www.patis2poutine.com
IamChange Education and Wellness Foundation
Empowering students, supporting teachers, and nourishing communities to turn potential into purpose.
Harness The Power of "I Am"
Built On Legacy and Service
Before launching Patis 2 Poutine, our founder built a legacy of service through the IamChange Education and Wellness Foundation. We believe that change doesn't start with external resources—it starts with the internal realization of one’s own worth.
By empowering students, supporting teachers, and feeding families in marginalized communities, we provide the foundation for individuals to stand up and say: "I am capable. I am worthy. I am the change."
Our Roots, Our Purpose
Education is a Right, Not a Privilege.
IamChange Education and Wellness Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the belief that every child, regardless of background, deserves access to quality education.
We don't just give away supplies; we give away the opportunity for a child to redefine their future. From remote mountain schools to crisis-hit urban centers, our work ensures that marginalized communities aren't just surviving—they are thriving and discovering their own power.
Our Mission and Vision
Our Mission:
o create sustainable educational opportunities by providing students, teachers, and communities with the tools, resources, and support they need to succeed—helping them harness the power of 'I Am'.”
Our Vision:
A world where every child has equal access to education and basic necessities, ensuring a brighter future for individuals and communities.
Our Projects
Tools4Success
Equipping the Mind Complete school supply support for underprivileged students. We ensure that every child enters the classroom with the confidence that comes from being prepared.
Impact: 10,000+ students equipped.
Food4Success
Nourishing the Potential
Critical food aid delivery to remote, crisis-affected, and marginalized communities. You cannot harness the power of "I Am" on an empty stomach.
Impact: 2,000+ meals and relief packages provided.
EmpowerED Scholarships
Investing in the Future
Full student support including tuition, food, transport, and learning materials. We remove every barrier so that scholars can focus on their growth.
Impact: 50+ full scholarships awarded.
Tools4Success
San Isidro Elementary: San Pablo, Laguna Philippines
On August 13, 2022, at the gentle foot of a mountain in San Pablo City, Laguna, hope found its way into the classrooms of San Isidro Elementary School. On that day, IamChange Education and Wellness Foundation had the privilege of providing 597 young learners with complete school supplies—more than notebooks and pencils, but tangible reminders that they are seen, valued, and believed in.
What moved us most was not just the act of giving, but the overwhelming warmth with which we were received. Educators, parents, and students opened their hearts and welcomed our team as one of their own. In the brief time we shared, stories were exchanged, laughter echoed across the school grounds, and quiet moments of connection turned into memories we will carry for a lifetime.
That day reminded us of a simple yet powerful truth: when compassion meets community, even the most remote places become centers of possibility—and even the smallest acts of kindness can leave the deepest impact.
Tools4Success
Cagasat National High School: Cordon, Isabela Philippines
On August 15, 2022, IamChange Education and Wellness Foundation returned to Cagasat High School in Cordon, Isabela for its second school supplies distribution—not as first-time visitors, but as long-standing partners in purpose.
Cagasat High School stands among the very first beneficiaries of the Foundation’s #Tools4Success Program, and for three consecutive years, we have walked this journey together—united by a shared commitment to breaking material barriers that stand between students and academic excellence. Beyond supplies, this partnership has fueled projects that uplift teachers, empower learners, and strengthen the school community as a whole.
This year, that commitment took tangible form once again as 650 enrolled students received complete sets of school supplies. Each set carried more than tools for the classroom—it carried continuity, trust, and the powerful message that no dream should be delayed by lack of resources.
Our return was a celebration of resilience, progress, and the extraordinary things that happen when communities and compassion grow together. At Cagasat High School, we were reminded that lasting change is not built in a single visit—but through years of belief, action, and shared hope.
Tools4Success
San Agustin National High School: San Agustin, Isabela, Philippines
On August 17, 2022, a truly radiant and hope-filled day unfolded as IamChange Education and Wellness Foundation proudly hosted its third school supplies distribution at San Agustin National High School in Barangay Masaya Centro, San Agustin, Isabela.
From the moment we arrived, the community welcomed us with open hearts and boundless energy. Their warmth was matched by a stirring performance that filled the school grounds with life, pride, and purpose—an unforgettable expression of unity and gratitude that lifted every spirit present.
