Pencils4School Fundraising Program

Dear Friends,

Do you remember the excitement of going back to school as a kid and the sheer joy of receiving a single, brand-new pencil for your first day?

Nah. Neither do I. Even back in my day (I was fortunate to be born into middle-class America in the 1950's), Mom and Dad bought us at least one new outfit of clothes, a full set of school supplies per the teacher's "checklist," and whatever metal lunchbox they knew would sufficiently bribe us into giving up the freedoms of our summer vacation to return to the confinements of a school classroom each fall. (A couple of years running, the "Gilligan's Island" lunchbox was the price tag of my summertime freedom. What was yours?)

But today, in some places around the world, a single #2 lead pencil and a paper notepad can be the difference between a child going to school or not.

This year, Denise and I are starting a small campaign to raise funds to buy back-to-school supplies for impoverished children living in and around the rural municipality of Macalelon, Philippines. As you may know, Macalelon is a very special place for us because it is the hometown of a very special person in our lives: More than 20 years ago, Denise and I began sponsoring an 11-year old Filipina child, Jane, through what was then the nonprofit organization "The Christian Children's Fund" (now "The Child Fund"). We carried on a pen-pal relationship with Jane for nearly a decade, providing continued support for her through college, until she "aged-out" of the Child Fund program, and we sadly lost touch with her.

Then a few years ago, out of the blue, Jane reconnected with us (through Facebook, of all places!), and now she has forever changed our lives once again. We FINALLY had a chance to meet Jane in person, for the very first time, in the Philippines in early 2020. Since that time, we have communicated with her almost daily and have had the joy of traveling with her several times in Southeast Asia, including seeing her just last month in the Philippines.

Jane, bless her kind heart, often says that some day she wants to repay us for the assistance and support we have given her over the years. That's just the kind of person she is. But our response is always the same: "You can only repay us, Jane, by paying-it-forward; by helping others less fortunate than yourself, however and whenever you can." And that's exactly what Jane does each and every day as she works to mentor and assist needy children and youth in her job with of the municipality of Macalelon. We are so proud of Jane, and her dedication to helping others. Jane is truly paying-it-forward every day.

Last year, it came to our attention that a great many of the young people Jane works with in her community lack the basic supplies—pencils, pens, paper, Crayons, rulers, etc.—to successfully go back to school each summer or even to attend school at all. We made a modest personal contribution last year to help the needy schoolchildren in Macalelon, but this year, Denise and I hope to do more. And that's why we're asking for your help.

Three things you should know about our 2025 Pencils4School fundraising program:

1 - A donation of ANY size is greatly appreciated. Please give whatever you can, regardless of the amount. A school pencil in the Philippines costs only about twenty cents, and that pencil could literally be the barrier keeping a child from getting an education. Think about that when you consider donating.

*** And for a contribution of $25, you can provide a needy child with EVERYTHING they need to go back-to-school next month: A full set of essential school supplies—with a bookbag to carry them in—and a school uniform, which is required in the Philippines. (Sorry, Gilligan's Island lunchboxes are not available in the Philippines.) We hope to raise enough money (Goal: $5,000, including our matching gift—see below) to provide complete back-to-school provisions for 200+ of the neediest children living in the Macalelon area.

2 - 100% of every penny you donate will be used to buy school supplies for children in need. Jane and her team will personally buy and distribute all of the school supplies. There's no middleman, administrative fees, or organization between your donation and the children in need.

3 - And finally, for our contribution to this project, Denise and I will personally match your donations, up to the project goal—dollar for dollar—and cover the administrative fees for your donation charged by GoFundMe. So, not only does your donation go twice as far because of our matching gift on your behalf, but you have the personal satisfaction of knowing that you "Took some of the Ultimate Cheapskate's money!" Just imagine the gut-wrenching attack of SAD ("Spending Anxiety Disorder") I will feel when writing those checks to match your donations. (Not really. Denise and I will have BIG SMILES on our faces—and warmth in our hearts—when we write those matching checks!)

Friends, thank you for your kind consideration of this request. It's true what they say: education is the one thing that no one can ever take away from you. Will you help us take a small step in giving the gift of education to some impoverished children halfway around the world who might not otherwise have the opportunity?

Sincerely,

Denise & Jeff Yeager

P.S. - If you want to help, please do it today, RIGHT NOW. We need to raise this money quickly so that Jane can purchase and deliver the supplies to the neediest children before they return to school in Macalelon in June. Thanks, and Stay Cheap... but not too cheap, in this case!