148 Books Shipped! A Million Thanks to Mona Varsh & Bart Skorupa

A million thanks to all of the amazing people who continue to keep the ELMA students in their hearts.

Mona Varsh donated 42 gorgeous new books and an inflatable globe which were part of a shipment of 148 books, 15 pieces of clothing and 3 games (the classics: Checkers, Chess and Chinese Checkers) that Bart Skorupa and I shipped out today.

The book train starting to leave my apartment

It takes a Bay Area. Heartfelt gratitude and thanks to all of the people who donated books, clothes, storage space, strong biceps, cars and shipping funds to make the ELMA library possible:

Izabela Akerman, Eli Bingham, Windy Borman, Trey Bundy, Andrew Byrne, Winnie Chan, Andrew Chandler, Dora Fang, Marc Fong, Anthony Haraguchi, Holly Haraguchi, Sean Heskett, Dee Iraca, Martine Jardel, Caley Johnson, Kent Johnson, Kai Kronfield, Allison Lau, Cathy Lau, Eric Lau, Grace Lau, Leah Lau, Sean Maher, Mike Michon, Paris Morgan, Fran Navarro, Eileen O'Neill, Sheridan Pauker, Teri & Helmut Peindl, Louise Roberts, Thierry Rosset, Bart Jan Skorupa, Mona Varsh, Thurgood Marshall High School Library, Katherine Wong, May Young

Leah Lau Wins 2010 Schwab Outstanding Community Service Award

Dear family and friends,

I was stunned to walk into the office this morning to a wall of congratulatory emails: I won Schwab's 2010 Outstanding Community Service Award. Only one is awarded per year for community service outside of the firm, and one is awarded per year for finance related community service.

Following my 2009 nomination, for 2010, lightening struck. =) We featured my current philanthropy founding the Cambodian Children's Book Project, my service on the board of the UCSF AIDS Health Project and my year-round work on Art for AIDS, its premier annual fundraiser.

This award, which comes with a $2,500 donation to a charity that I've volunteered with (details still being sorted with the Schwab Foundation), is one of the most amazing things to ever happen to me. It is an honor and milestone that helps celebrate the volunteerism I've been dedicated to since I was 17.

Thank you all for being such a loving part of my community. I am grateful for your presence every day.

Love,

Leah

Sat 2/19/11 Cambodia donations at Rare Device grand opening party

Dear friends,

Please join me on Sat, 2/19, for an amazing opportunity to check out the revamping of a local gem and support the Cambodian children of the ELMA School!

My philanthropic and talented friends, Giselle and Phurba Gyalzen, are taking over the art and design gift store, Rare Device.

Saturday, February 19 from 11 am to 6 pm

Customers who bring a book or school supplies to donate to the Cambodian Children's Book Project will get 10% off their entire purchase. Refreshments will be served.

ELMA School wish list

Become a fan

Rare Device is located at 1845 Market Street at Guerrero in San Francisco.

For more information, please call the store at 415.863.3969, check out the website atwww.raredevice.net, or email info@raredevice.net.

Read the entire press release here: http://www.raredevice.net/content.php?content_id=1061

Hope to see you there!

Cheers!

Leah

Jet Set: Vitaliy Kralka Flying Books & Clothes to Bangkok > Siem Reap

Amazing thanks to Vitaliy Kralka and Will for flying two donated suitcases filled with 62 books, including several gorgeous oversize atlases and glossy educational library reference books, and 79 pieces of clothing to Bangkok on January 7, 2011, and then sending them on to Siem Reap, where Vey Lav can them bring them to the ELMA School.

If anyone has contacts who might be able to transport them the last leg from Bangkok to Siem Reap instead of our shipping them, Vitaliy could hand them off Jan. 9-10, 2011 in Bangkok.

Michael Nickoloff and Sean Heskett donated the suitcases, and all of these philanthropic and generous angels donated the books, clothes, storage space, people power, labeling, sorting and logistical help to make this latest donation for the ELMA School happen!

Izabela Akerman, Trey Bundy, Andrew Byrne, Winnie Chan, Andrew Chandler, Ann Dowd, Mary Dowd, Dora Fang, Marc Fong, Anthony Haraguchi, Holly Haraguchi, Sean Heskett, Vitaliy Kralka, Martine Jardel, Kai Kronfield, Alliey Lau, Cathy Lau, Eric Lau, Grace Lau, Leah Lau, Marcia Lau, The Lyon Family, Paris Morgan, Eli Bingham & Ingrid Bingham, Fran Navarro, Michael Nickoloff, Eileen O'Neill, Sheridan Pauker, Teri & Helmut Peindl, Louise Roberts, Thurgood Marshall Library, Jen Valdivia, Katherine Wong, May Young