27May2025

Making a Difference ●Building Dreams ● Creating Impact ● Saving Lives

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HEAD OFFICE:                          548 Market Street,
San Francisco, CA 94104         USA

PROJECT OFFICE:                  Pearl Condo, Bldg A, 15 Fl., Kabar Aye Pagoda Rd.,      Yangon, Myanmar

hello@marykyapfoundation.org

US: +1 415 991 2030                 US: +1 415 799 8282                    MM: +95 9 977 66 7777

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Orphan’s Letters
TESTIMONIES
April 24, 2023

I am an Orphan, but I am Not Alone

Hi! My name is Teophine. I was an orphan at the Myittamone Orphanage for eleven years.  I am now 16 years old. I have known about the Mary K. Yap Foundation for seven years now. They always visit us not only during the Christmas season but also throughout the years. I feel happy and excited when I know they will call us because there will always be games and activities when they come to our orphanage.

Over the years, the foundation provided us with much food and nourishment. They offered rice bags, food plates, energy snacks, and drinking water. I especially enjoy the chicken rice plates and sweet iced dessert. They also provided us with needed things for academics, like stationery, pens, pencils, books, and computer equipment.

We enjoyed different activities to improve our learning experience. The foundation team prepared fun networking games, and magic shows on one of their earlier visits. They taught us the English language that we could use during our daily conversations. As an orphan, I sometimes feel sad and alone, but whenever Mary K. Yap Foundation visits us, my sadness is gone because their team of volunteers always fills our hearts with joy and love. We do not feel alone whenever their people visit us because they are like a family. We feel warm and motivated, especially when they give us inspiration that we can use for self-motivation. 

Every Christmas season, they have an event called “One Stuff Animal Project.” This program was created several years ago and is held every year combined with the foundation’s Christmas celebration. They prepared the event in detail to be with us. They always have something new to share, like new activities, stories, and card games. It is truly fun and exciting to be with them. 

What I like the most about their visits is that they engaged with the children in every game so that we would not be shy. We felt like we always had someone to depend on when they were at the orphanage.  We felt like they loved us and cared for us! I could not thank them enough for their time and generosity. They also give us one stuffed toy animal to hug and play with daily. The toy animal gift was a souvenir that I will always treasure, especially during my sleeping hours. It is so cuddly! This is really a wonderful experience for us, and I hope they can organize more fun events. I am looking forward to those lifetime moments to cherish!

 

By admin
6. Juan Karlos Labajo 4
INDIVIDUAL SPOTLIGHT
April 21, 2023

Juan Karlos Labajo’s Inspiration

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Juan Karlos Labajo, also known as “JK,” is a Filipino-German singer born on February 5, 2001, and raised in Consolacion, Cebu, the Philippines, by his mother, Malinda Labajo. His German father, Oliver Stolz, left the family after his birth. His mother married a second time, and he has two younger half-brothers from her second marriage. 

On November 17, 2013, he became an orphan after he lost his mother at the age of twelve, following which he was adopted by his uncle, Jovanni, and Grandmother, Linda, in Metro Manila. His family struggled financially for a long time, and he even had to scavenge junk for a living.

Juan Karlos Labajo, having a talent for singing, decided to join the season 1 blind audition for ABS-CBN’s ‘The Voice Kids.’ He charmed the coaches with his rendition of the Adam Sandler song, ‘Grow Old With You.’ Coaches Sarah Geronimo and Bamboo Mañalac wanted him on their teams, which allowed him to choose one, following which he picked Mañalac. His performance of ‘Sway’ during the live semi-finals at the Newport Performing Arts Theater in Resorts World Manila placed him third after public voting, which advanced him to the four-person finals. In the finals, the coaches praised his performance of ‘Yesterday’ by The Beatles, ‘Runaway Baby’ by Bruno Mars, and the duet ‘Eto Na Naman’ with Gary Valenciano. Still, he again finished third in the voting.

 

After the competition, JK was managed by Star Magic, ABS-CBN’s training and management center. From there started his career, and he was cast in different T.V. programs. He also appeared in the lead role in the Philippine drama anthology series ‘Maalaala Mo Kaya.’ His successful career continued as he was involved in different parts – supporting and leading the cast. 

In August 2015, he released his debut album ‘JK,’ which comprises eight tracks, including the song, ‘Di Ka Man Lang Nagpaalam,’ dedicated to his late mother. He also became a host of a music program, MYX. He later released his second album, ‘JKL,’ which consisted of eight tracks, including three of his compositions.

Even though his mother didn’t have the chance to support and witness JK gain over many years of hardships, he was still proud to become successful and even dedicated a song to his mother. He was the one who believed in himself when nobody was his support. He didn’t give up during his life as an orphan growing up without the support from his biological parent, but instead worked hard to follow and achieve his dreams with minimum help from his uncle and grandmother.

By admin
5. Orphanage ambassador(1)
CORPORATE NEWS
March 5, 2023

Orphanage Ambassadors Program

The Orphanage Ambassador Program is all about making a difference by supporting the worldwide orphan community, empowering them, and bringing a positive difference in every possible way we can.

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Everyone can make a difference by contributing their time and supporting vulnerable orphaned children. 

Some may think such children have little hope of becoming independent or reliable citizens. However, after spending time with them, we realize how positive and supportive interactions influence them and how these quality contacts bring so much value to these disadvantaged youth. 

“Orphanage Ambassadors” hold the highest responsibility for the advancement of orphans at the Mary K. Yap Foundation.   An orphanage ambassador acts as a representative and a promoter of the Mary K. Yap Foundation. In addition, they commit some of their time to helping and empowering orphans by directly assisting in the orphanages.  In this way, they hope orphans prosper and grow like ordinary children raised with love and care.

