As the sole provider for her two children and parents, Diane H. carries a heavy weight of responsibility. Yet her voice brims with joy when she speaks about 12-year-old Rain and 4-year-old Princess Diane.

"My eldest son, Rain, he's into outdoor activities, like cycling, swimming, playing basketball, and some online games as well," she said. "In class, he likes science and history. While my baby girl, Diane, loves to explore things. In school, she's into writing and drawing."

She adds, "Both of them love to play together."

For over two years, Diane has worked as an accounting virtual assistant for a U.S. property management client through HireSmart Virtual Employees. As the director of financial operations' right hand, she manages bank reconciliations, monthly reports, and various bookkeeping duties — all from her home in the Philippines.

"I've been in HireSmart and in this company for over two years now, and it's been valuable working alongside this professional and supportive team," she said.

Diane said public schools in her area are severely overcrowded, with teachers unable to give students the attention they need.

"The public setup here is really overcrowded," she explains. "Now he will be in grade seven, junior high school, so we have to move into a different school. High school here has three different classes in a day, and the teachers cannot really accommodate all of them."

A private school education seemed the only viable option for Rain's continued academic success, but as a single mother supporting not only her children but also her parents, the financial strain weighed heavily on her.

"I am a single mom, and I don't have any financial support from anyone, especially their father," she shares. "I am also living with my parents and helping them financially. And there are also the bills in the house."

Then came news that HireSmart selected her son Rain to receive an educational scholarship, covering his private school tuition for the year.

"I actually just jumped for joy at that time, because I was really not expecting that," she recalls, emotion evident in her voice. "I was praying, but there are a lot of other candidates that could get the spot. When I got it, it was really timely."

The impact of this scholarship extends far beyond the financial relief.

"Having this scholarship means I can move forward without having to carry that heavy load every day," she said.

The virtual work arrangement through HireSmart has been transformative for her family life as well.

"My client is great. I'm able to manage my time well, and I have enough time for the kids," she said. "Even though I'm working at night here in the Philippines, every morning, I don't have to worry about having to get a leave from work just to attend school meetings."

She contrasts her experience with HireSmart against other work arrangements.

"Being with an agency, I can focus on working with the client. At the same time, there are benefits as well. Working privately, directly with a client, most of them don't have any benefits like what we have in HireSmart, like the healthcare and this scholarship."

Diane expressed gratitude toward Anne and the HireSmart experience.

"For Anne, I'm really happy. I'm really grateful that she chose me to give this scholarship, and being in HireSmart from the very first day is really a blessing for me."

When asked what makes her happiest, her answer is simple.

"I'm happiest when we are together with the family. Eating together... We love to go to malls or go to beaches together with the family. And I'm also happiest knowing that everyone is healthy."

For those considering a similar career path, she offers this wisdom.

"My advice would be, don't stop learning. That's one thing that we will be doing in our everyday life. There's no limit in learning for as long as you are willing to learn as well. Skills can be taught, but willingness comes from within."

HireSmart Cares, the philanthropic branch of HireSmart Virtual Employees, provides educational scholarships for the children of its virtual employees and also funds workforce development initiatives in the U.S. HireSmart provides health and dental benefits, creating a support system that allows parents like Diane to build careers while being present for their children.

Her story is just one example of how HireSmart is changing lives — not just for its employees, but for their families and communities as well.

Click here to apply for a job with HireSmart Virtual Employees.

Click here to book a discovery call about hiring a HireSmart VE to your team.

With her second child on the way, Jessaleah G. finds peace of mind knowing her firstborn has a bright educational future ahead.

HireSmart Virtual Employees recently awarded a scholarship to Jessaleah's daughter, Celestine Jeriah, who turns 5 in October, allowing her to a private school with an excellent curriculum.

"I just want to express my deepest gratitude to Anne and Mark (Lackey) and HireSmart for granting my daughter this scholarship," said Jessaleah, who was 30 weeks pregnant with her second child at the time of the interview. "It truly means so much to our family. Not only does it ease our financial burden, especially as we prepare to welcome our second child, but it also gives us peace of mind, knowing that Celestine can attend a quality school where she can grow, learn, and thrive."

The scholarship is particularly meaningful for Jessaleah because her daughter primarily speaks English, which has sometimes made it difficult for her to connect with local children who mainly speak Filipino.

