No Excess: The Freeman Foundation thanks donors, sponsors

"The desire of power in excess caused the angels to fall; the desire of knowledge in excess caused man to fall; but in charity there is no excess," says essayist Francis Bacon.

This is the very principle that keeps The FREEMAN Foundation ticking.

For over a decade, TFF concentrated on fund drives for its patients touching the lives of countless sick, indigent children-patients by walking the proverbial extra mile.

Various fund drives have been featured in the paper's Public Service section to raise funds to finance the medical needs of indigent patients suffering from hydrocephalus, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, pneumonia and congenital heart problems, among others.

Though it is a priority of the TFF to cater to sick indigent children, adult patients were extended help too for the treatment of ovarian cysts, tumors and eye problems, among others.

Aside from the launching of fund drives, TFF has also addressed a number of demands for immediate patient care by providing medicines and financial assistance for laboratory examinations and emergency procedures.

But all the help that TFF has extended in over a decade and the help that it will be extending in the years to come wouldn't be made possible without the unwavering support of generous benefactors, the charitable readers of The FREEMAN.

When The Philippine Star took over management of The FREEMAN, special projects were strengthened though it is only an overlay of the core of the mission. Special projects are divided into Medical Mission with newsboys and their families as beneficiaries. This included the bloodletting activity facilitated by the Regional Blood Coordinating Council. The Department of Health-7 recognized this effort on July 30, 2006 with a certificate of appreciation. The effort was acknowledged by both city and provincial councils through resolutions.

Educational projects covered Balik Eskwela Fun Days in barangay Tagba-o and barangay Manatad, Sibonga. Also, on the 20th year of Operation Damayan, TFF embarked on the "Dream Satellite Project" to Tan-awan, Tubigon, Bohol; Bitaug, Enrique Villanueva, Siquijor and Manatad, Sibonga. TFF was given that particular task to facilitate certain contributions made in response to the dire need of uplifting the quality of public school education through the distribution of tools/equipment in mass coaching. Operation Damayan of the Star Group of Publications, on its 20th anniversary in public service last year, went into the distribution of 20 color television sets with satellite dishes and digital satellite receivers, five of which were for the Visayas areas.

Help was also raised to address the needs for communities struck by disasters/calamities like fire (barangay Luz, Cebu City) and landslide-swept towns of Southern Leyte (San Ricardo, San Francisco and Liloan) and huge waves-struck Dumlog in Talisay City. The special projects began with the "Christmas with the Ati Children" project in December 13, 2004 at the refuge site provided to Atis in Naga after they were displaced from their hometown in Antique.

In 2001, TFF also went into clothing-and-food distribution for the victims of storm Nanang that lashed Cebu.

Forty days after tragedy struck three municipalities in Southern Leyte in 2003, TFF sent a team to barangay Pinut-an, San Ricardo in Panaon Island to deliver donations in cash and in kind generated from a fund drive intended for victims of landslides there.

For environmental pursuits, TFF proposed tree planting and mangrove propagule planting. Volunteers of the core group headed to a site in Tuyan, Naga last May 6 for a scheduled ocular inspection relative to the desire to conduct a tree-planting activity in time for TF's 87th anniversary, thrilled at the thought that it would be able to lead a humble start of a long-term project to be dedicated to the late Baby Kara Tejam.

Baby Kara was one of sick indigent children that TFF had attended to in 2000. She was only a little over a year old when she was diagnosed with congenital heart disease. When the foundation learned of her family's need to raise P200,000 to fund her operation, a campaign was published in this paper's public service section.

The fund drive served as barometer on our readers' innate goodness. In less than two weeks, the amount was raised. But Baby Kara failed to hold on to dear, tender life. Until today, and every time a piece is written about Baby Kara, the urge for the creation of a tree park comes alive.

In a strategic planning in December 2005, two environmental projects were proposed - a mangrove propagule planting activity in Inoburan, Naga for a coastal reforestation project, and a tree park in Tuyan, Naga in memory of little Baby Kara whose fate all squeezed our hearts.

But these projects were shelved because of the failure of two DENR employees, which the foundation had earlier contacted, to properly coordinate with their community partners in Naga. Thanks to TAFT Property, TFF was able to facilitate a tie-up for a mangrove propagule planting activity last October 28 in Obong, Dalaguete. Afterwhich, TAFT awarded TFF with a plaque of appreciation for its participation.

Sponsors and partners/benefactors

The foundation's solid base of donors and sponsors has been its lifeblood. It could not have functioned this well/effective or could not have preserved lives if it weren't for its charitable readers, young and old, from basically all walks of life.

Several donors preferred to belong to a long-long-long list of anonymouses. And one person whose generosity touched our hearts and acts of philanthropy will forever be remembered is the late Don Albino Gothong who used to pledge P20,000 to P50,000 (under this list of anonymouses) to be able to support children confined at the charity wards of the state hospitals that the Foundation is attending to. Vaya con Dios, Don Albino!

In 2002, the demand for immediate patient care and other related services heaped up everyday at TFF. Much as it would like to assist more patients whose welfare is its concern, its reputation was threatened by a number of conmen with dirty schemes out to prey on financial assistance handed over to TFF aid recipients.

To protect the public from this modus operandi, it decided to close its outpatient service, even when it was hard to turn backs from another hundred indigents waiting to be served.

In December, the Adopt-An-Angel Project was sustained on its second year, capped by the Carols for the Poor project which saw the core group singing carols, but instead of receiving money in return were the ones giving away grocery items.

On its 13th year as the charity arm of The FREEMAN, the Foundation maintains its mission of promoting humanitarian efforts and extending a helping hand to whoever is in dire need.

It operates on the principle that charity can be likened to dew from heaven which falls gently on drooping flowers in the stillness of night. Its refreshing and revivifying effects are felt, seen and admired.

Charity flows from a good heart and looks beyond the skies for approval and reward. It seeks to heal the wounds inflicted by misfortune and strives to calm the troubled mind.

The FREEMAN Foundation is all about securing the good of others, a sentiment so genial and so excellent that should be emblazoned upon every thought and every act in our life. - Maria Eleanor E. Valeros