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Press Releases>
Local Seattle Native Leaves Job
Nov 1, 2007 --
LOCAL SEATTLE NATIVE LEAVES HIGH PAYING JOB TO START A GRASSROOTS EFFORT TO HELP POOR CHILDREN OVERSEAS
WHAT: This is a heart wrenching personal story about a woman who defied all odds and risked everything to help impoverished children in the Philippines.
In the Philippines, 40% of the population lives in poverty. That accounts for 35 million people suffering from hunger, lack of sanitation, shelter and other basic human needs.
Local Seattle native, Christine Umayam, saw it first-hand when she visited the Philippines last year. The devastation, poverty and hunger was something she could never forget. Most people would return home to America and not give it a second thought but for Christine, she decided to leave her high paying job and start an organization to help end the cycle of poverty in the Philippines. Her first step is to help impoverished Filipino children receive an education.
WHY: Poverty is a prevalent problem around the world. Children are dying of malnutrition and hunger. One in four Filipinos lives in poverty. The Philippines has become the “Invisible Country.” Most poverty efforts are concentrated in other areas such as Africa leaving the Philippines in despair.
Locally, Filipino Americans are the second largest Asian group in Western Washington.
VISUALS: Recent video of Christine’s trip to the Philippines including shots of children in poor areas, a worn down elementary school and a story about a teenager who lives without arms or legs.
CONTACT: Maureen Francisco, Media Director, Child United
Maureen@childunited.org, www.childunited.org, 253.709.3650
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