Filipino-American volunteers dedicated in serving the less fortunate children in the Philippines
About the foundation
The Guardian Angels of America Foundation is a non-profit organization consisting of Filipino-American volunteers dedicated in serving the less fortunate children in the Philippines. It is the implementing arm of the collective desire of the Filipino-Americans in Los Angeles, United States of America to bring smiles in the faces of sick and poor Filipino children confined in the charity wards of government hospitals in the Philippines.
Mission
To alleviate the pain and sufferings of the sick and poor children who are bedridden in the charity wards of various government hospitals in the Philippines by providing assistance to them in the form of monetary help, medical assistance, feeding program and shelter.
Vision
To reach out to all Filipino-Americans and raise awareness of the financial needs of indigent patients and their families back home suffering from any acute, chronic or terminal illnesses. To encourage Filipino-Americans to become a Guardian Angel Partner by sharing their time, skills, resources and knowledge to help save a life.
How We Started
Children spending their days at a hospital can be lonely. Their time is spent for various tests and sometimes painful treatments. A simple toy can cheer them up and give them hope and inspiration to get well. It has been proven that children who are happy heal faster. That’s when Ms. Loi Herrera thought of starting a toy drive in 2002.
She wrote to Dr. Johnny Nanagas, the then Director of PGH and she was referred to Dr. Philip Cruz, then Chief Resident of the Department of Pediatrics. Ms. Herrera was able to send at that time, two boxes of toys that she and her daughter Marisse solicited from friends and relatives. Another box of toys was added by then Forex Cargo CEO, Mac Carino, who agreed to sponsor the shipment of the boxes for free.
In 2003, the Press Club in Los Angeles, which Loi Herrera was a member, adopted the project and was able to send from 3 boxes in 2002 to 6 boxes in 2003. Forex Cargo continued to sponsor the shipment of the toys through J.P. Carino-CEO. This time, Loi with her first volunteer, Marisse, personally went back home to see to it that the toys are actually reaching the hands of the sick and poor children in the Philippines.
Since then, the toy drive project has grown from three (3) balikbayan boxes in 2002 to ninety seven (97) in 2010, in partnership with Forex Cargo. The toy collection has reached at the highest, 10,000 pieces that came from donations from Filipino-American community, purchases from thrift stores, purchases from garage sales and some donations from toy companies.
However, even when the sick children are happy, they still lack the medication they need. That’s when Ms. Herrera thought that giving toys is not enough. In 2006, with the help of dedicated volunteers, the Guardian Angels of America Foundation (GAAF) was born. It is officially a non-profit charitable organization with a 501C3 status.
GAAF's Main Projects
Even when most people here in the US are experiencing hardship due to economic crisis, Filipino-Americans join hands to support GAAF to enable them to continue to bring cheers to sick and poor children who struggle due to poverty and much worst struggle for their life when they are sick. In times of need, the Filipino-American community comes together, forget their differences and help one another.
Meet The Board
Loi Herrera, Hon. DHum.
Founder and President
Sheryl Mozo-Nguyen
Secretary
Dr. Marisse Herrera
Treasurer
Today, GAAF still thrive after 10 years of serving the sick & poor children in the Philippines. GAAF would like to thank all the support from sponsors, donors, volunteers and everyone in the community who in one way or another lend a hand to show they care. Ms. Herrera believes that angels exist; only sometimes they don’t have wings. They are called friends or partners and they are the reason that poor children experience the joy of having a toy at Christmas time. May GOD continue to bless all these angels for caring and for their generosity.
