Page 4 – Mary K Yap Foundation

September 5, 2021

A Tribute to Mr. Edward

The Board of Directors of the Mary K Yap Foundation would like to extend our tribute to our beloved Board member, Edward Thaung, who passed away at the age of 73 on August 7, 2021, in Yangon, Myanmar.

Edward Thaung was a devoted Roman Catholic who stood by his religious convictions in supporting those in need. He was always available to lend his ears and share his valuable insights and experience with anyone who asked for help. As a faithful husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and mentor to many start-up companies, Edward Thaung touched many people with his candid personality, storytelling talents, and five decades of knowledge of the country’s regulatory and commerical affairs.

During his professional career, Edward Thaung counseled and advised many local and foreign companies on such diverse matters as company formation, taxation, investment proposals, criminal law, family law, international contracts, and dispute resolutions. His early years of legal work included serving as a Town Law Officer, Grade (4) Public prosecutor, and Pre-trial Legal Advisor to the police department, revenue, customs department, immigration, and other government departments. Among his notable contributions was his time as Senior Law Officer at the Attorney General’s Office (1989-1993) in coordination with other government bodies to successfully host the Rights of the Child Seminar in cooperation with UNICEF in Yangon. He redrafted new laws in coordination with the relevant Government departmental personnel and translated Myanmar legal statutes into English.

From 1993 to 1995, he was the Assistant Director for Environmental Affairs ‘Office’ and attended the United Nations Environmental Program UNEP Seminar as National Ozone Officer for Myanmar. For ten years, he held the Secretary to the Board of Directors position at Air Mandalay Limited from 1996 to 2006. He was responsible for company compliance with the relevant laws of Myanmar as the chief legal consultant to Petronas, World Trade Center Yangon, Awba Group, and Mandalay Productions, to name a few. In addition, he was appointed as visiting university law lecturer in 1996 to teach commercial law subjects in Master of Business Administration (MBA) classes in Yangon sponsored by the Institute of Economics, Yangon. For the past three years before his death, he served as the Chief Regulatory Officer for the KMA Group of Companies.

The work contributed by Edward Thaung was done with the utmost integrity and professionalism on behalf of the public and private organizations he served. Despite his busy schedule, he always found the time to give a hand to worthy organizations and individuals. Over the three years that Edward Thaung represented our Foundation board, we benefited from his legal advice and developed our sponsored programs in Myanmar in full legal compliance.

Our goal has always been to become a trusted partner to our donor community so that charitable funds make it to the orphanages that need the most help. With the help of Edward Thaung, we have become a trusted partner with local communities, positioning our organization to serve all orphanages in the country. So much of the success of our empowerment programs working with Myanmar orphans would not have been possible without the dedicated and faithful help of Edward Thaung. His passing represents a great loss to our organization and Myanmar.

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COMMENTARIES

May 9, 2021

Orphans on Mother’s Day

“A mother is she who can take the place of all others but whose place no one else can take.”
– Cardinal Gaspard Mermillod (1824-1892)

Every May, America celebrates and honors mothers on this special day by thanking them for all the love and sacrifices they’ve made. But sadly, this is not the case for children in every town and country in the world who have lost, been taken from, abandoned by, or sent away from their mothers.

An orphan may suffer long-term emotional problems due to their failure to resolve their sense of loss for their mother. The effects of trauma can include symptoms of depression, being more anxious and withdrawn, having more problems in school, and diminished academic performance than non-bereaved children. Some also have difficulty building relationships and have trust issues as they lack maternal support while beginning their life journey. Abandoned orphans will always be left with the question of if their mothers truly loved them. These orphans feel incomplete without their mothers.

Celebrating Mother’s Day is not the same for everyone; for some orphans, it will remind them of their feelings when they lost their mother. Mothers generally support us through all our victories and hardships as we build our lives. Therefore, some orphans will feel envious of the children who can spend time with and be cared for by their mothers. Living and growing up without a mother to lean on, especially on the most challenging days, is not easy.

Many orphans also live in poverty and cope with mental and emotional problems at an early age, in addition to the burden of losing their mother. Even though some still have their fathers and are considered “single orphans, ” the loss of the love and care that mothers bring is irreplaceable.

These orphans are vulnerable but hopefully will remain strong and determined to continue living and pursuing their dreams. Although these unprivileged children have no mother to celebrate Mother’s Day, they should still be surrounded by unconditional love from those who appreciate and care for them. Let this be an encouragement for us to be there for the underprivileged ones, the orphans, as we celebrate this Mother’s Day.

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CORPORATE NEWS

January 8, 2021

Chairman’s Gratitude

January 8, 2021

Happy New Year!

