George HW Bush secretly sponsored a Filipino boy for a decade, a charity has revealed.
The 41stUS president, who died last month, wrote to the boy over a 10-year period under a pseudonym.
He was connected to the seven-year-old boy, Timothy, through the Compassion International charity for development of children living in poverty worldwide.
His first letter read: “Dear Timothy, I want to be your new pen pal. I am an old man, 77 years old, but I love kids; and though we have not met I love you already. I live in Texas - I will write you from time to time - Good Luck. G. Walker."
Mr Bush was introduced to the Christian charity's pen pal programme at a Christmas concert in Washington in 2001.
Wess Stafford, its former president, told CNN: “They [the musicians] would tell the audience about us, and ask them if they would like to sponsor a child.
"All of the sudden, Mr Bush, who was sitting only a few rows back and surrounded by security, raised his hand and asked for a pamphlet.”
As well as the letters, Mr Bush funded Timothy’s education, extracurricular activities and some meals. He had to write under a pseudonym for security reasons, but offered plenty of subtle hints about his real identity.
One, from October 2003, read: “By the time you get this letter, the president of the United States will have stopped off in the Philippines. He loves the Philippines, I know that for sure.”
Another letter made reference to his dog, Sadie.
Mr Stafford added: "His letters were the most sweet, spirited letters I have read from any sponsor, but he kept giving hints as to who he could be. He was really pushing the envelope."
Timothy never caught the hints, but was “stunned” when he graduated from the programme as a 17-year-old to find out he had in fact been talking to a US president.
