In its second year, Hat For A Cause, a charitable initiative founded by UAE-based OFWs Algene De Los Reyes and Anitsirc Ybur Haniel of BangketaPH, continues to make a positive impact on the lives of children in the Philippines. What began as a small, heartfelt project has grown into a community-driven movement, drawing support from vintage cap collectors and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the UAE and beyond.
De Los Reyes, who works as a Media Monitoring Manager at the News Services Group Middle East, and Haniel, a Senior Programmer and Project Manager at GTECH Information Technology, launched Hat For A Cause in July 2022 during a period of slow business. The founders decided to auction off their personal collection of vintage caps, with the proceeds going toward a “Back-To-School” project. Reflecting on the project’s origins, De Los Reyes shared in an interview with The Global Filipino Magazine, “Instead of just giving away our caps, we decided to let people bid on them, with the proceeds going to fund a charitable project. Even though it was a loss on our part, it became a gain to support our cause.”
In its first year, Hat For A Cause provided school supplies to over 70 children and gave 100 Christmas gifts to kids. The initiative quickly gained attention from the vintage cap community in the UAE and even from OFWs in other countries, inspiring others to pledge their own caps and collectibles to the cause.
“After a year of doing this, many people were delighted,” Haniel said. “In our second year, we welcomed individuals who wanted to help us, and many even pledged their own caps and other collectibles.”
This year, the initiative has grown even further, supporting 140 children with school supplies, and the team is now gearing up for their second annual Christmas gift-giving event. Reflecting on the project’s growth, De Los Reyes noted that they started by consulting their barangay to identify indigent families in need. As the initiative expanded, they began reaching out to street children and nearby schools for more recommendations.
One of the most memorable moments for the founders occurred during their first back-to-school event. “With very limited funds, we could only put a few items in each bag, and we felt a bit ashamed to give them to the kids,” Haniel recalled. “However, during the second project, thanks to the overwhelming support from the OFW and vintage community, we were able to fill each bag with so many supplies, including tumblers and lunch boxes. It was so touching to see how happy the kids were when they received everything.”
To keep the initiative transparent, Hat For A Cause holds live events on their Facebook page every Friday, where supporters can bid on items. “We avoid asking for cash, as we want to ensure those who want to help receive something in return,” De Los Reyes explained. Supporters can also donate items they no longer need or collectibles, which are then auctioned off to fund the project.
Looking ahead, the founders are excited about the upcoming Christmas gift-giving event, with Haniel sharing, “We’re gearing up for our second Christmas event, and we hope to bring joy to even more children this year.”