Our Beneficiaries
Hospitals
Philippine General Hospital (PGH)
Ospital ng Maynila
San Lazaro Hospital
Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center (JRMMC)
Tondo Hospital
Philippine Orthopedic Center
Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC)
National Children’s Hospital (NCH)
East Avenue Medical Center
Dr. Fe de Mundo Medical Center
Quezon City General Hospital
Other Beneficiaries
Our Lady of Consolation Parish
San Miguel Foundation
PalCare Foundation – c/o of Dr. Emerlinda Roman
Cebu Vineyard – c/o Dr. Philip Cruz
Blessed Sacrament Parish – c/o Dr. Philip Cruz
Abra – c/o Ruby Bersamin
Baesa Caloocan – c/o Josie Francisco
Balayan Batangas – c/o Cong. Eileen Ermita-Buhain
Binondo – c/o Kagawad Marissa Sabado
Lingga Calamba – c/o Sergio Bunyi
Manila – c/o Baby Nebrida Ballesty of NBN
Mindanao – c/o Dr. Philip Cruz
Sampaloc – c/o Gen. Ernesto Diokno
Tayabas Tondo – c/o Delfin and Dexter Herrera
Sta. Ana Taguig c/o of Rosa and Lito Jeremillo
Barangay Longos, Malolos City in cooperation with Bulihan Christian Baptist Church
Other Organizations
Door of Faith – Pastor Efren Reyes
Little Light Ministries – Pastor Joseph Casaje
Emmaus House – Malolos Bulacan
Nuestra Senora dela Paz Y Buenviaje Foundation
FishGate Foundation – Tagaytay
Nazareth Home for Street Children-Bustos Bulacan
Polytechnic University of the Philippines
Arm Foundations in USA and Philippines
PEDRO – Mr. Bing de la Vega (Medical Mission)
San Miguel Foundation – Ms. Camille Buenaventura
PalCare Hospice Foundation – Dr. Agnes Bausa-Claudio
Jollibee Foundation – Gisela Tioseco
Our projects
GAAF projects are committed to support and continuously bring cheers to sick and poor children who struggle due to poverty and much worst struggle for their life when they are sick.
GAAF USA TV
Welcome to GAAF USA TV, the official channel of the Guardian Angels of America Foundation. Become an Angel Partner and play an important role by providing life-saving care, helping to alleviate the pain & suffering of sick children in the Philippines.
GAAF KIDS Birthday Club
GAAF KIDS Birthday Club (GKBC) is a project of the Guardian Angels of America Foundation (GAAF). The goal of this project is to bring cheer to indigent children in the Philippines who are celebrating their birthdays ages from 1 month old up to 10 years old.
Toy Drive
GAAF cheers up sick children bedridden at charity wards by giving them toys during Christmas time.
Feeding Program
Hot meals are provided to sick and poor children during toy distribution.
$1 Souvenir Money
Kids are given new $1 to inspire them to study hard and multiply the dollar.
Free Medicine Project
GAAF gets prescriptions of sick children and buys medicines for them.
Our Partners & Sponsors
Organizations That Don’t Just Take Our Word For It.
How can you help?
GAAF is approved by the IRS as a 501(C)3 tax-exempt organization.
All donations are tax deductible to the extent provided by law.
GAAF tax ID is 06-1775915.
Monetary Donation
Make checks payable to GAAF. Mail to:.
GAAF
P.O. Box 1035,
Fullerton, CA 92836
For Monetary Donation thru Paypal, click the “DONATE” button.
Volunteering
Contact Ms. Loi Herrera, if you are interested in volunteering, please email: guardianangelsofamerica@gmail.com, tel 562-544-8210
Toy Donation
Call for pick-up or drop-off centers: 562.544.8210
Medical Supplies and Others
Call for pick-up or drop-off centers: 562.544.8210
What's new?
Fundraising Events
Join us in our campaign to raise money to help the less fortunate children in the Philippines. Your support will help fund our various projects and the medical mission in the Philippines.
Latest GAAF’s Project Stories
We'd Love To Hear From You
Get in touch with us. Let us know what you think.
Your Donation Goes A Long Way
We invite you to support GAAF by donating your time, talent and resources to make our objective a reality.
“Blessed are those who are generous, because they feed the poor”
Proverbs 22:9