IP Strong: No Lowell, No Bedford
IP Gains Renewed Sense of Purpose in Pandemic
Dear Friend and Supporter of Iskwelahang Pilipino:
These are uncertain times for all of us! When the Iskwelahang Pilipino school year started, we did not anticipate such dramatic change. We are thankful for generous IP supporters like you who have helped IP achieve financial stability and enabled us to continue our work nonstop for 44 years. As the longest continuously-run Filipino cultural school in America, we are pleased to report that we will resume classes and family activities this Fall. As part of our commitment to stay connected during this pandemic, we are sharing this update. We hope you will consider making a donation to IP during this most unusual time.
We are proud of how the IP community faced pandemic challenges.
IP is fortunate to have committed families and hardworking volunteers willing to adapt and change with each hurdle the COVID-19 pandemic has presented to us:
Pivoting to remote learning in March for our students at all levels
Launching the #stayconnectedIP campaign on Facebook to engage our community
Hosting our first virtual Year-End Celebration & Graduation in June
Unfortunately, July was a particularly difficult month.
The Lowell Folk Festival was cancelled and with it our biggest annual fundraiser, IP’s ever popular Philippine food booth, which has kept tuition low for over 30 years.
The Bedford Town Council voted to close Bedford Town Center until 2021, leaving us without any space to hold classes.
Facing the prospect of delivering programs in the pandemic was already daunting enough. Then recent tragic events and protests cast light on the persistence of racial injustice, xenophobia and systemic inequality in our society. In this context, we have found a renewed sense of purpose and commitment to ensuring that our work continues uninterrupted.
Iskwelahang Pilipino is resolved to continue programs for our 45th year in operation.
Our plans include:
Mobilizing our teachers and volunteer staff to provide an almost entirely virtual selection of classes, speaking programs and fun activities for a range of ages from our delightful preschool Binhi students to our beloved community elders.
Families will be invited to register their entire household for the year at a low-cost family rate of $70, which equals our usual regular tuition rate for the first child.
We are also changing our schedule and adapting recommended protocols to resume outdoor rehearsals for the Iskwelahang Pilipino Rondalla, weather permitting.
While we do intend to celebrate our 45th anniversary milestone, everyone’s safety is our priority, so we will likely postpone our traditional anniversary show until it is safe to gather as a community.
Consider donating the cost of a family meal at the IP Lowell booth.
IP has been carefully stewarding our financial resources, taking care to ensure adequate resources for our programs. We remain 100% volunteer run, but we will face disruptions in revenue from tuition, annual fundraising (like Lowell), and endowment income. That is why we are appealing to members of our extended IP family to please contribute what you can to ensure that IP can uphold its mission successfully through the pandemic and beyond. Perhaps donate the amount that you would have spent on a family meal at the IP Lowell booth!
In times like these, a gift to Iskwelahang Pilipino is even more meaningful and sends an important message that our community supports each other through thick and thin. Please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount that feels comfortable to you. Every gift, no matter what the size, will support IP’s work with Filipino American youth, children and families.
Iskwelahang Pilipino, 109 Davis Road, Bedford, MA 01730.
Thank you for including IP in your charitable giving. And please stay connected, stay involved, and stay healthy.
Sincerely,
Lourdes Ada, President
and
Myra O. Liwanag, Executive Director
Stay connected with IP!
Temporary Mailing Address:
Iskwelahang Pilipino
109 Davis Road
Bedford, MA 01730, USA
Email: ipbahayboston@gmail.com
Website: ipbahay.org
Location: 12 Mudge Way, Bedford, MA, USA
Phone: (617)564-3319
Facebook: facebook.com/groups/ipbahay