Celebrating Partnership and Commitment to Social Change

First of all, congratulations on your Golden Anniversary, ADF! As the Association of Foundations (AF) celebrated its 50th year two years ago, it brings us great joy to see an AF member reach the same milestone. You are an invaluable partner of the Association of Foundations.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude for your generous donation of one million to the AF endowment fund. While AF is now the largest network of NGOs and foundations, with over 250 members, our socialized annual dues scheme covers only half of our operating budget. The endowment fund was established to ensure the sustainability of our mission.

I also fondly recall the Poverty Summit you organized and hosted in 2015, which led to the Zero Extreme Poverty by 2030 Movement. We continue working with this coalition to uplift families from extreme poverty and ensure no one is left behind.

Despite our collective efforts, many still live in poverty, lacking even basic services. The challenges remain, and our work continues. At times, it may seem like we are not doing enough or effecting significant change, and some of us may feel tired and discouraged. I, too, have felt this way. In such moments, we must keep our faith and trust in the Lord to sustain the good that we do.

Ultimately, we must remain rooted in our core values and spirituality. If we stay true to our principles, prayerfully, we will create a better world.

May we continue working together for the betterment of our marginalized countrymen. They should never feel alone or forgotten. Let us encourage more people to answer God’s call and rise to the challenge of the times!

Padayon!