Sharlyn Alvarez's Adulthood Special Gift

Dear family and friends,

Sharlyn Alvarez is my sponsored child via World Vision Canada since 2018 (World Vision child ID #PHL-201960-2201). She is 17 this year. Originally this fundraiser is set up to fundraise $500 towards a special gift to her to celebrate and prepare her for adulthood as she is expected to leave the child sponsorship program next year as she turns 18. A month ago, World Vision has sent me the unfortunate news that Sharlyn's mother has just been diagnosed with brain tumour and must stop working to obtain expensive medical procedures and treatments. I am now aiming to fundraise $1000 to help Sharlyn's family in its time of such crisis.

Sharlyn lives in Sorsogon, Philippines. Sorsogon is the home of about 90000 people, many of whom struggle to earn enough money to provide for their own basic needs including food, health care and education due to a fishing-based economy jeopardized by natural disasters, illegal fishing practices such as over-fishing, and inadequate waste removal. About half of the Sorsogon community's population consists of children, many of whom are malnourished, ill, unable to afford education, and at risk of getting involved in crime and child labour. Poor hygiene and health practices combined with limited access to clean, safe drinking water also threaten the health and well-being of these children. Please read more about the Sorsogon community and World Vision's work there at https://our-work.worldvision.ca/philippines/201960.

World Vision Canada has agreed to override its special gifts program rules so that all funds I raise will go towards Sharlyn and her family. When World Vision Canada receives the special gift donation, staff will work with Sharlyn and her family to help them choose a gift that they most need. To read more about World Vision Canada's sponsored children special gifts program, please see https://www.worldvision.ca/sponsor-a-child/support-centre/resources-for-sponsors/give-a-special-gift.

Due to current system limitations on the sponsored children special gifts program, it is unable to directly receive and issue official charity donation receipts for multiple public donations, but only able to receive and issue a single official charity donation receipt for a single lump sum donation from the child sponsor, i.e. me, therefore unfortunately, this donation option will be unable to acknowledge you with an official World Vision Canada charity donation receipt, however, you will receive a GoFundMe personal donation receipt, and a copy of Sharlyn's thank-you letter and photo with her special gift from me once I receive them in potentially 6 months time or longer after the donation.

If you wish to donate to and receive an official charity donation receipt from World Vision directly, please choose from the many donation options available at the official website of World Vision Canada at https://donate.worldvision.ca/collections/donations or your local World Vision website. Please note however that I am unable to track and acknowledge donations made directly to World Vision.

This fundraiser will originally end on 31st October 2023, but due to the increased goal due to Sharlyn's familial crisis, I will keep this fundraiser open until the $1000 goal is reached. Please consider donating as soon as possible so that the gift can be delivered by Christmas. On behalf of Sharlyn Alvarez and the Sorsogon, Philippines community, I thank you for your generous support!

Yours faithfully,

Wendy Leung