A non-profit organization headquartered in Las Vegas has partnered with Manny Pacquiao’s foundation, the Emmanuel and Jinkee’s Heart Foundation, to deliver six tons of educational supplies and medicine to the Philippines.
The organization, Another Joy Foundation, established its relationship with Pacquiao in February on the same day he signed the contract for his fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr.
“It’s very exciting,” said Alden Crowley, founder of Another Joy, which has so far collected more than $1 million worth of vitamins, books and toys for its mission to the Philippines. “With [Manny’s] knowledge of his country and his political and celebrity status, we would be able to gather a lot of support and hopefully positively impact thousands of lives there.”
Another Joy
The mission of the Las Vegas organization is to deliver joy and hope to children and families in need through toys, clothes, shoes and new school supplies.
Crowley, who works in the aviation industry, is president and CEO a company that purchases, refurbishes, and sells or leases airplanes. He was inspired to create the foundation after delivering an empty Boeing 737 commercial aircraft to Cambodia in 2006.
On that trip, Crowley went on a tour of the temples in Angkor Wat. He was greeted with children begging for money, which he said he gave away to them. Before entering the temples, Crowley promised the kids he would give them money when he came back.
At the end of the tour, he had forgotten about what he had said but was reminded when 50 kids who knew and had heard he would be giving money away ran toward him. Crowley said he got trampled on.
“It was chaotic,” he said. “Eventually I ran out of money and our driver had to clear all the people and kids away.”
On the way to the next tourist attraction, Crowley pondered what had just happened.
“I was thinking, ‘Thank god my son doesn’t have to be on the streets begging for his next meal.’”
The plane flown to Cambodia was empty, and Crowley found out from his pilot that it could hold up to six tons of weight.
“Right then it hit me that I needed to start an organization to utilize these resources available to me,” he said.
Since its inception, Another Joy has donated more than $60 million of aid around the world.
Missions in the Philippines
For Another Joy’s upcoming delivery to the Philippines, the aircraft that will carry supplies is a Boeing 737 purchased by former Illocos Sur Gov. Chavit Singson. It is for this reason the country was selected for this particular program.
A loading ceremony, where collected supplies will be put into the plane, is tentatively scheduled some time in early June, although the date has yet to be finalized.
Crowley said Pacquiao will try to make it back in time for the ceremony, but that he will surely be involved in distributing the goods in the Philippines.
Other items being collected for the upcoming mission include medical supplies, medical equipment for Pacquiao’s new hospital, and vegetable seeds so that people will be able to grow crops and sell their harvest.
“There’s just so much need in the Philippines. The important thing is we have a good partner. Manny Pacquiao is our partner there to ensure supplies get to the people in need. It’s very exciting and we’re honored to have this opportunity to partner with Manny,” he said.
In the future, Crowley said he will donate a Cessna 337 Skymaster, a six-passenger aircraft, to the foundation that will be used to transport doctors and supplies into remote areas. This will be done also through the partnership with Pacquiao.
One of the main provisions Another Joy is focused on giving to Filipinos in the Philippines is prenatal vitamins, as Crowley was informed that mothers oftentimes lack adequate nutrition during pregnancy, causing their babies to be born with deficiencies.
“Before their life has even begun they’re at a disadvantage because their mom didn’t have proper nutrition during pregnancy. If we can ensure babies are born healthy, they can have a brighter future. The chance of them going to school and getting a higher education is higher if they’re healthy,” he said.
Crowley, who is one-fourth Filipino, has previously given back to the Philippines through his foundation. In 2011, he established a program with Philippine Airlines (PAL), where toys, school supplies, wheelchairs and candy are sent to the country on PAL flights from Las Vegas to Manila.
“You always have a connection to where you’re from or where your grandparents are from, and that was the main reason I wanted to start the program with Philippine Airlines,” he said.
Another Joy is also looking to transport 40-foot containers to the Philippines from Las Vegas each quarter, which will contain about $2.5 million dollars or more worth of humanitarian aid. Eventually, Crowley would like to increase shipments to once per month.
For now, the foundation is exploring various fundraising campaigns to obtain money for the program.
Another Joy is continually accepting donations for supplies to the Philippines. Crowley has asked for interested donors to focus on collecting new slippers, shoes, toddler and baby clothes, and blankets. As the customs clearance process for vitamins is complex, he has asked individuals to refrain from donating those.
Items can be draopped off or shipped to the Las Vegas warehouse. Crowley may be reached for a possible pick-up arrangement, questions and concerns.
Another Joy Foundation
9811 West Charleston Blvd. Suite 2-502
Las Vegas Nevada 89117 n
(www.asianjournal.com)
(LA Weekend May 16-19, 2015 Sec. A pg.6)
