Global Bayaning Pilipino Awards - USA 2012

INSTITUTION CATEGORY

Pusong Pinoy (Country Winner)

• Chino Hills California, USA

It all began with a mother’s desire to teach her child the values of compassion and generosity.  Now, what Donna Bernardo Rosario started as a simple online book drive became one of the most successful Filipino organizations in North America.

Founded in 2009, Pusong Pinoy is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote literacy for the disadvantaged Filipino children through reading.  It aims to make a difference – “one book, one meal and one piece of clothing at a time.”  Pusong Pinoy provides assistance to organizations with effective programs designed to help marginalized children learn and appreciate reading through book donations.

In 2010, Pusong Pinoy collected more than 15,000 gently used children’s books, donated one million pesos worth of goods and services and provided assistance to 30 public elementary schools and day care centers in three communities, and five outreach organizations in the Philippines.  The following year, more than 30,000 book donations were made and various found drives enabled the organization was also able to provide scholarships to more than 30 students, a five-year program for highly-motivated and qualified students.

Pusong Pinoy values education and believes that literacy is the key to eradicating poverty.  Promotion of literacy through reading, for disadvantaged Filipino children, is the organization’s initial objective and remains its priority.  However, Pusong Pinoy aims for greater things – it wants to help more Filipinos, do more things, pay it forward and give back to the country where they came from.

Project Pearls (Country Finalist)

• Millbrae California, USA

Peace, Education, Aspiration, Respect, Love and Smile – these are what Project PEARLS stands for.  Even though the task of breaking the cycle of poverty seems almost impossible, Project PEARLS believe that poverty does not have to be permanent, especially for children.  Their outreach efforts were able to help underprivileged children in Tondo, Dagupan, Bulacan, Caloocan, Guimaras and Masbate.  Their projects include rehabilitating public school libraries, public hospital visits in the pediatrics ward and the Yellow PEARLS Boat Project where boats are donated to bring children to school.  Last year, it also launched a scholarship program which placed 62 children in school.  Project PEARLS believe that the best gift for our country’s future generation is education.