That day, 670 enrolled students received complete sets of school supplies, each one representing more than academic support. They symbolized encouragement, opportunity, and a shared belief in a brighter future. In every smile, every applause, and every grateful glance, we were reminded that when a community comes together, education becomes a powerful force for hope and transformation.
It was not just an event—it was a celebration of dreams, resilience, and the promise of what can be achieved when compassion is put into action.
Tools4Success
Dabubu National High School: San Agustin, Isabela Philippines
Nestled in Barangay Dabubu, San Agustin, Isabela, Dabubu High School became a proud first-time grantee of the IamChange Education and Wellness Foundation’s Tools4Success Program—marking the beginning of a meaningful partnership rooted in hope and opportunity.
On August 18, 2022, in celebration of School Year 2022–2023, the Foundation donated 663 complete sets of school supplies to the school’s enrolled students. Each set was more than a gift—it was a vote of confidence in young minds ready to learn, grow, and dream beyond their circumstances.
Our team was met with an outpouring of warmth from the faculty and staff, whose dedication to education was felt in every handshake and smile. The visit was made even more unforgettable by the students’ extraordinary performances—from the powerful unity of sabayang pagbigkas to the electrifying energy of street dancing—a beautiful display of talent, culture, and pride.
That day was not simply about giving supplies. It was about celebrating resilience, amplifying voices, and affirming a powerful truth: when education is supported and creativity is nurtured, futures are transformed.
Tools4Success
Dabubu Elementary School: San Agustin, Isabela Philippines
In the heart of the small and close-knit community of Barangay Dabubu Pequeño, stands Dabubu Elementary School—a place where dreams quietly take root and hope is nurtured every day.
On August 22, 2022, as the doors opened for School Year 2022–2023, IamChange Education and Wellness Foundation marked a meaningful milestone with the fifth school supplies distribution under its Tools4Success Program. At a time when new beginnings matter most, 95 enrolled students received complete sets of school supplies—each one a powerful reminder that they are not starting their journey alone.
In that modest school, surrounded by a community rich in heart and resilience, simple tools became symbols of possibility. Every notebook carried a promise. Every pencil held the power to write a new story. And every child was met with a message that will echo far beyond the classroom: your dreams are valid, your future matters, and you are supported.
This was more than a distribution—it was a moment of hope, a shared beginning, and a quiet yet powerful step toward a brighter tomorrow.
Food4Success Program
The Agta People of Quirino,Philippines
The Agta, also referred to as Aeta, Ayta, or Dumagat, represent one of the Negrito indigenous groups in the Philippines. Their communities span across Luzon—including southeastern regions like Quirino Province. Within this area, they are linked to groups such as the Arta, Madella Dumagat, and Nagtipunan Agta .
During the height of Typhoon Ulysses in 2020 and amidst the ongoing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the IamChange Education and Wellness Foundation extended vital support to the Agta communities in Maddela, Quirino, Philippines. Recognizing the compounded hardship caused by the natural disaster and public health crisis, the foundation assisted and funded wellness and nutrition projects under its Food4Success program—one of the very first initiatives of its kind in the Philippines.
The project delivered emergency food packages to hundreds of Agta families, ensuring access to essential nutrition at a time when supply chains and livelihoods were severely disrupted. In addition to food relief, the initiative prioritized community wellness. With the exceptional leadership of Dr. Sarah Valiente Dela Cruz, medical staff were mobilized to provide health check-ups, medical assistance, and wellness guidance, addressing urgent care needs and reinforcing preventive health practices.
This combined focus on nutrition, wellness, and medical support exemplified IamChange’s mission to stand alongside vulnerable communities in times of crisis—helping the Agta people not only survive, but move toward resilience and recovery.
Food4Success
Diadi Regional High School: Cordon, Isabela Philippines
In April 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic—when fear was widespread, livelihoods were uncertain, and basic necessities were suddenly out of reach—hope arrived through collective action and shared humanity.
Across six communities, students, teachers, and their families were supported with two trays of eggs per household, providing 48 eggs each—a simple yet vital source of nourishment during a time when every meal mattered. What made this effort extraordinary was not only the aid itself, but the people behind it.
Teachers, students, and community leaders stepped forward as volunteers, offering their time, strength, and unwavering service. Amid lockdowns and uncertainty, they ensured that no family was forgotten, no door left unknocked, and no household left unsupported.
