This has been an intense few days  for me, for Ali, for the Army Of Good and my bank account. Monday, I wrote a check for $3,000 to the Albany Academy cover the difference between Sakler’s scholarship grant and the total tuition  due.

So far this week, I’ve send the school $6,357 dollars – thank you Army Of Good. This a commitment I have undertaken for the next four years.

Sakler’s tuition for 2018 is now paid. He will start school as planned.

Tomorrow, I will open a Sakler Moo Education Fund account at my local bank and start saving for next year. Any additional money that comes in will go to the fund for next year’s tuition, and if there are additional expenses this year.

I want to keep this tuition money separate and accounted for, i will be visiting Sakler and collecting the money over the next four years.

Each month, all the money that comes in is examined by a bookkeeper and a New York City accountant. We make sure everything goes where it is supposed to go.

Every person we help must agree to be photographed so that everyone can see and know where their money is going and to whom. That is our contract, our way of documenting our work.

This week,  I took over the $2,000 payment to the school that Sakler’s mother, Lae Pwy, hoped to make each year.

It’s a serious commitment, I am happy and proud to make it.

Lae Pwy, a sweet and loving mother,  was very anxious about the money. I could see how torn she was between wanting Sakler to go and the reality of her life, the life of the refugee in America.

The only income from the family comes from Sakler’s father, who is a goods stocker at Wal-Mart. Lae Pwy is a brave and loving woman, and a very devoted mother, but I was not comfortable leaving her under so much pressure, I couldn’t get easy about it, and I thought it would be easier for me to raise that money than for her.

When I saw the look on her face of relief and happiness, I knew it was the right decision.

Monday, I bought her and the family lunch at a local restaurant to celebrate. I realized it was the first restaurant meal of her life. She is making dinner for Maria and I next week, Ali and Caroline are coming as well.

This will be a profound experience for Sakler and his family. I can’t say I have ever felt much better than this, there’s doing good and there’s doing good.

Law Pwy is saving money for the incidental costs that accompany life in a private school.

I was also glad to forestall one of Sakler’s elementary school teacher,  Caroline  Espinoza, who was about to sign a contract also to commit to sending some of her money to the school.

I know what teachers make in Albany and she has two very young daughters. Teachers like this need support, not more pressure and obligation.

Caroline  has been  telling the Academy about  Sakler for several years now, and lobbed  effectively and persistently for his admittance. She embodies the very best tradition of the teacher.

I thought the simplest thing was to take over these payments, they will come to between $5,000 and $6,000 a year. Lae Pwy wants to support Sakler, but she was immensely relieved.

Elementary school teachers with two small children do not have a lot of money lying around.

I’ve  received more than $5,000 from donations so far, and I expect more to arrive at my post office box in the next few days. If anyone wishes to help, you  can: Please  send a contribution to Jon Katz, Post Office Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816, or via Paypal, [email protected]. Please mark your check or donation Sakler Moo Fund.

Starting next week, when the account is opened, all money for Sakler over the next four years will go there, and stay there until it is needed.

Sakler went to the school for his second day of orientation today, classes start around September 7.  He says he loves it, he is a little daunted by how smart the other kids are. He will not have a problem.

Then some unexpected and unwanted news:

While I was at a retinal eye specialist having my eyes examined, Ali called and said the red van we purchased to ferry the soccer team to gaves and other activities was in some trouble.  He had that  regretful voice he gets when he needs to ask me for money. He never asks for anything  wasteful or unnecessary, but he hates to do it.

He told me that the van needs four new brakes and ball joints, as well as a tire rotation and three other things I can’t quite remember.

The van is essential to the life of these children, and to Ali and our work. So when Ali asked if I could help, I knew i would need another $2,000, that is the mechanic’s estimate, and he is a good person who has given us many breaks on repairs for the van.

He has to be paid in the morning. He will be.

The van needs to be ready by noon tomorrow to get to soccer practice. I’ll figure it out tonight. When it rains, it does pour, and Ali, as always, was upset  at asking for money this week. We are still basking in Sakler’s triumph.

I told him life happens, the measure is grace is not that we have no trouble, but that we handle trouble with dignity and acceptance. I’ll get that money together. Life happens to everyone, and quite often, much worse than this.

So contributions are still very welcome and still much needed. He’s got to buy uniforms as well.

If you wish to help Sakler Moo in his journey through this very prestigious private school, you can make a contribution to Jon Katz/Sakler Fund, P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816, or via Paypal, [email protected]. Please mark the check “Sakler Moo Fund” Thanks.

Audio: Life Happens. The Big Red Van Needs $2,000 In Repairs