When the $2,500 prize money for my Schwab Outstanding Community Service Award came in this July, I put it to good use, by splitting it between nonprofits and programs close to my heart: $1,500 to the Cambodian Children's Book Project for the ELMA School in Sambour, Cambodia, and $1,000 to Art for AIDS, benefitting the UCSF AIDS Health Project.
After Bart Skorupa, of Groundwork Opportunities, helped me ship 208 books to the Angkor Hospital for Children, where the nurses will alert ELMA's principal, Vey, that the books have arrived, we had $800 left to donate directly to the ELMA School.
The ELMA School's founder, Jacqueline Lawrence, shared that the amount will fund more than a month's worth of operating expenses for the school, including teachers' salaries and school supplies. The school requires $600 / month to keep it open.
Vey Lav, the ELMA School principal, also sent this note:
"Dear All,
Greetings from Elma School Cambodia, many thanks for all your hard work on behalf of Elma. The pupils are on the fall holiday while the intermediate level adult students are still in our to complete their courses for two months till the the new semester begins in October regularly.
Leah, Bart and Colleagues,
The books sent to us have been very useful for all ages students and very helpful for adult readers. We have found the numbers of reader have been increasing for adult students for the last two years. The most have spent more time to read at home as we allow to borrow the books to read and they return them to the bookshelves afterward, we have fund this such great idea after speaking with Sheree, she really appreciated, and worked hard too.
Lots like the article related to history, nature, geography, sciences ..... of course more books which are just sent to us will be very interested in more reading. I will let you know soon after they arrive. Thanks again for your donations for Elma Cambodia, we will use them to support our school materials, teaching staff.
All the best wishes and regards,
Vey"
Thank you all for everything you've done to help the ELMA School!
Love,
Leah
Posts