Mary K. Yap Foundation continues collaboration with our charity film partner, Mandalay Productions, at the beginning of the year for the post-production process for the upcoming film “Myittar.” The final mixing for the feature in Thailand was initially held last February 2020 but halted due to the Pandemic. The team also started scouting for a location in early March to shoot another music video to support the upcoming charity movie if COVID-19 comes to closure by year-end 2020.Covid strikes from the beginning of April until the last days of 2020. During these times, we planned and organized the Marketing strategies for the future release of “Myittar.”

Although traveling was impossible, we retooled and redesigned our outreach programs, anticipating that traveling and fundraising would be limited. By August 2020, the editing adjustments were successfully submitted to the Censorship board. Due to the continuous Covid Outbreak, we did not have the chance to celebrate Christmas with the orphans since social distancing was strictly observed in Myanmar.

Please join me in extending our warm hearts and prayers to the orphanages during this difficult time. Our rice donation program will continue with selected orphanages where we can travel freely using domestic routes.

Should your have any extra attention, our Yangon offices is always opened for assistance.

Yours Sincerely,

Dr. John Palmer

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INDIVIDUAL SPOTLIGHT

March 12, 2020

Bridgit Claire’s Inspiration

Bridgit Claire Mendler was born December 18, 1992, in Washington, D.C.is, the daughter of Sandra Ford-Mendler and Charles Mendler. She is an American actress, singer, and songwriter.

In 2010, Mendler became ambassador to First Book, a campaign to encourage reading and give books to children in need where it became part of Disney’s Friends for Change, a pro-social “green” initiative of charity for environmental issues encouraging fans to act in the year 2011. She released a promotional single called “We Can Change the World” on June 11 as part of the campaign theme. It raised $250,000 for the Disney Worldwide Conversation Fund.

In 2012 Mendler won the honorary award from Common Sense Media as Role Model of the Year for her work against bullying. Mendler was the third young artist to win the prize, which usually honors environmentalists and scholars. She also attended the annual UNICEF acoustic concert in New York to raise donations for charity in January 2013.

During the course of her young professional life, Mendler participated in various public causes including the end for cyber-bullying, a charity race to help children with health problems in underprivileged countries and a Bay Sit-In project which asks for teens to help give parents a break and give babies a healthy start to their future. Mendler represented the Save the Children during the charity congress for the institution’s annual Advocacy Summit in Washington, D.C.

Mendler said, “It’s an easy way for kids to help little ones everywhere get a healthy start and an opportunity to learn just by doing something they do most weekends anyway.”

The Save the Children’s president, Carolyn Miles thanked Mendler publicly for humanitarian work: “We are thrilled to have Bridgit on board. Her passion for helping children came through when she met with families and kids during her visits to the remote communities in the deserts of California and Guatemala’s western highlands”.

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CORPORATE NEWS

January 8, 2020

Founder’s Gratitude

January 8, 2020

Dear Friends,

Happy New Year to everyone, and I hope that 2020 is off to a great start for you.

Earlier last year, I am pleased to inform you of our foundation’s milestones, results, and achievements in which the Mary K. Yap Foundation entered a Memorandum of Understanding in the filmmaking process with Mandalay Productions LLC (MP) for their first-ever movie entitled “Myittar,” a charity film to combat the plight of orphan communities in Myanmar.

Our organization has worked closely with Mandalay Productions for the shooting process over the past two years. We sincerely appreciate our dear friends, Edward Thaung, George Rush, and Gabrial Jack, for providing valuable legal guidance to successfully bring foreign artists from Myanmar to the US on a 0-1 Visa. After nearly three years of planning and preproduction, our film team commenced principal photography on February 17, 2019. Having a huge cast and production team in the United States is challenging. Multiple shooting sites brought Myanmar talents Htun Eindra Bo and Lumin to the United States for the first time on American soil. Our US team, led by our Director, Graham Streeter, together with Alex Lebosq, Producer and AD, and camera team, Nicholas Burress visited Yangon to complete the Myanmar production in June 2019.

We thanked Skyline College in San Bruno, California, which permitted us to the theater shooting sites. Thank you for the celebration at Skyline College and for believing in our charity film project. Additionally, we could not have completed the second half of the production in Myanmar without the unwavering support of our Unit Director, Grace Swe Zin Htike. We are extremely grateful for Grace who facilitated site permit arrangements of B-Roll Myanmar’s culture at the Film Development Center studio in collaborations with the Myanmar Motional Picture Development Office.

