Philanthropy

Running for the community of Wawa, Batangas City.

Hello to my friends and family. On March 6, I will be running my first half marathon in Peoria, Arizona. I am so excited and have been training for the last two months. In 2017, I got surgery on both my legs due to chronic pain that prevented me from doing the activities I liked the most like running, hiking, playing soccer and even just daily activities like going up a flight of stairs. After over a year of recovery and a lifetime of learning how to care for my body, and my legs and wearing proper shoes (this is important) I finally feel ready to compete. It’s certainly been a long time coming with my journey in running. But as much as this is a personal goal, I am running for a cause and while you won’t be on the sidelines cheering me on as I gasp for air, you can help me by helping another way. 

Here’s how you can help

I will be running to raise money for the Springboard Foundation, an organization based in Manila, Philippines that serves as a bridge for other organizations that focus on child development and community building in the Philippines. They give to partner organizations for improvement of child healthcare, nutrition, education, parent capacity building and disaster relief.

My family and I have worked with the Springboard foundation on many occasions. We have helped them raise money to give medical supplies to far flung provinces in the mountains of the Philippines and have volunteered at many of their events. They are a reputable and well connected foundation that gets work done fast. When I reached out to the foundation a few weeks ago they told me about a community in dire need. 

Over 200 families displaced by a fire

On Tuesday Jan 12, 2022 in the province of Batangas, over four hours away from my hometown, a small community called Wawa burned down to pieces. Over 205 families were affected. They have lost everything; their homes, clothes, personal belongings all in the midst of struggling through the pandemic and recent typhoon landfalls that have passed through the province of Batangas. No deaths but there were several injured. 

According to volunteers on the ground and coordinators from the Springboard Foundation the fire was caused by an explosion from a cooking appliance in the local neighborhood bakery. Road access to the community was remote and narrow which prevented fire trucks from entering the community in time. The fire spread and engulfed the whole community within hours. 

The Springboard Foundation and I need your help getting these families back on their feet. These families need basic necessities now. With a donation of 20 dollars (1000 pesos) for each family, you can sponsor a starter kit that will include rice, canned goods, ramen noodles, blankets, towels and toiletries. Any extra donations will also go towards buying tents, clothes, and other basic household necessities that can be distributed. The Springboard Foundation’s project coordinator Gina Tuazon will serve as my liazon for this fundraising effort. If you wold like to help you could Venmo me at Shanti-Lerner and I will send the donations directly. You can also donate through the GoFundMe page: https://gofund.me/b115522c.

All donations will be accounted via receipts and updates/photos on starter kits will be sent in real time. Any donation amount can help. Even as low as 1 dollar.

Example of a starter kit for each family includes rice, dry and canned goods, a pale, towels, blankets and toiletries.

My race link: https://raceroster.com/events/2022/54102/2022-arizona-half-marathon

To donate to The Springboard Foundation: Venmo Shanti-Lerner. You can also donate through the GoFundMe page: https://gofund.me/b115522c.