Love Across the Ocean

“Children are their first priority. LATO dreams of a day when those least able to care for themselves, aren’t forced to rummage through garbage for food. Originally created to build and renovate schools, LATO soon found itself helping families who struggle to feed themselves on a daily basis.

LATO’s President is Leyna Nguyen, a three-time Emmy Award winning journalist who won several first place awards for her special on the 20th Anniversary of the Fall of Saigon, “Vietnam; The Journey Back.” She is currently a weeknight anchor for Newscentral, (KCBS & KCAL-TV) in Los Angeles.

About Leyna
Leyna was born in Dong Ha, Vietnam and immigrated to America with her family in 1975. She grew up in Minnesota, and was forever changed by a trip back to Vietnam. In 1997, Leyna founded ‘Love Across The Ocean’ to bring change to the lives of children who struggle daily.

The why of LATO is that they believe that, “Every child deserves to go to school. Vietnam has a culture that values education and reveres educators. Poorer families often make sacrifices that affect their health, like cutting back on food and medical care, so they can afford to send a child to school. That child will then pass along what he or she has learned to siblings.

So despite the challenges of poverty, Vietnam has a literacy rate of over 90%. And while LATO was created to help many families realise their dreams for a better future, LATO could not ignore that there are families struggling to find their next meal.

LATO Programmes
Among LATO’s programmes is a new programme that will help families become self-sufficient, through the donation of farm animals. The idea came to them from donors John and Jeannette Brobst in Calimesa, CA. From dairy cows that will provide nuturing milk, to chickens that lay eggs, or water buffalo to work the fields, your animal gift will help lead a family out of poverty and give them a chance for a bright future free from hunger, and full of hope.