March, 2009
 


US Board Member O’Leary Leaves Mark in Philippines
Members of the US Food for Hungry Minds Board raised a question, “With results like a FHM graduate ranking #5 in his Manila Science High School class, can’t we enlist wealthy Filipinos to give?” Former CFO Kaye O’Leary offered to come to the Philippines and help. In a packed four days, Kaye spoke to the American Chamber of Commerce, shared a Rotary lunch with Bulacan business leaders, toured the schools, spoke with students, and visited Pandacan parents. Highlights included Kaye’s work with the Philippine FHMS board — and reconnecting with friends still serving there.

 
 
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In this Issue:

  • US Board Member Leaves Mark In Philippines
  • Students Write About Love
  • A Note of Gratitude To Philippine FHM Pioneers
  • Parents Offer Wise and Kind Support
  • A Student Speaks
  • Student Performers Invited to GE Subic Outing
 

Students Write About Love

David and Janis Larson and Shelley Klevos Sponsored Grade 4 Class
You can love, as long as you open your heart. - Allyne
Love does not look at your outward appearance, but it looks inside your heart. - Ruth
Love is the light in our heart. - Eugene

Ronald McDonald House Charities Sponsored Grade 5 Class
Love is giving another person a second chance. - Maricar
Love is not just telling someone you love him/her. It must be shown in your actions. - Jomar
Love is a dream that is very difficult to achieve but very easy to give. - Katheleen

Cargill Sponsored Grade 6 Class
Love can change one's life. It is like a rainbow that gives new hope to a person. - Julius
Love is an endless road. - Ronald
Love is an open door. - Nina
 
Thank You To Pioneer Leaders: Carol, Lilia and Grace
This year three board members who have served FHM in the Philippines since the beginning are completing their tenures. When FHM was just an idea, Carol Atacador, Director of the Ayala Foundation’s CENTEX (Center of Excellence in Public Elementary Education), provided mission-critical support and advice that continue to shape this work. Dynamo Lilia Tantoco, retired International School Principal, assisted in designing initial classroom processes and continued to offer wise counsel. Grace Cortez contributed hundreds of hours establishing FHM and setting up solid financial accounting. Her friends are part of Grace’s legacy! Heartfelt thanks to each of you!
 

 

 
Parents Support Each Other
The child’s fever continued to spike. Was it typhoid? As the frightening days turned into weeks, the FHM family began to mobilize. Parents shared their experience with medical options. The doctor at the hospital advised, “Here there are four children to a bed. Sometimes one bed has four different diseases. Keep her home and bring her for treatment every day.” Parents helped with transportation. Classmates gave what they could and raised $1.17 for the family. A mother bought an apple so she could eat something healthy. Mothers stopped in to encourage the mother, “Keep up your fighting spirit.” In the end, the infection was not typhoid. After three weeks, the student returned to school. A community breathed a sigh of relief.
 

“This Is Me”: A Fifth Grader Talks About Authenticity
“Did you ever try to be somebody else? Is it hard to the person you want to be or the person you want others to know? Are you afraid to tell others that you’re imitating? But, perhaps, you want to reach your dreams and that’s why you’re doing a solution for it, like being somebody else. Before, I was a shy girl. I’m afraid to tell somebody what is in me. But, when I was given a chance to study at Food for Hungry Minds School, I realized that I should be proud of myself and for who I am. I also learned that I should show to everybody that I can make a difference. Food for Hungry Minds School helps me to be proud. — Michelle, Bulacan

  
 
  Student Performers Invited
to GE Subic Outing
GE Money Employees saw some 5th graders perform in black light and white gloves at the Makati Christmas program. Impressed, they invited the children to perform at an outing in Subic. The kids saw mountains and the beach — and glimpsed a bit of where studying and working hard can take you.
 

Learn more about the Food for Hungry Minds community at http://www.foodforhungryminds.org.

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