Let's raise $200,000 for the Gabaldon
By Mila Glodava
At a luncheon meeting on Feb. 15, Friends of Metro Infanta Foundation made plans to help the Foundation raise, by December 2010, the $200,000 (9.4 million pesos) we committed to help rebuild the Gabaldon school building destroyed by a typhoon back in the mid-70s. Joanne Horne, a regular Foundation supporter and member of the board, agreed to serve as chair for this event. The committee agreed not only to host various events to raise funds but also to bring awareness to our Gabaldon Project and, we hope, major donors as well.
Following are a few ideas the group plans during the year, keeping in mind that invitations must be made to different groups of people:
1) Italian Dinner: Joanne Horne and her daughter Maribeth Hanzlik will host this event. Date to be determined.
2) Pennies from Heaven: Joanne Horne will invite a number of schools to do a "Pennies from Heaven Drive similar to what the children and youth did for the church in Panukulan.
3) Victorian Tea Party, April 10, 1-3:30 p.m. Vicki Turner, who is from England, will host this event for 50 people.
4) Filipino Dinner: Ana Cruz and Carolyn Kimzey will help put together a Filipino dinner, after June 10.
5) Joni Sanderson will put together a PowerPoint presentation on the Gabaldon.
6) Irene Lindemer will help put together a two-page newsletter on the Gabaldon. Perhaps Therese Beaudette can help with ideas.
7) Each member of the committee will tell others about the Gabaldon.
8) Susan O’Brien will join us later. We probably could benefit from more members.
9) Next meeting: Thursday, Mar. 11, STM conference room.
As you can see our American friends are willing to help us raise funds to resurrect the Gabaldon. In fact, among our first donor to the committee, is STM pastor, the Rev. Andrew Kemberling, who gave part of his personal tithe of $1,000 towards our goal. "You now have just $199,000 to raise," he said.
I hope Infantahins will take the lead of Father Andrew and our American friends and pull our strengths together to raise the $200,000 we need to make our dream come true. Some of our members of the board have already accepted the challenge to raise funds in their state or areas of influence. For instance, Pol, our president, and his wife, Sally, have accepted the challenge to raise $10,000 in the Texas area and Melecia Garcia has accepted the challenge to raise $10,000 in the Washington, D.C. area. If your area has a lot of Infantahins, California and Michigan for instance, I ask you to consider doing the same. Please watch the website for more information about this fundraising in earnest to raise the funds by the end of 2010.
We hope to have Gabaldon grand opening for the school year 2011-2012, in time for the hundredth anniversary of the Gabaldon, which was first built in 1911.
Here’s our strategy. In parentheses are pledges or payments of cash and stocks for a total of $38,545.
1 donor to give $20,000: ($20,000)
2 donors to give $10,000 each: ($10,000)
4 donors to give $5,000 each ($5,000)
8 donors to give $2,500
20 donors to give $1,000 each ($3,000)
The above pledges can be paid one-time or monthly through December 2010.
The following can be one-time gifts:
50 donors to give $500
100 donors to give $250 ($300)
200 donors to give $100 ($100)
200 donors to give $50
400 donors to give $25 ($45)
500 donors to give $20
If we all pull our strengths together we will be able to raise all this money. If you remember, pulling our resources together, we raised $50,000 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the coming of the Carmelite mission in Infanta. We did it at that time, so I know we can do it again if all of us contribute.
You can do this by making a donation online (see the homepage), or by sending a check to: Metro Infanta Foundation, 7350 Braun Way, Arvada, CO 80005.
Please remember also, since the inception of Metro Infanta Foundation, we have raised more than $500,000 and have distributed nearly $400,000 in grants to various causes. That's something of which we all can be very proud to have done.
Those of us who came through the halls of the Gabaldon have gone on to many successful careers. Let us help the next generation to do the same.
Let us all help rebuild the Gabaldon!