We wrap up the year at three orphanages by sponsoring luncheons, desserts, and activity games with orphan children. Our ambassador volunteers presented the children with one stuffed toy for each child as a present to hold on to at night, especially during the holiday.In the coming year, 2020, together with our partners and church communities, we are looking toward a more exciting year when we have completed our post-production of Myittar, slated at the beginning of 2nd half of 2021.

Yours Sincerely,

Mary K. Yap

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INDIVIDUAL SPOTLIGHT

January 4, 2020

Life is tough without Hope

No other Hollywood celebrity has captured the hearts and affections like Marilyn Monroe has done for decades. Her stardom and popularity continued to glow even after she died in 1962.

In 1999, the American Film Institute listed 100 Years …. 100 Stars. Monroe ranked as the sixth greatest female screen legend. Yet, her story is no other than before her. Marilyn was an orphan. Her mother, Gladys Baker, had paranoid schizophrenia throughout her life. She was mentally unstable and financially unable to care for her daughter, so she placed Norma Jeane Mortenson (Marilyn Monroe’s birth name) with foster parents, whom she lived with until she was 7.

There are scores of Hollywood films, one after another, starring Marilyn that brought fame and attention to the screen. Among all her releases, the most famous film was “Some Like it Hot,” in which she won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress Award category in 1960. The film co-star Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, and George Raft. The comedy story was about two male musicians who witnessed a mob hit that led them to flee the state in an all-female band disguised as women, but further complications set in.

Despite the many unfortunate events in Marilyn Monroe’s life ever since she was a little girl, from having an unable mother to marrying a couple of times to different men in her life, Monroe lived a beautiful life before her death on August 5, 1962. However, she didn’t let these unfortunate moments in her life stop her. Instead, she made it possible to be famous and well-known in her craft and delivered each film excellently.

“Keep smiling because life is a beautiful thing, and there’s so much to smile about,” said Monroe.

Our board continues to provide hope and love to all underserved children in Myanmar, especially during this worldwide pandemic. Our goal remains to reach out to vulnerable children and integrate them well into their communities so that they can thrive, like how Marilyn Monroe was able to do when she was adopted into a foster care system at a young age.

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CAMPAIGN STANDOUTS

September 6, 2019

Each1TeachOne: ABCs English for You

Introducing the Mary K Yap Foundation’s: Each1TeachOne: ABCs English for You, Empowering Orphans through the Power of Language.

Mary K. Yap Foundation believes that language is the primary source of communication. Therefore, learning the English language opens the door to many opportunities as this is the Universal language used by many. As part of the Mary K. Yap Foundation’s ongoing efforts to transform the lives of orphaned children, we organize a year-run program that offers an “#Each1TeachOne: ABCs English for You” course. This program provides teaching assistance to Myanmar disadvantaged children ages 10 – 16 that include Orphaned Children to study English at a young age, aiming to teach them the basics of the language and expose them to its usage and comprehension.

The “#Each1TeachOne: ABCs English for You” program is a quarterly managed course, offering selected children the opportunity to learn basic English lessons. Our goal is for these children to progress and reach the intermediate level by the end of each program. The Mary K. Yap Foundation’s vision is for all orphans in Myanmar to become proficient in the English language, thereby improving their opportunities for academic success and future job prospects. Additionally, teaching English within the comfort of orphanages ensures accessibility and convenience for the children.

Learning English holds immense benefits for orphaned children. It enhances their chances of passing university college exams and opens up a multitude of job opportunities as they grow older. By equipping these children with English language skills early on, we empower them to navigate a globalized world and participate more fully in educational and professional opportunities.

In recent campaign news updates, the “#Each1TeachOne: ABCs English for You” program has seen significant progress, with many participants showing improved language proficiency and confidence. The Foundation continues to work closely with orphanages and educational partners to ensure the success and sustainability of the program. Regular assessments and evaluations are conducted to track the children’s progress and adjust the curriculum as needed, ensuring optimal learning outcomes. Through the “#Each1TeachOne: ABCs English for You” program, Mary K. Yap Foundation remains committed to empowering orphaned children through language education and expanding their horizons for a brighter future.

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INDIVIDUAL SPOTLIGHT

April 22, 2019

By Any Means Necessary

Malcolm X began his childhood with an unforgettable traumatic experience when his ministerial father, Earl Little, was brutally murdered by the Black Legion on September 28, 1931, known to many as a racist terrorist organization. Malcolm was only six years old when he lost his father. However, the situation worsened for the fatherless Malcolm when his single mother, Louise Little, was diagnosed with a mental illness. The ailing mother of 7 children registered at the mental institution where she needed to stay for 26 years.

