Welcome to our fundraising website.  We are running to promote quality education in the US through the noble mission of Books for the Barrios (BftB).  For the past several years, BftB a non-profit organization have instilled compassion and generosity to over a hundred thousand San Francisco Bay Area elementary schoolchildren through its character development school field trips program.  Under this program, schoolchildren from across the Bay Area come to BftB's warehouse in Concord, CA where they help sort and pack education materials like books, computers to be shipped to remote, economically deprived schools of the Philippines.  With this, the American children learn to value what they have by making them aware of other children who are in need.  They learn compassion and generosity towards other kids who are just like them.

In addition to helping schoolchildren in the US, BftB sends large volumes of quality education materials to the Philippines, train teachers, setup and maintain model schools, etc.  More information about BftB can be found at their website at www.booksforthebarrios.com. 

We are the runners who will brave the San Francisco Marathon on August 3, 2008 and the Primo's Run for Education Half Marathon on October 19, 2008 in Danville, CA.  Most of us will be doing this for the first time.  Help us in our cause.

San Francisco Runners                     Danville Runners
Frank Soriano                                       Julius Acosta
Maria Clark                                            Frank Soriano
Ramon Arellano II                                Ramon Arellano II
Roy Cabral                                            Roy Cabral
Salvador Labrador                               Salvador Labrador
Virgilio Apaliso                                      Virgilio Apaliso

Our target is to raise $10,000.  Donate through this site.  It's safe and secure.  Your donation goes directly to BftB.

Support our cause for better education, better children, better future.

Many thanks for your support -- and don't forget to forward this to anyone who you think might want to donate too!

Update, 5/26/08: Dan Harrington, co-founder of Books for the Barrios, will be joining our run!

Update, 8/04/08: One race down, one to go!  We just finished the San Francisco Marathon!  Frank zipped the 26.2 miles with a scorching time of 03:53, the fastest in the group (and to think this is his first marathon).  Ramon improved his time from last year by more than 45 minutes by finishing at 04:16.  Virgilio, due to lack in training in the last month encountered leg cramps too early in the race.  Salvie being the consumate sportsman helped Virgilio, practically carrying him on his shoulders, motivating him the rest of the way and even shared his gel packs.  Both finished with a time of 04:47.  Maria who is still coming from an injury finished her half-marathon in 01:58.  Maria and husband, Graham, drove more than 400 miles to be in this race.  (Thanks for running with us!)  Unfortunately Roy could not join us in this race because of an injury he sustained on his toe three weeks ago.  Roy will join us at the Primos Run for Education.  Thank you very much to all who saw us at the finish line.