Just a quick update, plus some photos.
To date, over 4000 books have already been distributed directly or through partners such as Museo Pambata, the Joey Velasco Foundation, TAO-Pilipinas Foundation, Sarilaya, BenCab Art Foundation, and Onesimo Foundation. The rest (a total of at least 10,000 books!) will be distributed in the coming weeks with the help of other partners and individuals working with disadvantaged children throughout the Philippines.
We've also set aside 1,000 books (500 each of Kulayan, and CANVAS Collection) for the child victims of the recent Typhoon Sendong in Mindanao. Even as donations for the basic necessities are now pouring in, we've been told that books, board games and other donations that can help keep children busy in these trying times are also needed. So this is our modest contribution to this effort. Together with Stray Interactive (our web design partner), these coloring books will also be accompanied by one set of crayons each. As with all our GlobalGiving books, this would not have been possible without your generous support!
Thank you!
We're happy to report that, because of your support, we are launching our new book - Elias, Rocking Horse & Sol - this October 25 (Tuesday) at 6pm at the Looking for Juan Art Space in Serendra.
And we will be donating not just 3,000 copies but at least 5,000 copies.
More good news - with the donations we received to date, we were able to attract MasterCard into supporting the project, and enabling us to also publish 10,000 copies of a new coloring book, all of which will also be donated together with the Anthology. So that's a total of 15,000 books that will soon be in the hands of children all over the Philippines - and just in time for Christmas too!
None of these would have been possible without your support, and we are sincerely very grateful.
We still have some costs to cover though (mainly logistics relating to the distribution of the books), so please continue to support and tell your friends about this project. We will continue to keep you updated as we begin to actually get the books into the hands of the children, and will send you photos as well.
Again, thank you for everything.
Best regards,
--Gigo
Links:
Hi all,
I just wanted to give you an update on our project to donate at least 3000 children's books to public schools and hospitals throughout the Philippines.
To date, we've raised nearly $10,000.00 (out of the $15,000.00) that we are targeting to raise for the project: $5,366.00 from 92 donations through Global Giving; $1,546.00 from donations given directly to us offline; and $2,857.00 from fund-raising art exhibitions that CANVAS hosted.
We are confident that we will be able to raise the funds necessary to publish AND distribute the books to those who need them most, for which reason we have moved forward with the layout and design of the book so that we can get an accurate quotation of the costs from the printers. Attached, as a special preview to you, are the preliminary layouts and book cover design.
I will emphasize that this is just an initial effort, and much can and will still change in the days ahead. In addition to proofreading, there are additional pages to be added, including a page about the authors and artists; a special message page to describe the project and thank all the people and organizations who have made this activity possible; and we could still change the cover design.
But, hopefully, the attached files will give you a better idea of what exactly you are helping to bring to children all over the Philippines.
Please do continue to support this project by donating, or by simply telling your families and friends about the project.
We will keep you posted on our progress. Indeed, it is my hope that my next report will be the one that tells you that the books have started to reach the hands of children all over the Philippines.
Best regards,
--Gigo
