The Matthew Harris Ornstein Memorial Foundation has a two-pronged mission:

The Foundation will engage in a variety of activities that reflect the values, passions and life of Matthew Harris Ornstein, including, but not limited to:

(1) the promotion of high school debate, especially in less privileged communities, as a way of encouraging scholarship, fellowship and citizenship, of developing academic and life skills in middle school and high school and of providing equality of opportunity in higher education and eventually in careers; and

(2) helping those suffering from serious brain diseases, and their loved ones, through the promotion of research and education to better understand, and develop improved treatments for, those diseases and to work towards the elimination of the stigma associated with them.