The Joaquin R. Escobar Foundation:  Dedicated to the Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur Community

Sections:

  1. Mission
  2. General Information
  3. Description and History

1. Mission:  The Joaquin R. Escobar Foundation (JREF) is organized for charitable, religious, educational, and scientific purposes furthering the development, stability, and progress of the Santa Maria community.

2. General Information:  The Joaquin R. Escobar Foundation (JREF) is a non-profit charity organized for charitable, religious, educational, and scientific purposes furthering the development, stability, and progress of the Santa Maria community.  Specifically, the Foundation contributes to community outreach programs in or directed towards the Santa Maria community (Ilocos Sur, Philippines) in honor of Joaquin R. Escobar, former mayor of Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur, Philippines.  To send tax deductible donations, please see the “Contact and Donation Information” page.

Funding for community outreach programs includes donations for the La Asuncion de la Nueva Church in Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur and scholarship grants for the University of the Philippines.  Potential future projects include funding for local education, agriculture, housing, and healthcare, dependent on Board approval and appropriate funding.

3. Description and History:  Established in 2011, the Joaquin R. Escobar Foundation is a non-profit organization named in honor of Joaquin R. Escobar, former mayor of Santa Maria, Ilocus Sur, Philippines.  Joaquin R. Escobar came to the United States of America in pursuit of an Agricultural degree in Iowa.  Later, he served for the American military in World War I. Returning to Santa Maria, Joaquin was elected Mayor and taught local residents skills in fishing and farming.  During World War II, the Japanese military took Joaquin as political prisoner.  Joaquin died during the liberation of the Philippines while attempting to escape from the Japanese prisoner of war camp.


In the spirit of Joaquin R. Escobar, the foundation is organized for charitable, religious, educational, and scientific pursuits related to the Santa Maria community. Funding for community outreach programs include restoration of La Asuncion de la Nueva Church in Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur and scholarship grants for Santa Maria residents.


Message from Founder and CEO, Vicki Escobar Kleist:
“My name is Vicki Escobar Kleist, the daughter of the late Joaquin R. Escobar, former three-term Mayor of Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur, Philippines.  Joaquin R. Escobar staunchly supported the economical, agricultural, and educational development of Sta. Maria, his birthplace.  To honor Joaquin’s love and dedication to the Santa Maria community, we established the Joaquin R. Escobar Foundation.  The Foundation contributes to community outreach programs in or directed towards the Santa Maria community.”