My Birthday Wish is to be MAD!

I’m 34 and I think I’m pretty happy with my life. Wait! That didn’t sound right. I AM HAPPY with my life. I am blessed with a loving family, a wonderful husband, a cute little daughter, good friends, a great team and supportive readers. I guess I’m in the point of my life where I want to give back to society, so with that…

My birthday wish is to be MAD or rather, to MAD or Make a Difference! And I hope you will join me after I share this story…

Enzo is the son of my friends, Me-ann and Ariel. M.A.D. for Enzo’s Cause was launched in October 2011 as a thanksgiving by my friends for the blessings that they have received. You see, Enzo was born with a hole in his heart but at 8 months, he was miraculously healed. Because of this, they decided to launch this cause which we named after him. This advocacy is something that they really want to spearhead since my friend, Me-ann also had the same conditions and needed and underwent an operation.

What they have done is they turned their son’s birthday parties into a fundraising event wherein family and friends give donations instead of gifts. Beneficiaries of their cause are social services patients –most of their expenses are paid for already through government support but they still have minimal costs to shoulder, ranging from P6,500 to P40,000.

To-date, the Becina family has helped a total of 17 kids of various ages coming from different parts of the country. They always try to visit these kids to get to know their story and to tell them about Enzo and Me-anne’s story. After three years of doing this, they are still doing it because it has become more than just a thanksgiving gesture now. It has become more of a mission to promote the act of paying it forward. What I admire most about this family is that they are the only family I know who is doing these things for these children.  “We may not be financially rich but we have a big heart overflowing with the desire to promote helping our fellowmen. I have always believed in the goodness of people. Imagine if every person would vow to help, I am sure that act of goodness will make a whole lot of difference in the world”, Me-ann said.

The Becina family has committed to a target of 50 kids by the time their son turns 7 (October 2017), they have been creative with their fundraising activities. “My son tried in the past to sell golden retriever pups, we gave away soda alkansya with the caption: “It takes only a little… to change a child’s life forever,” and soon, we will be launching our biggest project called Sponsor a Child Program wherein for only P10,000, not only do you get to sponsor a child but you also experience visiting the child with us. Each encounter may just last for about 20 minutes but it will definitely be life-changing”, Me-ann shares.

I have chosen to support this charity this year for my birthday. I hope that you can join me in making a difference! If you want to donate, please email me at ginger(at)mommyginger(dot)com and I will hook you up with Me-ann 🙂