MyHumanitas Steak Night Speech Transcript

(This speech was given by Mary Jane Abad- Dabucol, founder of MyHumanitas Family Services during the fundraising night held last 26th of November 2021.)

To our distinguished VIPs, honourable guest speakers, to all of our kind and loving friends, churchmates, and families who are here, ladies and gentlemen, good evening!

First of all, I would like to thank you for gracing us with your presence for taking the time to support our very first fundraiser night. I believe this is not an accident that we’re here and sitting at this table; there’s a good reason why we’re here. It’s not just to enjoy this delicious steak and make new friends, but because we all want to be a part of something great that will do amazing things for many young kids and their families here in our city and province.

We called our organization MyHumanitas Family Services, and most of you wonder, where does the word “Humanitas” come from? We derived our name MyHumanitas from the word “humanitas” which is a Latin word for kindness and humanity. So basically, MyHumanitas simply means our compassion, our empathy, and our humanity. The kindness and humanity ingrained in our very nature that we need to practice more. And this is what we want to promote; we want to encourage everyone to practise more kindness and understanding, especially our children and the younger generation. Just do what is right, even in our little capacity. Let’s make our family’s life better, and let’s help make other’s life better too.

Our mission is to serve our community by partnering with our government & other agencies to help meet the needs of families, parents, and individuals within our city and surrounding areas. We want to encourage our younger generations to grow up loving and decent human beings. We desire to help our children develop the necessary skills to aid them to succeed in the future and become productive members of our society. We want to show encouragement and support for all children and youth to have a happy and vibrant life as they grow up and root for them to succeed and capture their dreams.

Our vision is to organize, implement and execute nurturing and youth empowerment programs that will enhance the lives of all children, young people, and their families. Our organization wants to be a strong proponent of showing kindness and humanity; thus, the name MyHumanitas Family Services came. Not only MyHumanitas would like to nurture humanity and kindness, but we also want to promote unity, diversity, reconciliation, integration, harmony, understanding, support, encouragement, respect, and excellence. Because we believed that all families, youth and children, you and me and all humanity, we are MyHumanitas.

I believed this organization was established not because of accident but of God’s will. The Lord instilled passion in my heart, passion accumulated by many years of experience working in a non-government, human rights organization many years ago. My experiences as a mom, a daughter, a wife, a foster parent, and an outsider trying to assimilate and become a good and productive citizen of this great country.

I always thought at first that putting up an organization that will help children and families is just a personal dream that I will just cherish in my heart. I always thought, how I wish I could put up a non-profit humanitarian organization that can change and touch many children and families for the better, but I don’t know how and where to start. Plus, I don’t have any means or even time to make these things happen. But everything happens for a reason. There’s a reason we’re sent to certain places or meet certain people in our lives because there’s a purpose. Just like the saying says, “There are no accidents; there is only some purpose that we don’t understand.” When you are called to do something, you have no option but to act.

I’m very fortunate to know and have friends whom I share similar passion, values and beliefs. These friends help me find the key to open the door of opportunities and making my vision a reality. Without the support of my husband, my son Kobe, my family, my close friends Maria & Rey, and Doctor Aurora, all of these will not be possible.

Without these people’s support, prayers, trust, and friendship, all of these won’t be a reality. Without their help and encouragement, MyHumanitas will not be born. This is why I’m giving my love and sincere appreciation to these people. I want to present them to all of you here on the stage. Kayla Ayerst from Meadow Lake, SK as our Board President, Maria Salud – Board Secretary, Linda Johnson – Board Treasurer, Jakob Dabucol – Member of the Board (unfortunately he’s not here tonight because he was competing in a volleyball game in Moose Jaw), Rosalyn Kumbu – Member of the Board and Aurora Padillo as Member of the Board. Ladies and gentlemen, I’m proud to present you, MyHumanitas Family Services Board of Directors. Would you please give them warm applause?

I would like to express our deep gratitude for supporting our cause. On behalf of our team, our volunteers, the board of directors, and the lives of many families and children that you will touch and help change by supporting our organization. I want to say, you are all wonderful and great people! Thank you very much.

I would also like to take this opportunity to  personally acknowledge our speakers for this evening.

• Thanks to Ms. Isabelle Dena and her husband, Ms. Halima Lima and Ms. Betty Mutwiri and her partner for gracing us with their presence and sharing your beautiful words of encouragement.

• I would also like to thank Arlene Ruiz. Thanks to Ms. Lisa Rogalski for representing the honourable member of the Parliament West View, Brad Redekopp.

• Thanks to all friendship centres, charity groups and non government organizations who are here tonight. Thanks to the Daughters of Africa, thank you so much for showing us your big support by attending this steak night.
• Thanks to our friends from the North West Friendship Centre of Meadow Lake. SK.
• We acknowledge the presence of Aboriginal Friendship Centre of Saskatchewan.
• Thanks to our talented musicians, and singers who entertained us with good music tonight (Steve Lampitoc, Darwin Modesto and company).
• Thanks to Ali and Rose Kumbu and their family.
• Thanks to Maria and Rhey Salud for their hard work and contributions.
• To our church Pastors Ptra. Amy Perez and to our churchmates.
• To all hardworking Travel Lodge Staff who prepared and cooked our delicious steak tonight.
• We also like to thank Sis. Lyndel and Bro. Rex Crespo. Without their help and assistance, we’ll not be able to hold our fundraising here.
• To our awesome host, who did an excellent job hosting our program tonight. Our sister, a fellow foster parent and good friend Maribel Cabreros.

And, of course, to all of you who share your time and presence with us. We appreciate your generosity. Thank you very much from the bottom of our hearts. May you all have a wonderful and peaceful evening. God bless you all!