Founder’s HNY Message of Gratitude
Happy New Year to all our friends and supporters
January 8, 2020
Dear Friends,
Happy New Year to all our friends and supporters,
We hope 2020 is off to a joyful and fulfilling start for you and your loved ones. As we reflect on the past year, we are pleased to share with you the progress and achievements of the Mary K. Yap Foundation, including a significant milestone in our mission to uplift orphan communities.
In mid 2018, we entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Mandalay Productions LLC (MP) for the production of Myittar—a heartfelt charity film designed to raise global awareness of the struggles faced by orphaned children in Myanmar. This powerful storytelling project is not merely a film, but a vehicle for advocacy, education, and charitable outreach. All proceeds from Myittar are committed to supporting orphan relief, education programs, and wellness initiatives that improve the lives of underserved children.
Over the course of two years, our foundation has worked closely with Mandalay Productions to bring this international collaboration to life. We are deeply grateful to Edward Thaung, George Rush, and Gabriel Jack for their invaluable legal guidance, which allowed us to bring esteemed Myanmar artists to the United States under the O-1 visa program. Principal photography officially began on February 17, 2019, across multiple U.S. locations, and later continued in Yangon, Myanmar. This production marks a historic first: Myanmar Academy Award-winning talents Htun Eindra Bo and Lumin filmed scenes on American soil, led by our award-winning Hollywood director Graham Streeter, producer and AD Alex Lebosq, and cinematographer Nicholas Burress. We are also honored to have Peter K. Yap, my beloved son, serve as the film’s Executive Producer. His dedication, vision, and behind-the-scenes leadership have been instrumental in bringing this international project to life. Working closely with Director Graham Streeter, Peter helped oversee coordination between the U.S. and Myanmar teams, ensuring the film stayed true to its cultural authenticity and humanitarian purpose.
We also extend our heartfelt appreciation to Grace Swe Zin Htike, our dedicated Myanmar Unit Director, whose coordination with the Myanmar Motion Picture Development Office and the Film Development Center made it possible to complete the Myanmar production. Without her tireless efforts and commitment, this film would not have reached the level of excellence it has today. Our sincere thanks to Skyline College in San Bruno, California, for graciously providing access to their theater facilities, and for celebrating the importance of this charity film with us.
To close the year, our foundation sponsored joyful holiday events at three orphanages in Myanmar—providing meals, desserts, games, and a stuffed toy for each child to hold onto during the festive season. These moments embody the very spirit of Myittar, which in Burmese means “love and ompassion.” As we move into 2020, we look ahead with hope and excitement as we prepare to complete post-production, with a planned release in the second half of 2021.
On behalf of our Board of Directors, we extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who believes in our mission. Your continued support allows us to provide not only essential resources but also a sense of dignity, love, and hope to orphaned children. Together, we are making a lasting difference—one story, one child, one act of kindness at a time.
With warmest regards,
Mary K. Yap
Founder
Mary K. Yap Foundation Board of Directors”
