#tellyourfriends

some of our Mano Amiga ambassadors in attendance (L-R)

Entrepreneur & Yoga Teacher Maricar Holopainen, 

Educator & Lifestyle Writer Cat Juan Ledesma,

and Actor & Restauratuer Marvin Agustin

When Mano Amiga first started in 2008, we only had 19 Kindergarten scholars. Now, seven years later, we have grown to 97 scholars from grades 2 to 6. As we continue to expand, we envision a steady growth of one grade level every year until we are able to reach 600 students from the Kindergarten level to the 12th grade. One of the ways we envision to achieve this goal is by first transferring to our new location by mid-2016.

Through the generosity of our donors and friends, we were able to acquire a 2,350-sq.m property in Paranaque City. The property will be the site of the new Mano Amiga Academy campus.

To fund some of the cost of the construction of this new campus, Mano Amiga Academy organized a fundraiser brunch called #tellyourfriends last October 28. Tickets were sold at Php 1,500 each where proceeds would go into the funding of one library chair.

#tellyourfriends was a brunch event where our guests experienced good food and enjoyable conversations with other guests, while getting to know more about Mano Amiga Academy. Apart from raising funds for the new school, our aim was to also provide our guests with a personal glimpse of where we are now and where we are headed. Guests dined over an autumn-inspired food selection perfectly curated by The Bowery, BGC. 

Executive Director of Mano Amiga, Lynn Pinugu, providing 

guests with insights and updates on the school

#tellyourfriends was also an avenue for Mano Amiga Academy to officially launch our website www.manogamigaph.org and invite our guests; which included media, fashion and lifestyle personalities, to spread the word about our cause. 

On each of the tables were small cards with our students' wishes and dreams which was cause for topics of conversation among our guests who took time to write them personal letters of encouragement. Not one card was left empty.

guests of #tellyourfriends writing letters to the students

Our aim with the fundraiser brunch was to be able raise enough money for 100 armchairs. By the end of the event, our humble goal was tripled with the amount we were able to receive which raised us enough money for 300 armchairs! Thanks to all our supporters, we are now another step closer to completing our permanent campus in Paranaque. 

Our brunch was featured on the Inquirer last November 24. Read all about it here.