Debbie Gibson & Children International
ABS-CBN News
Posted at Jan 19 2012 03:52 PM | Updated as of Jan 20 2012 06:05 PM
MANILA, Philippines — Singer Debbie Gibson is currently supporting a poor family in the Philippines, according to the charity Children International.
According to a statement from the charity distributed by PR Newswire, Gibson, known for ’80s pop hits like “Lost in Your Eyes” and “Only in My Dreams,” helps support 7-year-old Helen, her mother, Evelyn, and her five siblings living in Manila’s North Cemetery.
“Helen and her family guard a cemetery crypt, and live on less than $11 a month. With Gibson’s help, Helen and her siblings now receive medical and dental care and attend school,” Children International said.
Helen and her family make a living by cleaning the crypts at the cemetery.
A video accompanying the statement shows Gibson visiting the family at the North Cemetery, accompanied by Children International representative Carmi Carpio.
“When they showed me where they lived, I was astounded how Helen’s mom has transformed this cold tomb into a shelter for her children,” Gibson said in the voiceover narration, noting that the family’s living quarters were “spotless.”
Helen’s mom told the singer that her greatest wish was for her daughter to go to school to have a better future.
Established in 1936, the Kansas City, Missouri-based Children International said its programs provide poor children like Helen with medical and dental care, educational support and health education to children and youth, some whose families live on less than $1.25 a day.
Gibson, who will appear on season five of the US reality TV series “Celebrity Apprentice,” has announced that she will play for Children International in the show.
In “Celebrity Apprentice,” celebrities compete in weekly challenges and donate any winnings to their personal charities under the careful watch of Donald Trump and his advisors. The last person standing will win a $250,000 bonus check to their designated charity.
“Children International is fortunate to have such a dedicated supporter as Debbie Gibson. She has proven she is an ardent advocate for children living in the most extreme poverty,” Children International president and CEO Jim Cook said in the statement.