The day-to-day survival was a massive struggle for the Little family to meet end needs. Since no one was to look after them, Malcolm and his siblings lived in various foster families under the government assistance program. Malcolm did not finish school in the seventh grade and was sent to a juvenile home in the nearly all-white community of Mason, Michigan. A few years after living with foster parents, Ella Collins, Malcolm’s half-sister, gained custody of the 15-years old Malcolm and moved to Boston in 1941.

As a youngster growing up as an orphan under his half-sister’s care, Malcolm works on every possible opportunity that comes his way. As a result, there were several odd jobs on railroads, restaurants, bars, shoeshine stands, and jewelry stores.

He even ran with the courts, including breaking, entering, and possessing firearms. Yet, despite all these misguided fortunes in Malcolm’s life, he made the best of his jail time by reading and devouring books at the prison library. Malcolm’s desire to read and learn as much as possible during his time in jail was his way of making up for the education he missed when he dropped out of high school.

Malcolm’s ability to inspire Nation of Islan (NOI) members and nonmembers earned him the first minister to various temples, including the highest appointment as the Chief Minister of Harlem’s Temple 7, appointed by Elijah Muhammad, the founder of NOI, in 1961. Malcolm believes in the empowerment of black people. He thought black people should create their power, structure, and wealth and dismissed the then-dominant integration and racial acceptance ideas. Malcolm also believed strongly in the notion of self-defense as an alternative to nonviolent resistance. He was extremely vocal on certain subjects that he held dearly.

As we commemorate the auspices of International Orphan Day, the Foundation would like to pay tribute to Malcolm X. He grew up as an orphan and later became one of the prolific civil leaders of our times. Despite the distressed and turbulent environment endured by Malcolm X, he didn’t stop pursuing his agendas and sharing knowledge with everyone. He lived by his words and integrity, one of the three Mary K. Yap Foundation’s core pillars. He didn’t let complications stop him from accomplishing his personal goals and motives. With his courage and determination, he has achieved all these things.

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CORPORATE NEWS

March 5, 2019

Movie for Charity

The program “Movie for Charity” net proceeds will benefit the Myanmar orphan community’s advancement.

As part of the Mary K. Yap Foundations’ extended effort to produce new and vibrant fundraising activities, Mary K. Yap Foundation is working on the “Movie for Charity” program, which is in partnership with Mandalay Productions LLC for the first-ever feature film.

It gives our Board a tremendous appreciation to work closely with a creative film and video production company based in the US and Myanmar to deliver and produce unrivaled films based on their commitment to maintaining and providing the best international filmmaking practices.

The “Myittar” film will blend well-known artists from Myanmar and individual Burmese American acting community stars. Mandalay productions are the sole financial partner and the producer of the First Burmese and American feature film ever to be filmed in the United States and Myanmar (Burma). Our Foundation takes enormous pride in promoting our worldwide non-profit initiative to promote the “Movie-for-Charity” project affiliated with Mandalay Productions LLC.

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CORPORATE NEWS

March 2, 2019

Music for Charity

As part of the foundation’s ongoing efforts to transform the lives of Myanmar Orphans, Mary K. Yap Foundation organized and launched a “Music for Charity” fundraising campaign from 2001 until this day (pre-2020 pandemic), where the foundation offers a free show for everyone to enjoy. Mary K. Yap Foundation rents a theater and convention room yearly for the “Music for Charity” campaign.

The community of passionate volunteers and multiple entertainment contributors sing their favorite traditional Myanmar songs and dance along with them.

To collect charitable funds for the Myanmar orphans, Mary K. Yap Foundation distributes coupons wherein that friends and families from the community will sell to their networks which they can use to purchase traditional Burmese foods prepared and sold by some contributors. In addition, some donors donate food at the event. Financial support and donations are also generously welcome at the Music for Charity event.

The Guests, donors, partners, volunteers, and family members enjoy the performances each year. These are all the efforts made by the staff, volunteers, and the community to help and transform the lives of Myanmar orphans. To show transparency in the donation amount collected, Mary K. Yap Foundation published a financial clearance containing the previous year’s money for everyone to know how much money had been collected and how much money had been donated to Myanmar Orphans.

The foundation desires to make awareness of the everyday need of Orphaned Children. As more people become aware of the event, more donors and funds are available to achieve the foundation’s mission to empower Orphaned children throughout Myanmar. Mary K. Yap Foundation believes that a bit of effort goes a long way; thus, they encourage everybody to donate or volunteer their time to support the future generation of needy children.

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Contacts

A Tribute to Mr. Edward

Orphans on Mother’s Day

Chairman’s Gratitude

Bridgit Claire’s Inspiration

Founder’s Gratitude

Life is tough without Hope

Each1TeachOne: ABCs English for You

By Any Means Necessary

Movie for Charity

Music for Charity

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