At age 9, Mark Julius Corona was selling "bibingka" (rice cakes) every weekend to help his family and to send him self to Taekwondo class. With 20 pesos per day earning, he already has an allowance and able to attend his Taekwondo classes.  

Mark Julius came from a family of three children. He is teh eldest child of Imelda, a plain housewife and Geroncio, an aircon technician.

During his early years in childhood, his father didn't have a job to sustain their families' needs and to send his children to school. Mark Julius entered Families and Children for Empowerment and Development (FCED), a NGO which provides assistance to children from poor families such as educational assistance, shelter and foster care.

AmCham Foundation, through a grant given by a retired American businessman Leonard Benjamin, worked with FCED to help provide education to street children. Mark Julius, who was 10 at the time, was one of the many scholars who were granted with educational assistance by AmCham Foundation

After being dismissed from City College of Manila (CCM) due to failing grades on his major subjects, he decided to still pursue his education by taking up a vocational course in Eulogio Amang Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology (EARIST).

In 2007, AmCham Foundation launched its 25 for 65 campaign, aims to support the education of 65 scholars through sponsorship. Through the support of AmCham members, 28 scholars were granted educational assistance for a year. Mark Julius was one of them.

In November 2008, Mark Julius graduated from a vocational Eulugio Amang Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology (EARIST) with a course in Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning. Although he already earned a certificate from his vocational course, Mark Julius still hopes to be able to earn a degree in college.

Mark Julius would like to extend his sincerest gratitude to everyone who supported him in his education, “Thank you so much (AmCham Foundation and to my sponsor) because if it were not for them, I might have ended on the streets or in prison. They took away that `possibility’… they educate me and gave me so many opportunities. I am who I am now because of their support.”
You can give the same opportunity to another Mark Julius and other scholars by supporting our 25 for 65 campaign.

Already on its 3rd year, 25 for 65 campaign aims to encourage more companies and individuals to continue supporting our goal to provide educational assistance to 65 scholars.

With a donation of Php 25,000 (USD 545), one scholar will be provided with educational assistance for a year. Aside from his/her tuition fee, this amount will also cover his/her subsistence allowance including transportation allowance and school supplies.

Aside from educational assistance, a scholar will also receive free medical and dental services and other psycho-social support such as counseling, school monitoring and home visits to help them focus and ensure that their needs are being address.

AmCham Foundation will also be shifting its focus from college degree level to vocational courses. Currently, AmCham Foundation has 14 scholars who are taking up vocational courses including 5 scholars who are being supported by SC Johnson under their program SC Johnson Support-A-Scholar Program.  

Everyone has a chance to make a difference and help poor but deserving individuals have a better future by giving them the gift of education. Sponsor a scholar now!

For more information about 25 for 65 Campaign and AmCham Foundation, you may also visit our website: www.amchamfoundation.com.