Guam at Her Best: A Weekly Address
By Eddie and Christine Calvo

Merry Christmas my fellow Guamanians,

Christine and I are here today to show our appreciation to all of you. We islanders have shown the holiday season is a time when all of us can re-energize ourselves, surrounded by blessings. Every day, people make a difference in the lives of those they've never met.

Last week, Christine and her Rigalu Foundation celebrated this season of giving by kicking off a new initiative to build the Rigalu House. You see, every day more than 200 children live without a home. These angels – even though they've done nothing wrong – sometimes have to stay at DYA if there isn't anymore room at The Alee Shelter. The Rigalu House will be a place where these children can be safe and cared for as they wait for a loving family.

Our greatness lies in the quiet heroism of people like Tan Fina Tainatongo… a woman who, for more than three decades, opened her heart and home to more than 70 foster children while raising five
children of her own.

Because of Tan Fina's love, good Guamanians like Kathleen Benavente thrive among us today.

Last week, Kathleen's story brought tears to every person on the set of the Rigålu Foundation's 12·12·12 Gift of Love Telethon. She told us about the painful memories of an abusive childhood. She
relived that pain to share with us just how much the love of a foster family can change someone's life.

Today, Kathleen is married with children of her own. She runs her own business and is the incoming president of the Foster Families Association. The Rigalu Foundation is raising money to give other
childten – the abandoned, abused, and alone – the kind of love that Kathleen had as a foster child.

My fellow Guamanians, last week's telethon brought in more than $120,000… money that will go toward building the Rigålu House for Guam's foster children and helping the foundation continue our
mission to serve our most needy children.

This event would not have been successful without the help of dozens of people.

To crew of PBS Guam Channel 12 – thank you. This telethon couldn't have been possible without your expertise, guidance and professionalism. Our GovGuam family is fortunate to have you.

There are people in this community who somehow never run out of ways to give and I'm proud to call two of them my dear friends. Joyce and Joey Crisostomo, Si Yu'os Ma'ase for helping us build the
Rigålu House by welcoming us into yours.

We're well on our way to making this dream a reality. From our partners at GTA Teleguam who went out of their way to provide phone lines so we could receive donations… to our Angel Sponsors at the
Guam Regional Medical City, J&G Inc. and all our telethon sponsors, along with DCK Pacific who announced they would partner with us for construction management services: thank you for sharing
this commitment to our foster children. You're always there when this community needs you.

To all of our telethon hosts – the familiar broadcast faces and voices from the KUAM News Team and Sorensen Media Group's Power 98 and 105 the KAT, thank you for sharing your talent and enthusiasm
with us.

While the 12·12·12 Gift of Love Telethon was a major success, the most amazing part was seeing firsthand how this community comes together when help is needed. Hundreds of people called last
week simply because they wanted to give.

I couldn't be more proud to serve such a generous, loving community. Thank you all for sharing the spirit of hope with Guam's foster children.

After the outpouring of support from you and your family this Christmas season, it's clear that all of us still hold true to what makes this island a true paradise. We all come together to help our needy, our vulnerable, and our children. A community's strength is measured by how it treats its weakest members. It's clear to Christine and I...and Ray and Notch...that this community is stronger than ever.

Merry Christmas to a great island family.

May you all have a safe, blessed and wonderful New Year.Guam at Her Best: A Weekly Address
By Eddie and Christine Calvo

Merry Christmas my fellow Guamanians,

Christine and I are here today to show our appreciation to all of you. We islanders have shown the holiday season is a time when all of us can re-energize ourselves, surrounded by blessings. Every day, people make a difference in the lives of those they've never met.

Last week, Christine and her Rigalu Foundation celebrated this season of giving by kicking off a new initiative to build the Rigalu House. You see, every day more than 200 children live without a home. These angels – even though they've done nothing wrong – sometimes have to stay at DYA if there isn't anymore room at The Alee Shelter. The Rigalu House will be a place where these children can be safe and cared for as they wait for a loving family.

Our greatness lies in the quiet heroism of people like Tan Fina Tainatongo… a woman who, for more than three decades, opened her heart and home to more than 70 foster children while raising five
children of her own.

Because of Tan Fina's love, good Guamanians like Kathleen Benavente thrive among us today.

Last week, Kathleen's story brought tears to every person on the set of the Rigålu Foundation's 12·12·12 Gift of Love Telethon. She told us about the painful memories of an abusive childhood. She
relived that pain to share with us just how much the love of a foster family can change someone's life.

Today, Kathleen is married with children of her own. She runs her own business and is the incoming president of the Foster Families Association. The Rigalu Foundation is raising money to give other
childten – the abandoned, abused, and alone – the kind of love that Kathleen had as a foster child.

My fellow Guamanians, last week's telethon brought in more than $120,000… money that will go toward building the Rigålu House for Guam's foster children and helping the foundation continue our
mission to serve our most needy children.

This event would not have been successful without the help of dozens of people.

To crew of PBS Guam Channel 12 – thank you. This telethon couldn't have been possible without your expertise, guidance and professionalism. Our GovGuam family is fortunate to have you.

There are people in this community who somehow never run out of ways to give and I'm proud to call two of them my dear friends. Joyce and Joey Crisostomo, Si Yu'os Ma'ase for helping us build the
Rigålu House by welcoming us into yours.

We're well on our way to making this dream a reality. From our partners at GTA Teleguam who went out of their way to provide phone lines so we could receive donations… to our Angel Sponsors at the
Guam Regional Medical City, J&G Inc. and all our telethon sponsors, along with DCK Pacific who announced they would partner with us for construction management services: thank you for sharing
this commitment to our foster children. You're always there when this community needs you.

To all of our telethon hosts – the familiar broadcast faces and voices from the KUAM News Team and Sorensen Media Group's Power 98 and 105 the KAT, thank you for sharing your talent and enthusiasm
with us.

While the 12·12·12 Gift of Love Telethon was a major success, the most amazing part was seeing firsthand how this community comes together when help is needed. Hundreds of people called last
week simply because they wanted to give.

I couldn't be more proud to serve such a generous, loving community. Thank you all for sharing the spirit of hope with Guam's foster children.

After the outpouring of support from you and your family this Christmas season, it's clear that all of us still hold true to what makes this island a true paradise. We all come together to help our needy, our vulnerable, and our children. A community's strength is measured by how it treats its weakest members. It's clear to Christine and I...and Ray and Notch...that this community is stronger than ever.

Merry Christmas to a great island family.

May you all have a safe, blessed and wonderful New Year.