This program requires the ambassador to appear at least 3 Foundation-sponsored charity events per year whenever and wherever possible. Orphanage Ambassadors engage with the public and the orphans & orphanages to form closer bonds between them.  They should also be someone the children can rely on and trust in their learning development.  In addition, when our ambassadors visit orphanages to entertain the children, give empowerment talks, and strengthen the children by feeling guarded and protected, the children are bestowed with the confidence to plan and achieve their life goals.

The Orphanage Ambassador Program is all about making a difference by supporting the global orphan community, empowering them, and bringing a positive difference in every possible way we can.

By admin
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COMMENTARIES
November 14, 2022

Most Vulnerable Children: Orphans

“Orphans are children who depend on their strength and ability to learn and succeed without the support of their mothers and fathers. They are the ones who have lost one or both parents to age, sickness, or violence or simply by just abandoning them.”

– Dr. John Palmer (Chairman of the Mary K. Yap Foundation)

Sadly, there is an increasing number of orphans. These orphaned children who live without proper care and guidance can result in suffering and the ultimate tragedy of death; the children that survive often do so in ways that demean and criminalize themselves and bring suffering to others.  We cannot just imagine how a child without proper care is being used in different personal and greedy matters, such as child labor bosses, terrorists, rebel armies with child soldiers, child traffickers, and even less than good-willed relatives who want a personal slave. 

The result is heartbreaking as some orphan children will die of starvation and issues related to malnutrition, die from preventable diseases, die at the hands of others, spend much of their life in jail, and some will harm others and negatively impact the world. 

As we commemorate International Orphan Day, we want to share a message that orphan children do not deserve to live a life of abandonment and neglect, especially a child who is so young, innocent, and pure. They deserve to be treated with love, care, and proper guidance as these orphaned children are the strongest people in the world by overcoming their history and facing the future with smiles. They are children who still have a bright future despite having no immediate family besides them upon growing up and ending up being homeless. 

By admin
Brighter Future Banner
COMMENTARIES
August 7, 2022

A Better Tomorrow for All Orphans

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Despite of Myanmar’s situation, the Mary K. Yap Foundation continues to extend undivided support towards the orphaned children that the foundation has cared for and supported for the past 20 years. We believe these children should continue to have hope and a bright future ahead of them.  As Dr John Palmer, Board Chair of the foundation said during a Zoom interview. 

 

“They (the children) should not fear what will happen in the future, instead, we must take each day and pay attention to areas where they can develop new talents and skills to support their future.”

– Dr John Palmer

Board Chair of the Mary K. Yap Foundation

Orphans are encouraged to continue participating in daily self-learning and growth in their learning capacity. Our local orphanage teams provide books to the orphans to help them keep a consistent habit of reading and writing.  One of the Foundation Orphanage ambassadors, Daw Meme Lwin, forges a deeper connection with the children by reading books and sharing with them a message of empowerment and hope for a “Better Tomorrow.” As part of this effort, books for children, donated by domestic and international partners, are being organized for each orphanage center.

Youth living with traumatic experiences and in unsafe environments tend to create various mental health difficulties for children, including depression.

Our Foundation promotes regular communications between orphanages, our ambassadors, and the children to provide them with the mental support they need as well as hope and attention.

 

By admin
Eleanor 1
INDIVIDUAL SPOTLIGHT
October 20, 2021

A Champion for Women’s Rights

“Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.”

– Eleanor Roosevelt (The First Lady and an orphan)

 

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The longest serving First Lady in US history, Anna Eleanor Roosevelt, was born on October 11, 1884. At the early age of 8, Eleanor Roosevelt lost her mother, Anna Hall Roosevelt, due to diphtheria in 1892, while her father, Elliott Roosevelt, died of alcoholism. 

Eleanor lived with her maternal grandmother, Mary Hall, who sent Eleanor to Allenwood School, a progressive girls’ boarding school in London, England, in 1899.  Ms. Marie Souvestre, Allenswood ‘s Director, recognized Eleanor’s keen intellect, improving her self-confidence. As a result, she became a well-liked leader at a young age among her classmates.

Eleanor lived in the life of politics as her uncle, Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt, the brother of her father, who assumed the 26th presidency (1901-1909) right after President McKinley was assassinated. She was then involved in different charity programs and contributed to volunteer settlement houses and social work, activities that reflected the service’s philosophy of the time spent at the Allenswood ‘Girl’s Boarding School, which molded Eleanor to appreciate and develop deeper insights into politics.  During this time, she fell in love with her fifth cousin, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who later became the 32nd President for four terms from 1933 and 1945.

Eleanor Roosevelt is commonly appraised as one of the influential American women of the 20th century.  In addition to serving as the First Lady of the United States for 12 years, she was a newspaper columnist, author, diplomat, and a great contributor to the League of Women Voters.   President Truman appointed her as the delegate of the United Nations General Assembly. In 1946, she joined as a member of the Human Rights Division, further cementing her position as one of the inspirational voices in the modern world.

 

Our Foundation is pleased to recognize the incredible ‘life celebrations of Eleanor Roosevelt.  Although she became an orphan young, she championed noble causes that embodied gender equality movements to be accepted worldwide.  In acknowledgment of her invaluable workaround ‘for women’s and human rights, she was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by President Kennedy, among others.

By admin
Uncle-Ed-group-pic-1024×693
CORPORATE NEWS
September 5, 2021

A Warm 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.

By admin
1. An Orphan Thoughts on Mother Day
COMMENTARIES
May 9, 2021

Orphan Children 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.

By admin
chairman John
CORPORATE NEWS
January 8, 2021

Chairman’s Message of 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

By admin
011-4-1170×725(1)
INDIVIDUAL SPOTLIGHT
March 12, 2020

Bridgit Claire and the Spark of Hope

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.

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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”.

By admin