Expressing Condolences: The Passing of an ELMA Student and His Father

Dear All, On October 12, a 2nd year male ELMA School student and his father drowned when they rode on a small boat carrying food across the water canal to a monastery named Wat Chetdey by the shore of Tonle Sap Lake South of Sambour Village. The small boat was overloaded and sunk in the water. They were in a group of 6 people. Most of them drowned but some were rescued. His father jumped into the water to save him but, unfortunately, the water was very deep and his left leg got entwined with fishing net that caused him unable to reach the surface again. This is a great loss to a family with two children. He and his sister were taking the afternoon ELMA School class. I'm expressing condolences to his family on behalf of the ELMA supporters like you. All the best wishes, Vey Principal, ELMA School

Putting prize money from Schwab Outstanding Community Service Award to good use

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

20 Boxes Arrived in Cambodia From Singapore & the US

Dear Joshua and Leah,

I would like to inform you that 20 parcels arrived at the Post Office on different dates

- 8 Boxes from Joshua & Jeremiah Chan, Singapore ( Reached Post office on January 31, 2011).
- 3 Boxes from Leah Lau & Vitaliy Kralka, US - Thailand ( Reached Post office on Feb 03- 2011).
- 9 Boxes ( small parcels) from Leah Lau & Bart Skorupa, USA ( Reached Post Office on Feb 08, 2011).
We pick them up on Feb 8, 2011 afternoon

Here are some photos attached bellow, we just opened the some cases to make sure every thing was not damaged or lost. The some photos of items were taken from the top surface of the cases to show you and donors for more secure.... We have not counted the items yet as we have been busy on duty , we will double check and count them before putting in the shelves and distributing the clothes to the kids.

There will be more photos and let you know number of the items soon.....

Many thanks for all those items, and we also send our best regards to the donors.

All the best wishes

Vey

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