Four kababayans to receive aid during Spring Picnic

FOUR “kababayans” or Filipino-Americans were chosen as recipients of checks amounting to US $400 each under the “Giving Back” project of the Filipino-American Community of the Carolinas (FACC).

The turnover of checks will be held during the FACC's annual Spring Picnic to be held at the McDowell Nature Preserve in Charlotte, North Carolina this Saturday, April 29.

The “Giving Back project” was created by the FACC's 2017 board of directors to identify and help “kababayans” who are in dire need of financial and moral support. 

Any member can nominate “Kababayans” who can qualify under the criteria set by the program which is that the nominee should be known personally by the person that nominated him or her and is proven to need financial and moral support. 

The nomination is done by mail. Since the program was launched a month ago, the FACC received a number of applications from persons who recounted stories of sickness, accidents and tragedies of their nominees.

The nominations by Sony Krupp, Suzanne Culi Silva-Horne, Pastor Granville “Kris” Casino and Tonette Asay were verified by FACC Board Secretary Carllyn Ave as authentic. 

JP Ave, the 2013 1st VP and husband of incumbent Secretary Carllyn Ave donated $400 and FACC matched the amount. 

Another couple matched the amount donated by the Ave couple and FACC on learning about the stories of Eva Rhyne, Moises Ashley Galleto, Nicole Bonilla and Norma Coleman.

Asuncion Krupp aka Sony Krupp nominated Moises who lost both Filipino parents at a young age and is now under the custody of the Department of Social Services in Gastonia. 

In her letter, Suzanne Silva-Horne wrote that despite Eva's illness, she still thought of others even if her family has very little to offer.

Pastor Casino wrote that Nicole Bonilla is a smart, athletic and musically inclined student who unfortunately suffered a knee injury but is committed to finishing high school. 

In recommending Norma Coleman, Tonette Asay said Norma still dreams of being re-united with her grandson despite her advancing age. All the recipients have met the minimum criteria set by FACC for their project./Susan Palmes-Dennis