The Consuelo Foundation continues to give hope to the Filipinos
The organizations founder is Consuelo Zobel Alger a direct relative of the famed businessmen the Ayalas. Ms. Alger wanted to leave a lasting legacy and with the help of Patti Lyons, President and CEO of Child and Family Service in Honolulu who was seeking funding to develop a residential shelter for street children in the city of Baguio in the Philippines. Impressed by that meeting, Consuelo became the benefactress of the shelter. This fateful relationship eventually brought forth Consuelo Foundation and the promise of her continued support for what she and Patti had begun.
Twenty-five years later, Consuelo continues to touch lives. Her Foundation has provided sanctuary for children, built homes, and given thousands of disadvantaged children and youth paths to a better future. Her simple instruction to, “In all things, be mindful of the poor,” continues to serve as the moral compass of the Foundation as it works to rescue and revive spirits and spread hope.
The Mission of Consuelo Foundation is to operate and support programs in Hawaii and the Philippines that prevent and treat abuse, neglect and the exploitation of children, women and families.
(1) To prevent and ameliorate abuse and exploitation of children and women. I have had a special interest in those children who must acquiesce to sexual exploitation in order to survive.
(2) To treat the problems arising from or connected with homelessness.
(3) To develop income-generating skills in people so that they may become self-sufficient.
(4) To assist the poor in learning to help themselves.
(5) To relieve the suffering of those who are physically or emotionally sick by providing medical, dental, and social services to them.
In all of the above, I am particularly interested in serving the most needy or the "poorest of the poor" for it is those who have no hope. Hope is so important to each of us - I would like us to renew hope for those who have lost it or to give hope to those who never had it.
Recently the Consuelo Foundation in partnership with the "Council for the Welfare of Children" and the "Department of Social Welfare and Development" created a contest to honor social workers. The "Search for Exemplary Government Registered Social Workers" (Engaged in Typhoon Yolanda) was designed to highlight the unsung heroes of the unforgettable Typhoon Yolanda:
Six Exemplary Gov't Accredited Social Workers were awarded. Lead by top awardee"
Zenaida Cunanan, RSW,Eastern Samar, She was given the grand award and P120,000 cash prize
The other five awardees are:
1. SPO1 Marsha Talay-Agustin, RSW, Child Protection Unit-PGH,NCR
2. Liza Camacho, RSW, Municipality of Pan-ay, Capiz City, Region VI
3. Rosalinda Orobia, RSW, Social Welfare Officer of Pasay, NCR
4. Marissa Paeste, RSW, Legaspi City, Region V
5. Alice Viason, Tacloban City, Region VIII
Each of the five awardees were handed out a cash prize of p75,000
The six female awardees bested more than 50 nominees in terms of their contribution to child welfare and protection during the Typhoon Yolanda.
According to Director Patricia Luna, CWC, Executive Director, "Together with Consuelo Foundation and DSWD, we are happy to give these awards to government-registered social workers who demonstrated exemplary and commendable social work practice for the protection and welfare of children and families affected by Typhoon Yolanda. It was a long search and the selection process took us more than a year to finally get these six awardees.
The judges included luminaries from the social work and development field:
1. Rt. Gen. Yolanda Tanigue
2. Dr. Bernadette Madrid of the Child Protection Network
3. Asst Secretary Vilma Cabrera of DSWD
4. Ms. Teresita Silva of ChildHope Philippines.
5. Dr. Anita Leyson of National Association for Social Work Education,Inc.
6. Ms. Lina Laigo of the Philippines Women University, former DSWD Secretary
7. Mr. Tomasito Villarin, DILG
According to Atty. Carmela Andal-Castro, the Managing Director of Consuelo Zobel Alger Foundation "It's our honor to give these recognition to our dedicated government social workers who serve our people well during one of the biggest disasters in our history. Many of them were victims of Yolanda themselves,yet they continued to serve their community with much commitment,excellence, and strength. Truly, their inspiring stories deserve to be shared with the world.
And it is with great honor that my dear readers I share to you also this foundation that has genuinely touched my heart.
The work of Ms. Consuelo Zobel Alger continues to inspire people to hope.
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