The Hower -Bates Family in the Friends of Hower-Bates Libraries Network. Front L-R: Summer, Zoe, Lexi
Back L-R: Lee, Heather, Bruce Bates Sr, Ellen Bates, Bruce Bates Jr, Linda, Prima and Al.
Together, the Howers established three children’s libraries in the Philippines and sent over 50,000 books to 28 libraries in the past 16 years. Fiesta in America, the largest Philippine Expo and Cultural Show on the east coast of the United States, recognized Al and Prima for their advocacies with the 2019 Empowerment Award for Outstanding International Community Service.