"It puts my mind and heart at peace knowing she'll be able to have that environment, and it's going to be safe for her, and she'll be comfortable enough to fully express herself," she said.

Jessaleah describes her daughter as creative and energetic.

"She likes coloring and drawing,” the proud mom said. “She absolutely loves to sing and dance. She just randomly sings at very random times. She always makes up songs, and then you always catch her busting a move."

Before joining HireSmart over three years ago, Jessaleah worked as an operations manager at a startup BPO company where she handled multiple roles simultaneously. The demanding position took a toll on her ability to be present for her daughter and affected her mental health.

Now, Jessaleah works for a U.S. property management client, managing lease renewal contracts for both residential and commercial properties. She appreciates that her client is family-oriented and trusting, allowing her to work independently.

"Virtual work for me is a big blessing," Jessaleah said. "Because of it, I was able to have a career and become the mother that I want to be for my children."

Jessaleah values the stability that comes with working through HireSmart rather than directly with clients.

"Working with an agency like HireSmart, you have that extra reassurance that you're going to get paid," she said. "For the three years that I've worked with HireSmart, my salary has never been delayed or anything like that."

The expectant mother recently married her partner, Christian, of more than 10 years in April 2025. They're excited to welcome their son, who will be named Cris Cef, a combination of their fathers' names, both of whom have passed away.

Jessaleah has also instilled values of generosity in her daughter through volunteer work at a local orphanage.

"Initially she was against giving away the toys because she wants to keep it for herself, but we explained to her that we're giving it away to the kids in the orphanage so they'll have a little more joy for Christmas," she said. "We explained to her that she's very fortunate because she gets to spend her Christmas with both of her parents, not just during Christmas, but daily, and then she understood from there."

The dedicated mother says she takes pride in her work and makes sure everything she does is accurate and compliant. She's grateful not just for the scholarship but for her entire employment experience with HireSmart, which provides its virtual employees with health and dental benefits, educational scholarship opportunities, leadership training possibilities, and ongoing support.

"I'm also incredibly grateful, not just for the scholarship, but for the opportunity to work from home full time with excellent pay," she said. "It's a rare and meaningful gift to have a career that supports both my professional growth and my role as a parent. Thank you for investing in our future and for making such a positive impact on our lives. It truly means the world to us."

Click here to apply for a job with HireSmart Virtual Employees.

Click here to book a discovery call about hiring a HireSmart VE to your team.

With her partner facing serious medical issues and unable to work, Angelica shoulders the responsibility of being the sole provider for her family. But thanks to her employer, HireSmart Virtual Employees, she can still give her 4-year-old son, Blake, the quality education she knows he needs.

"When we got the scholarship, it was a really, really big help because we can still enroll Blake in a private school without thinking where will we get the money," said Angelica.

As a former teacher, she understands the critical importance of early childhood education.

"I'm a teacher by profession, so I know that the formative years of a child are really important," she said.

Blake attends a private school five kilometers from their home that uses the Singaporean teaching method, which Angelica describes as particularly effective for young learners.

"It's a seamless type of curriculum," she explained. "It's seamless in the sense that the child will not be confused because it's kind of progressive... They are enjoying and learning at the same time."

Blake has thrived in the environment, showing enthusiasm for learning and various activities.

"He's very vibrant. He likes to sing. He likes to dance. He's doing Taekwondo during weekends as well as swimming lessons," Angelica said. "He doesn't know yet what he wants to focus on, but it's a good thing because he's able to try a lot of things before he focuses on something that he really likes."

Angelica has worked in the compliance department for a U.S. property management company through HireSmart for the past two years. She said she enjoys working with both U.S. and Filipino teammates.

"We really enjoy working together," she said. "I believe we work great as a team. There's no tension at all. We're just enjoying what we're doing."

Angelica expressed deep gratitude to HireSmart for her career opportunity and her educational support for Blake.

"I'm really grateful, not only for the scholarship but for the opportunity of this career that I have right now," she said. "I really appreciate that she put her trust in me, knowing that I didn't have any experience being a virtual employee, but she trusted my capabilities and skills. So I'm really thankful for the opportunity, and then the scholarship is another blessing."

Angelica offers encouraging advice for those considering a career as a virtual employee: "Don't be afraid to try new things and learn new things. And don't be afraid to explore because if you stay in your comfort zone, you will not try new things."

She also urges VEs to communicate with their clients.

"If you don't understand something, you have to be really open and communicate with them so they will guide you," said Angelica. "So just keep open communication with your client, and you will make it."

HireSmart Cares issued 19 educational scholarships in 2023, and 25 in 2024, and plans to continue expanding the program in 2025 so that more Filipino children receive quality instruction.

If you're interested in helping HireSmart expand its Filipino educational scholarship program or in supporting one of our other workforce development or educational initiatives, donate here.

To learn more about adding a HireSmart virtual employee to your team, click here to set up a free consultation.

If you want to join HireSmart as a virtual employee, click here.

Jonalyn's children are getting the attention they deserve thanks to an educational scholarship through her employer, HireSmart Virtual Employees.  

The five-year HireSmart veteran is one of 25 employees receiving funding for a private education for their children, which means 6-year-old Marciella Audrey has the opportunity to thrive in a quality environment, while her brother, Marcus, who is diagnosed with "echolalia," the non-voluntary repetition of another individual's speech, receives the attention he needs. 

Jonalyn, whose oldest child, Mark Neil, is studying information technology in college, feared having to choose between Marciella's education and Marcus's speech therapy, but the scholarship allows her to provide for both. 

The proud mom says Marciella "is a really smart kid." She loves watching her daughter find joy in being active. 

"She is interested in music, dancing, singing, gymnastics," she said. "Right now, we want her to focus on her studies, but if she still shows interest in any other activities, then we will do that in the summer." 

Jonalyn said Marcus has shown progress over the past year.  

"Over the past year, it's a lot," she said of his improvements. "We can converse with him in basic conversations. What do you want to eat? Where do you want to go? Brush your teeth. Although right now, he still cannot do the whole sentence, he can do more little by little."  

Jonalyn said her job handling lease renewals and cancellations for a U.S. property management firm is going well. She offered to help cover the duties of another employee who left the job. Jonalyn approaches her work with a service mentality and urges other VEs to do the same. 

"My advice is always to go above and beyond, and your client will always appreciate that," she said. "If I see things not being taken care of, I always do them. And then I let them know that this is already done and they don't have to worry about it, and they will always thank you. They will always value you in their company. That's why I've been with them for a long time." 

Jonalyn said she's thankful for the educational scholarship and grateful for HireSmart and how it supports its VEs, such as providing a new work home if a job with a U.S. client comes to a close. 

"The agency is always there to help me, but if you are on your own, it's very hard to find a good client," she said. "I've been there, and I don't want to do that anymore." 

HireSmart Virtual Employees succeeds because it invests in employees like Jonalyn and recognizes how important they truly are. HireSmart offers educational scholarships for the children of its employees while also providing health and dental benefits at no cost to U.S. clients. 

"Everything is going great, and I'm very thankful for HireSmart," said Jonalyn. 

Filipino citizens interested in a career with HireSmart can click here to apply. 

HireSmart Cares empowers the children of its Filipino virtual employees to learn the skills they need to succeed.  

Vanessa is full of pride for her daughter, Jana, who thrived last year in the best private school in her area, an experience that wouldn’t have been possible without a scholarship from HireSmart Cares.  

Jana earned an academic excellence award in her new school and made many new friends. 

“I am so proud,” said Vanessa. “It's a new school and new environment, yet she fit in so well. The academic excellence award shows that she is really doing well.” 

Jana received one of HireSmart Cares’ 25 educational scholarships last year and continues to receive the assistance this year. HireSmart awards private school funding for up to four years for each Filipino educational scholarship recipient.  

Vanessa and her husband, Edgar, also have a son, Josiah, who is attending college and plans to be a civil engineer. Jana talks about being an architect.  

Vanessa is in her sixth year as a HireSmart employee, serving the entire time with a community association management client in the U.S. She said she considers her U.S. co-workers as family, and noted how caring they were this past year as her mother, Ruth, battled cancer and passed away. 

“I love them,” she said. “They’re family, and throughout the journey I had with my mom, they were there for me. They’re amazing. I can’t ask for anything more. I'm enjoying working with them.” 

She said she and her three sisters are leaning on each other through the tough time.  

“I'm just so thankful that all my sisters are here with me,” she said. “I still have my father. So all our love and affection are on him now.” 

Vanessa said she feels deep loyalty to her U.S. client.  

“I have this genuine concern for what the company is doing,” she said.  

The accounting department employee said several years ago another department with the company had a wave of resignations. 

“I was concerned why we're having those issues,” she said. “And so I reached out to the management and offered help. I don't want everyone to be discouraged because I love the company and I love my job. I love the people I'm working with.” 

Her client’s management team assigned Vanessa to the troubled department for several weeks, and she helped them pull through the ordeal.  

“I was glad to help in a tough time,” she said. 

Vanessa’s actions show several of HireSmart’s SMARTER core values at work. She focused on being of “service” to others by being “available” in a time of need, and she strengthened the “relationship” with her client, who also supported her as she faced hardship this past year. 

HireSmart Cares invests in its Filipino families because they are all part of a bigger family. And we support one another. The scholarship program is that principle put to action. 

If you want to contribute to HireSmart’s Filipino scholarship fund, click here. 

Hydee’s pride in her son, Prince Javier, is obvious as she smiles while talking about him — and for good reason.  

The 9-year-old HireSmart scholarship recipient won citizenship and academic awards this past school year, receiving his class’s “Peacemaker Award” and “Little Teacher Award,” while earning a fourth rank in his class. 

“I am very proud, of course,” said Hydee, a mother of three who can keep her children in a quality private school thanks to an educational scholarship through her employer, HireSmart Virtual Employees.  

Hydee says the scholarship makes a huge difference for her family.  

“It’s a great help when it comes to our financials,” she said. “I don’t have to think about the problem of paying the tuition fees every month because of this scholarship. I can focus more on my child’s learning and his development.” 

Hydee is proud of how Prince Javier, who enjoys painting landscapes, overcame initial shyness at his school and has now made many friends. He likes having them visit his house, or he meets friends to play basketball or be a part of group studies.  

Prince Javier also looks out for his little brother, who is also at the school.  

“He’s very responsible,” she said. “He will go out and check on his little brother during snacks and lunchtime.” 

Hydee has worked with HireSmart Virtual Employees for three years, handling accounting and bookkeeping for a property management client in the U.S. 

She said she finds great peace of mind working with HireSmart instead of trying to link with an online client independently. 

“Working on your own, they can just end your contract, and everything ends there,” she said. “They will leave you hanging. When you are with an agency, especially HireSmart, if we lose our client, they will get you another if you have a good record with your previous client. It gives us peace of mind and inspires us to work hard because HireSmart is there.” 

Hydee urges new virtual employees to do their best and be patient.  

“The first and second month, the stress is there,” she said. “Everything is not in order. It’s like a puzzle and everything is scrambled, and you need to find a way to make them orderly. Each day, as you learn, everything will go straight.” 

HireSmart recognizes that its employees make the company special, and they need to be treated that way. That’s why HireSmart provides 25 educational scholarships for the children of its employees. The company also provides health and dental benefits at no cost to the U.S. clients.  

HireSmart wants children like Prince Javier to have a bright future. 

“He’s not definite (on a career path),” said Hydee. “He mentioned wanting to be a priest. The principal is a priest. He also told us he wanted to be an engineer.” 

Prince Javier has plenty of time to figure that out. In the meantime, he can get a quality education with HireSmart’s help.  

Filipino citizens interested in a career with HireSmart can click here to apply. 

Evy feels deep comfort in being present for her two children as she works from home. 

"It's really very nice," she said about working for HireSmart Virtual Employees. "Sometimes, I bring my laptop and sit right next to my daughter as she sleeps." 

The mother of two — Deiv, 9, and Dorothy, 4 — also finds peace in having her son at a school close to her house thanks to an educational scholarship provided by HireSmart that covers the cost of his tuition. 

"The school that offers a more affordable tuition fee is far from our place," said Evy. "This scholarship is very helpful for us because he can go to school five minutes away. There aren't a lot of companies that offer this. It's very unusual to receive this kind of support." 

Want More Shining Lights on Your Staff? 

Evy says Deiv is a "typical boy" who "loves playing outside." She said he's a "fast learner" and "very outgoing."  

"He is very talkative," she said. "He loves telling stories to everyone, and then he dances all the time, but he's a bit older, so he doesn't really dance as often, but he's still very friendly and very outspoken." 

Evy joined HireSmart over a year ago as a virtual administrative assistant for a community association management client in the U.S. She works with vendors, sends violation notices, manages work orders, and processes architectural renovation requests. 

   

She says her clients are friendly, always asking if she needs anything.  

Evy said she loves the peace of mind she gets from working with HireSmart. She says virtual employees who work without an agency can be dropped by a client without anyone helping them find another one. But HireSmart works quickly to pair its VEs with a new client if a job suddenly closes. 

"We have kids to feed, so it's really good to be under an agency," she said. 

There is No “Box” When Hiring in Today’s World  

HireSmart is the top destination spot for Filipino virtual employees seeking stable, full-time careers with genuine work-life balance.  

Employees receive good wages, free health and dental coverage at no expense to U.S. clients, continued education opportunities, scholarships for their children, and ongoing instructional support from HireSmart, which provides upfront "certification" training for new employees before their onboarding with a client so that they have the basics on industry terminology and standards, leading to an easier onboarding experience for U.S. clients.  

HireSmart Cares issued 19 educational scholarships in 2023 and will provide 25 in 2024 to continue expanding the program so more Filipino children receive quality instruction.  

Evy expressed gratitude to HireSmart for the scholarship for Deiv and said she would love to see people support the program so that more Filipino children can receive a quality education. 

If you're interested in helping HireSmart expand its Filipino educational scholarship program, or you'd like to support one of our other workforce development or educational initiatives, donate here. 

The Cost Benefits of Hiring Virtually   

If you'd like to learn more about having a virtual employee like Evy join your team, click here to set up a consultation at your convenience. 

Jonalyn was in a terrible position. Should she use limited family funds to pay for a quality education for her daughter this year or allocate that money to her special needs son, who needs speech therapy?



Thanks to HireSmart, Jonalyn doesn't have to make that tough choice. She now has the money to do both after receiving an education scholarship for her 5-year-old daughter, Marciella Audrey.



"When I received the news that I was one of the people that got picked (for the scholarship), I cried," she said. "I literally cried. I cried my heart out. I was so thankful."



Jonalyn and her husband, Christopher, have a 9-year-old son who has been diagnosed with "echolalia," which is the non-voluntary repetition of another individual's speech. She said therapy has helped him communicate with the family at a basic level.



"He's doing speech therapy, and if we don't do that, we have a hard time communicating with him," she said. "But since we started doing that, he improved a lot."



Jonalyn sees the therapy as essential, but she also wants her daughter to get a strong start on her educational journey, and she says enrolling her in a quality school is a must.



"I don't want to choose between what our special needs kid needs and what our daughter needs," she said.



Jonalyn has been employed by HireSmart Virtual Employees for four years, serving a property management company in the U.S., primarily handling lease renewals.



She applied for one of 20 scholarships HireSmart Virtual Employees offered this year to the children of its employees through its nonprofit arm, HireSmart Cares. HireSmart is the leader in the virtual employment market in looking out for its staff, offering good wages, health and dental insurance, quality training and support, leadership courses, and educational scholarships for the children of its employees.



"What HireSmart has been doing helping kids, that's different," said Jonalyn. "I've never heard of a company that does that, you know."



Jonalyn smiles, talking about Marciella Audrey. She says her child is energetic and loves to dance and draw. Jonalyn is a singer and used to perform mellow love tunes with a band but now enjoys the occasional karaoke party.



"I kind of want her (Marciella Audrey) to try singing as well," she said.



Jonalyn says her daughter is young and is not fully aware yet of her brother's challenges, but she said understanding will come with time.



"We kind of just tell her that your big brother doesn't understand the way you understand, and he's going to a different school than you," she said. "She says, 'OK.' But you know, she's 5. She'll understand that later on with guidance."



Jonalyn said she is elated to give both children what they need, and she voiced gratitude to HireSmart CEO Anne Lackey.



"It is an honor to have been chosen as a recipient, and I am deeply appreciative of the opportunity given," she said. "This program will make a tremendous difference in our kids' lives."

"An answered prayer" — that's how Ina describes the educational scholarship for her son through her employer, HireSmart Virtual Employees.



Ina, an employee of HireSmart since May 2022, and her husband, Mark, have two young boys, Isaiah Ambert, "Ice," 4, and Ishaan Amani, "Amani," 2.



Ina applied for an educational scholarship for her son, "Ice," through HireSmart so that he could attend a local Kumon school, which specializes in teaching reading and math to young children. HireSmart CEO Anne Lackey informed Ina that her family received one of 19 HireSmart scholarships this school year.



"I was so thankful, she said. "I felt so blessed in that moment when Anne confirmed that I got the scholarship. I was actually thanking God for it because I prayed for it. My husband and I both prayed for it (the scholarship)."



Ina shed tears when talking about receiving the scholarship, noting that her family could not enroll Ice in Kumon without financial assistance. She said giving her kids the best education possible is a priority for the family.



"If not for the scholarship, we wouldn't be able to have our child enrolled in the school," she said. "So it's really a great help for us. We can see how our kid is developing and see how much he has learned."



Ina said Ice is an inquisitive, confident, and empathetic boy who loves watching "Blippi," learning about animals, and is fascinated with excavators, garbage trucks, and other big machinery.



"He's also a part of our church choir, so he loves to sing," she said, adding that he always asks questions about whatever he sees and hears.



Ina and her family attend church on Sundays and spend time doing fun activities on Saturdays.



"We go out or play in indoor playgrounds," she said. "We also love swimming, so we go to beaches whenever there's a time."



Ina said her son enjoys attending school and asks about it when he's not there.



"They (Kumon) are teaching the kids to have independence when it comes to learning to study at home," she said. "I would say that it's really true because, at 4, our child can already study independently."



Ina said her job at HireSmart working for a U.S. client in the community association management industry is a blessing.



She enjoys being able to work from home and watch over her young children.



"As a parent, you will always think of your kids whenever you're not at home, so I believe it will be really tough working in an office-based company right now for me," she said. "So HireSmart is very a big blessing for us."

Vanessa says her daughter is a “happy kid,” and she wants Jana Valerie to stay that way.



Thankfully, a scholarship through HireSmart Cares will do a lot to keep the smile on the seventh grader’s face since she can now remain at a private school in the Philippines with her friends.



Vanessa, a HireSmart employee, says a private school education is far superior to a public school experience in the Philippines.



“I’m also a graduate of private school, so I know the quality of education it can give to my daughter,” she said. “I’m so thankful to HireSmart for helping me sustain the education of my daughter.”



HireSmart provides its employees with medical and dental insurance, leadership training opportunities, and family scholarships, as well as a work-from-home lifestyle for good wages.



Vanessa and her husband, Edgar, have two children, Jana and a son, Josiah Vans, who just started college and plans to be a civil engineer.



The family could afford to send both to private school, but with Josiah moving to college, where costs are double or triple the grade school expenses, Vanessa and Edgar needed to enroll Jana in a public school.  



“She (Jana) didn’t complain; she understood our financial status, but I know, as a mom, she would want to retain her school,” said Vanessa.



She added that Jana was “so happy” when she learned she could stay at the private school with her friends. Jana plans to be an architect one day.



“If by God’s will, they will both be successful, that’s really great to have an architect and a civil engineer at the same time in the family,” said Vanessa.



The proud mom says her daughter is a “very friendly, positive, outspoken kid” and the “joker of her class.” She doesn’t remember her ever getting lower than a 90 on tests.



“I’m not really the type of mom who would push her, but she has that determination to really do well in school,” she said.



Jana participates in math and badminton clubs, and the family plays badminton on the weekends.



“We’re playing with her whenever we can, me and my husband,” she said.



Vanessa has served a community association management client in the U.S. for four years.



“I enjoy the work very much,” she said. “I think I’m the longest-staying Filipino assistant in the (client’s) company. They treat me with respect. It’s a fun environment. There’s pressure, but you can’t really feel it when you’re having fun with your co-employees.”



Vanessa said she also enjoys working for HireSmart, which hires virtual employees to work with their U.S.-based clients. She said she’s unaware of other companies providing families of their virtual employees with scholarships for education.



She thanked HireSmart co-founder and CEO Anne Lackey for helping her family.



“I’m happy we have this offered, and I would like to personally express how grateful I am to Anne and HireSmart for thinking about the employees,” she said. “This is a very good program for the employees because it affects our loved ones. And we are much more appreciative and motivated to work if our loved ones are happy. For me, that’s really true. They are the reason why I’m working hard.”