In a moment defined by isolation, this act of solidarity became a lifeline—proving that even in the darkest times, compassion travels faster than fear. It was a powerful reminder that when communities stand together, care becomes courage, and small acts of kindness can sustain not only bodies, but hope itself.
Food4Success
Community of Dallao: Cordon, Isabela Philippines
On April 2020, at a time when the world seemed to slow under the weight of uncertainty, students and community leader volunteers came together to deliver hope to Barangay Dallao in Cordon, Isabela, Philippines.
Barangay Dallao is a quiet rural upland community—surrounded by wide agricultural fields, rolling terrain, and long distances from urban centers. Life here demands resilience. With limited public transportation, residents often depend on irregular jeepney routes, tricycles, or private vehicles. During heavy rains and typhoon season, partially unpaved roads can become impassable, cutting communities off and delaying even the most basic supplies.
Opportunities beyond agriculture are scarce. Many working adults are forced to leave home—seeking livelihoods in distant provinces or overseas—leaving families to carry on with limited resources. For students, these realities create layered challenges: long and difficult commutes, shortages of school supplies, scarce learning materials, and households stretched thin by financial strain.
It was into this reality that volunteers arrived—not with fanfare, but with purpose. In the midst of the pandemic, they distributed rations of rice—a fundamental source of sustenance and a powerful symbol of care. Each sack carried more than nourishment; it carried reassurance that even in isolation, this community was not alone.
That day was a testament to courage in action. Proof that compassion will travel unpaved roads, cross uncertain distances, and rise above hardship. In Barangay Dallao, hope was delivered not just by what was given—but by the hands and hearts that chose to show up.
Food4Success
Community of Victory Norte and Malvar: Santiago City, Isabela Philippines
On May 2020, amid the strictest COVID-19 quarantine measures, emergency food relief reached some of the most vulnerable communities across Santiago City, Isabela, Philippines—a place of deep personal significance as the birthplace of M.L. Reeves, Founder of IamChange Education and Wellness Foundation.
At a time when movement was restricted and livelihoods were abruptly halted, the Foundation mobilized to support hundreds of households, providing several hundred families with emergency relief bags filled with beans, rice, canned goods, packaged noodles, and other essential food items. These were not merely supplies—they were lifelines, delivered at a moment when uncertainty and hunger threatened daily survival.
Santiago City, a component city in the Province of Isabela and a vital commercial hub in the Cagayan Valley (Region II), stands in stark contrast to the realities faced by many of its surrounding barangays. Beneath the presence of urban access lies deep economic inequality. Countless families depend on informal labor, small-scale vending, farming, and daily wages—forms of work that disappeared almost overnight during lockdowns, leaving households without income, savings, or security.
It was into this fragile reality that compassion moved swiftly into action.
This initiative was not only a response to crisis, but a homecoming of purpose—a founder returning to her roots to stand with her people in their hour of need. In a city shaped by resilience, the relief effort became a powerful reminder that even in isolation, communities can still be reached, dignity can still be upheld, and hope can still arrive—one household at a time.
In Santiago City, food became more than nourishment. It became a message: you are not forgotten, and even in the hardest moments, solidarity endures.
Food4Success
Multi-school Initiative: City of Cordon, Echague and Santiago City, Philippines
The February 2021 relief drive stood as a powerful reminder that the fight against COVID-19 was not only a medical battle—it was a struggle for food, dignity, and survival.
At a time when access to income, nourishment, and stability remained painfully uncertain, IamChange Education and Wellness Foundation mobilized a coordinated, multi-school emergency food distribution network, ensuring that students and families across Cordon, Santiago City, and Echague were not left behind.
This initiative became a living testament to resilience, solidarity, and compassionate action—linking geographically distant yet equally vulnerable student communities through a shared lifeline of support.
Unlike earlier community-wide responses, the February 2021 effort was intentionally student-centered, focusing on multi-school emergency food aid. It recognized that behind every learner was a household grappling with pandemic-driven income loss, food insecurity, and disrupted access to basic necessities. The goal was clear: reach students where the need was greatest, and sustain families so learning could continue.
