Worldwide, HOW Inc.
Term: 2015 -
Randall Brown
Helping Orphans Worldwide, HOW Inc.
Judy Gibson
Helping Orphans Worldwide, (HOW)
Hillary Brown
Helping Orphans Worldwide, (HOW)
Randall Brown
Helping Orphans Worldwide, (HOW)
Daria Gledhill
Helping Orphans Worldwide, (HOW)
Tan Vo
Helping Orphans Worldwide, (HOW)
Mitzi Graham
Helping Orphans Worldwide, (HOW)
Amanda Prine
Helping Orphans Worldwide, (HOW)
Phuong-Nha Bach
Helping Orphans Worldwide, (HOW)
Board leadership practices
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes