Cassie Eng is a dedicated Project PEARLS Volunteer, our youngest advocate, and a youth ambassador. Her personal project, Cassie’s Bag of Dreams Challenge, is now on its 11th year!
Cassie’s Bag of Dreams Challenge is about helping kids escape poverty by getting an education. To contact Cassie, email her at [email protected]
Click below to make a secured tax-deductible donation :
No amount is too small! Every dollar/peso counts!
Checks can also be made payable to PROJECT PEARLS and mailed to:
PROJECT PEARLS
Attn. Cassie Eng
PO Box 3478 San Leandro, CA 94578
Please add “Cassie’s Bag of Dreams 2024” on the description
In the past 10 years, with the help of generous sponsors, over 2,600 students from impoverished communities in Lucena, Bulacan, Manila, Zambales, Tondo, Guimaras, Camarines Norte, and Siargao have received gifts of hope in the form of high-quality backpacks with school supplies and hygiene kits.
MESSAGE FROM CASSIE:
Cassie’s Bag of Dreams was started with the goal of breaking the cycle of childhood poverty by inspiring hope and giving educational resources to underprivileged children. I believe that by supporting and sending kids to school, it can lead to better opportunities and a brighter future.
I have been leading this project for 10 years now, and by visiting these communities around the Philippines, I have seen what true resilience, passion, and courage look like. Each year I personally deliver and distribute the backpacks and school supplies, and every visit leaves an imprint in my mind. Hearing the stories of the communities I serve and having the opportunity to spread joy and hope into the world fills my heart and give me purpose.
What’s special about Bag of Dreams is the personal connection created between the donor and the student. Each backpack comes with a bag tag with the donor’s name on it, reminding the children that there is someone who believes in them and their education. I also send yearly newsletter updates, so donors can see the personalized thank you notes from the children they sponsored. More importantly, since this is my personal project, you can rest assured that 100% of your donation goes toward providing high-quality educational resources to the children.
Thank you for taking the time to read a bit more about my project.
Join me in keeping hope alive and changing lives – one backpack at a time!
THIS YEAR: CASSIE’S BAG OF DREAMS CHALLENGE 2024
CHECK OUT PAST CASSIE’S BAG OF DREAMS CAMPAIGNS WITH PROJECT PEARLS BELOW:
Cassie’s Bag of Dreams Challenge Year 7 – PEARLS Learning Center: Laptops for COVID-19 Distance Learning – 2020
53 laptops and 6,000 reusable face masks were distributed to the Project PEARLS learning center in Bulacan and Project PEARLS college scholars to help the students affected by school closures. Covid-19 has highlighted the true scope of the digital divide and the widening gap in terms of access to educational resources. For our Project PEARLS scholars, the shift to virtual and social distance learning is yet another obstacle hindering them from receiving a meaningful education. (Read more https://www.projectpearls.org/help-our-scholars-succeed/).
Though Cassie was not present during the distribution, she received emails from some of the college scholars thanking her and letting her know the laptops arrived. We would like to thank the Rotary Club of San Francisco Chinatown, Rotary Club of Castro Valley, and Rotary Club of Belmont and the rest of the donors!
Cassie’s Bag of Dreams Challenge Year 6 – PEARLS Learning Center Nursery Scholars – August 9, 2019
70 school bags with school supplies were distributed to the nursery students of Project PEARLS Learning Center in Bulacan! This was the first bag distribution where Cassie was not present, but she made sure to deliver the bags in a prior visit to Bulacan to celebrate with the kids. We would like to thank the Rotary Club of San Francisco Chinatown and the rest of the donors!
Cassie’s Bag of Dreams Challenge Year 6 — St. Arnold Janssen Kalinga Center – July 27, 2019
Cassie gave schoolbags w/ school supplies to 250 students from St. Arnold Janssen Kalinga Center in partnership with BEAGIVER! Located in Tayuman, Metro Manila, since July 2015 this center has been offering the homeless of the area the chance to find their dignity, and create their own self-worth. We would like to thank the Rotary Club of San Francisco Chinatown and the rest of the sponsors for their support and generosity!
Click here for more photos on Cassie’s Bag of Dreams Challenge 2019 at St. Arnold Janssen Kalinga Center!
Cassie’s Bag of Dreams Challenge Year 5 – Lasala Elementary School, Del Carmen, Siargao – August 5, 2018
Cassie gave schoolbags w/ school supplies to 171 students from Lasala Elementary School, Siargao in partnership with Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation and BEAGIVER! These students also made the day extra special with their pleasant welcome. We would like to thank the Rotary Club of San Francisco Chinatown and the rest of the sponsors who helped out Cassie in making this year’s drive a success again!
Cassie’s Bag of Dreams Challenge Year 5 – Daet, Camarines Norte – August 5, 2018
Cassie gave schoolbags w/ school supplies to 500 kids from 5 Barangays in Daet, Camarines Norte in partnership with Aklatan sa Kostal! They also had a Jollibee Kiddie Party for these kids. Everyone had a fun and special day!
We would like to thank the Rotary Club of San Francisco Chinatown and the rest of the sponsors who helped out Cassie in making this year’s drive a success again!
Cassie’s Bag of Dreams Challenge Year 4 – Pangarap Shelter Learning Center – August 16, 2017
Cassie also gave schoolbags w/ school supplies this year to the teenagers of Pangarap Shelter Learning Center. The Pangarap Foundation is a charity foundation based in the Philippines which aids street children by running shelters and livelihood programs for them. Its offices are located in Pasay City, Manila. The foundation accepts donations of cash and items that may be used by children. It also welcomes assistance in the form of skills development workshops for the children. The charity aims to provide homeless, abused, and runaway children with a positive environment that will aid them in becoming productive members of society, providing them with food, shelter, education, and livelihood skills.
We would like to thank the Rotary Club of San Francisco Chinatown, Rotary Club of Novato, and Ralph & Gia Suarez!
Click here for more photos on Cassie’s Bag of Dreams Challenge 2017!
Cassie’s Bag of Dreams Challenge Year 4 – PEARLS Learning Center Nursery Scholars – August 15, 2017
Cassie visited and gave schoolbags with school supplies to the 50 nursery students of Project PEARLS Learning Center in Bulacan! We would like to thank the Rotary Club of San Francisco Chinatown, Rotary Club of Novato, and Ralph & Gia Suarez.
Click here for more photos on Cassie’s Bag of Dreams Challenge 2017!
Cassie’s Bag of Dreams Challenge Year 4 – Helping Land, Tondo Scholars – August 9, 2017
We deeply thank Cassie, her family and friends, Josh Mahinay and #BeAGiver, Doc Anton Mari H. Lim of Yellow Boat of Hope for making 2017’s challenge in Helping Land, Tondo not only possible but for making it very special and memorable! Over 300 of our PEARLS scholars from Helping Land received backpacks filled with school supplies. We would like to thank the Rotary Club of San Francisco Chinatown, Rotary Club of Novato, and Ralph & Gia Suarez.
Click here for more photos on Cassie’s Bag of Dreams Challenge 2017!
Cassie’s Bag of Dreams Challenge Year 3 – Dasal Elementary School / Sibunag, Guimaras – August 9, 2016
We would like to thank the students, staff and parents at Dasal Elementary School at Sibunag, Guimaras for their thoughtfulness and hospitality! We came to give out backpacks and school supplies but we came home with tons of priceless Thank You cards and the sweetest smiles. Sending out our many thanks also to all the sponsors who contributed and made this year’s challenge possible!
Click here for more photos on Cassie’s Bag of Dreams Challenge 2016
Cassie’s Bag of Dreams Challenge Year 2 – Project PEARLS Bulacan Scholars / Batia, Bocaue, Bulacan – August 8, 2015
We deeply thank Cassie, her family and friends, Josh Mahinay and #Bag943, Doc Anton Mari H. Lim of Yellow Boat of Hope and Jollibee Foundation for making 2015’s challenge not only possible but for making it very special and memorable! Over 300 of our PEARLS scholars received Bag943 backpacks filled with school supplies. All our scholars and volunteers had chickenjoy meals from Jollibee; cupcakes from Cassie’s family!
Click here and at 2 for more photos on Cassie’s Bag of Dreams Challenge 2015 – Bulacan
Cassie’s Bag of Dreams Challenge Year 2 – Children of Lakas Tribe / Botolan, Zambales – August 12, 2015
Cassie also decided to include the community of Lakas Tribe in Botolan, Zambales and gave out another 300 backpacks to the Aeta children of the tribe. It was a very blessed day for everyone most especially to the beneficiaries.
Click here and here for more photos on Cassie’s Bag of Dreams Challenge 2015 – Zambales
Cassie’s Bag of Dreams Challenge Year 1 – 300 Tagalog & Badjao Children from Lucena / Brgy. Dalahican, Lucena City – July 11, 2014
Cassie’s first ever Bag of Dreams Challenge with 300 Tagalog and Badjao children from Lucena City in partnership with John K. Chua (Adphoto), Harvery Chua, Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation and Bag943 (Be A Giver).
Thank you so much to all the people who have been making Cassie’s challenge a reality and a blessing to all the beneficiaries. We are hoping for your full support once again on the next Cassie’s Bag of Dreams Challenge!
(Photos from Sidney Snoeck, Payatas Orione Foundation, Mailou San Gabriel & Jay-r Panagsagan)
