Divine Mercy Human Development Foundation

$63,522 raised by 161 donors

100% complete

$60,000 Goal

When Sister Luz Manrique came to Sacramento in 2007, her plan was to work for three years, save money from her salary, and go back home to the Philippines to start a charitable organization to be of greater service to the poor.  But her day-to-day experience of meeting many people in need right here in Sacramento (like those asking for money to pay for their apartment rent, or for SMUD, PG&E, or to buy food or gas) made her realize that the poor are everywhere, even in the wealthiest country in the world, the United States of America.

So, she modified her original plan according to the need that she saw in the community.  Rallying the help of Sandy and Johnny Dell, Adele Madariaga, and Miguel Mejia, she embarked on establishing, in 2008, a nonprofit, charitable organization that will help the disadvantaged in California and in the Philippines.  Named Divine Mercy Human Development Foundation, this organization applied for an IRS tax-exempt status which was received in 2011 with an effective date of exemption retroactive to its foundation on September 11, 2008.  DMHDF envisions a world where the poor are able to reach their highest potential in keeping with their human dignity.  Its mission is to primarily make education accessible to the economically disadvantaged, trusting in the poor's capacity to be free from the ravages of poverty when given the opportunity.

We serve children and families in dire financial difficulty in targeted high-needs neighborhoods in Sacramento, CA and in Talakag, Bukidnon (Philippines) where 60% of the population are indigenous with little or no access to higher education.  In Sacramento, CA we serve through our tutoring, life experience, mentoring, ESL, and scholarship programs (and a special acupressure therapy program provided by the Board Chair, the donations of which are all given to Divine Mercy Human Development Foundation in support of its programs and services).  In the Philippines we serve through our college scholarship program and microfinance program.  The microfinance program offers small business training and microfinance loans to those who want to help themselves.  With no paid staff or employees, the organization is blessed with board directors and an executive director who have a very strong passion for the mission for which it was organized.  They share their expertise and financial resources, and also work so hard, taking turns in coordinating events, being there to help set up and clean up, to serve, to teach, to sell tickets, to "sell" the organization to people, and to do whatever is needed in order to help children become successful in school, finish college, get good jobs, become highly productive, and make a difference in their community.

Giving Activity

Mission

We're a nonprofit organization that makes education accessible to those in most need.

Needs

A $85,000 fund will increase our number of scholars in Sacramento to fifty (50) per year, our camping sponsorship and educational field trip to fifty (50) each per year as well.

Volunteers are much needed to help with the tutoring class for the kindergarten to high school students who come to our program.

There are no employees in the organization. All of us who run the programs are happy to volunteer our time, talent, and treasure. More volunteers are needed to help us, especially in the tutoring program and in setting up and cleaning up during fundraisers.

We hold one dinner fundraiser and a family BBQ fundraising in one year. Cash donations and donations of raffle items and prizes are very much appreciated.

As of now we enjoy the generosity of CRP (Community Resource Project) that offered us free use of their space on Fruitridge Road for our programs and board meetings. A big unrestricted fund will help us get our own space.

We need additional books that we can use for our Kindergarten to Grade 8 children, especially books that will help them with reading & comprehension and math. A PC and a printer for the upper grade children will be most helpful.

Organization Data

Summary

Organization name

Divine Mercy Human Development Foundation

other names

DMHDF

Year Established

2008

Tax id (EIN)

26-3551270

Mission Category

Education

Operating Budget

$50,001 - $100,000

Organization Need

Funding: Program, Volunteers, In-Kind Donations, Funding: Unrestricted, Space: Office or Other

Demographics Served

Youth & Children, Low-income individuals/families

BIPOC Leadership

Executive Director/CEO

Local Counties Served

Sacramento

Address

8665 Florin Rd. #8
Sacramento, CA 95828

Service areas

Sacramento, CA, US

PH

Phone

916-525-5593

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