The relief drive served three schools across two municipalities in the Province of Isabela, within the Cagayan Valley (Region II) of northern Luzon:
Cagasat National High School – Cordon, Isabela
A rural municipality surrounded by farmland and upland terrain, located far from major hospitals and provincial services, where isolation intensified vulnerability during the pandemic.
South Central Elementary School – Santiago City, Isabela
Situated in a regional commercial center, yet home to many low-income barangays where families depend on informal livelihoods that were abruptly halted by lockdown restrictions.
Villa Campo Elementary School – Echague, Isabela
A largely agricultural municipality east of Cordon, defined by rice fields and farming communities, where stable income and consistent nutrition remain fragile even outside times of crisis.
Together, these schools formed a powerful cross-section of the pandemic’s impact—from rural agricultural communities to low-income urban barangays—each facing sustained hardship, yet bound by shared resilience.
In February 2021, food became more than relief. It became a message of unity: that even across distances, even in prolonged crisis, compassion can move, communities can mobilize, and hope can still reach every child who needs it most.
A Living Legacy: EmpowerED Graduates
From Scholars To Changemakers
To this day, EmpowerED Scholarship recipients stand as living proof of what becomes possible when potential is met with opportunity. Scholars who once began their academic journeys under the heavy weight of financial hardship and food insecurity have gone on to graduate in fields that demand extraordinary discipline, intellect, and perseverance—Medicine, Education, Geology, and Biophysics.
Their success was never inevitable. It was earned—through long nights of study, unwavering determination, and the belief that someone saw their promise and chose to invest in it.
Today, these graduates are gainfully employed across the Philippines, giving back to the very communities that once stood at the edge of their own dreams. They now serve as:
Medical professionals, healing and saving lives
Educators, shaping future generations
Geologists, advancing environmental and resource sciences
Scientists, driving discovery in biophysics and applied research
Their journeys reflect the true power of EmpowerED Scholarships—not merely as financial aid, but as a catalyst for transformation. The program does more than help students finish school; it enables them to:
Break the cycle of poverty
Build stable, meaningful careers
Contribute to nation-building and scientific progress
Become role models for Filipino youth facing similar struggles
These scholars are no longer just beneficiaries—they are leaders, professionals, and agents of change. Their achievements echo a powerful truth: when talent is nurtured and sustained, it transforms not only individual lives, but entire communities—and the future they shape.
EmpowerED Scholarships and Grants
Philippines
Across the Philippines, countless talented students are forced to abandon their education—not because they lack ability or ambition, but because financial hardship and the absence of basic support make learning unsustainable. For many, the choice is painfully simple: school or survival.
EmpowerED Scholarships, launched in June 2020 and sustained through December 2023, were created to ensure that no gifted student is left behind simply because opportunity is out of reach.
Through a structured, fair, and transparent vetting process, candidates are carefully selected from the Tools4Success Program, upholding the Foundation’s commitment to integrity, credibility, and mission alignment. Every applicant is evaluated not only on academic promise, but on resilience, financial need, and unwavering commitment to education.
Approved scholars receive comprehensive, student-centered support, including:
Full or partial tuition coverage
Transportation assistance
Food allowances
Essential learning materials and academic resources
This holistic model removes the invisible burdens that quietly push students out of school. It allows learners to study with dignity, stability, and focus—free from the impossible choice between continuing their education and meeting basic human needs.
EmpowerED scholars span elementary through post-secondary education, with the majority enrolled in colleges and universities across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The program also supports select students in technical training, vocational programs, and graduate-level studies, based on eligibility and demonstrated need.
A strong emphasis is placed on post-secondary learners, where the risk of dropping out is highest. Rising tuition costs, relocation expenses, and increased family reliance on student income place immense pressure on young adults at this critical stage. EmpowerED intervenes precisely where the risk is greatest—and the potential impact most transformative.
To safeguard donor trust and ensure ethical stewardship, all applicants undergo a rigorous and consistent evaluation process designed to:
Maintain the integrity of the scholarship program
Guarantee equal opportunity regardless of background
Select scholars based on talent, need, resilience, and commitment
Protect and honor donor-funded support
EmpowerED Scholarships are more than financial aid. They are a promise—that talent will be nurtured, resilience will be rewarded, and education will never be denied because of poverty.
They stand as a lasting commitment to building futures, strengthening communities, and proving that when opportunity is extended with compassion and accountability, excellence follows.
