Dear Friends and Family:
In late January to early March 2017, I will embark on my sabbatical that I will devote getting to know the country that I left in 1987, and most importantly pursue a personal goal to volunteer to a charitable institution in the Philippines.
My monetary goal is to raise at least $1,000 - 2,000 for PROJECT PEARLS feeding Program (http://www.projectpearls.org/programs/feeding/).
I provided the link above so that you may read what this charity is about. I have been thinking of ways to give back to the district of Manila where I grew up. My google search led me to this organization.
They are a California-registered non-profit organization with Tax ID 27-2624202.
**Your donation may be matched by your employer when you use this tax ID number. I encourage that you apply for your Employer Matching Program as this will increase funds that may be given to the charity.**
FOR MY COLLEAGUES AT GENENTECH: Please use the Employee Match Program directly to ensure 100% company matching. (link: https://genentech.benevity.org/cause/840-272624202)
I will volunteer my time and donate some of my personal funds. I will also gather some of my friends from Manila and America to volunteer with me.
My volunteer work with this organization will start on 2nd week of February, 2017. I wish to end that volunteer work by gifting Project PEARLS with the money raised on this site that they can use to fund the organization's major programs: mainly their feeding program, and education.
I will keep this site open until February 28, 2017, for your donation.
(I will be asking the Project PEARLS treasurer to withdraw the money for proper audit).
Please give what little -- or more -- money you can. Even your $1 helps.
This effort is important to me because of my roots: I was a product of the poorest district of Manila called Balut, Tondo, Manila. This district is known for its extreme poverty where many of its population live off of recycling garbages, and where squatter areas abound. My hope is that I can serve as an inspiration to the many youths of Project PEARLS by telling them my story during my time there - and impart that with perseverance, hard work and support of friends and family - they, too, can get out of poverty.
I want to thank all of you for your support. Every dime counts in a very poor country - where nearly 30% of the population live in abject poverty, where three square meals a day is a rarity. They are lucky to eat one meal a day.
My sincerest gratitude to you all.
Tommy Gaerlan
A sample Youtube Video of a recent volunteer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVe-zovbbUc
In late January to early March 2017, I will embark on my sabbatical that I will devote getting to know the country that I left in 1987, and most importantly pursue a personal goal to volunteer to a charitable institution in the Philippines.
My monetary goal is to raise at least $1,000 - 2,000 for PROJECT PEARLS feeding Program (http://www.projectpearls.org/programs/feeding/).
I provided the link above so that you may read what this charity is about. I have been thinking of ways to give back to the district of Manila where I grew up. My google search led me to this organization.
They are a California-registered non-profit organization with Tax ID 27-2624202.
**Your donation may be matched by your employer when you use this tax ID number. I encourage that you apply for your Employer Matching Program as this will increase funds that may be given to the charity.**
FOR MY COLLEAGUES AT GENENTECH: Please use the Employee Match Program directly to ensure 100% company matching. (link: https://genentech.benevity.org/cause/840-272624202)
I will volunteer my time and donate some of my personal funds. I will also gather some of my friends from Manila and America to volunteer with me.
My volunteer work with this organization will start on 2nd week of February, 2017. I wish to end that volunteer work by gifting Project PEARLS with the money raised on this site that they can use to fund the organization's major programs: mainly their feeding program, and education.
I will keep this site open until February 28, 2017, for your donation.
(I will be asking the Project PEARLS treasurer to withdraw the money for proper audit).
Please give what little -- or more -- money you can. Even your $1 helps.
This effort is important to me because of my roots: I was a product of the poorest district of Manila called Balut, Tondo, Manila. This district is known for its extreme poverty where many of its population live off of recycling garbages, and where squatter areas abound. My hope is that I can serve as an inspiration to the many youths of Project PEARLS by telling them my story during my time there - and impart that with perseverance, hard work and support of friends and family - they, too, can get out of poverty.
I want to thank all of you for your support. Every dime counts in a very poor country - where nearly 30% of the population live in abject poverty, where three square meals a day is a rarity. They are lucky to eat one meal a day.
My sincerest gratitude to you all.
Tommy Gaerlan
A sample Youtube Video of a recent volunteer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVe-zovbbUc