Monmouth University Student Creates Non-Profit to Bring Medical Supplies to Philippines

Monmouth University student Melross Meneses has created a non-profit to bring medical supplies to remote areas of the Philippines after spending a winter break there on a medical mission. 

Melross Meneses, a Toms River resident, was born in the Philippines and came to the United States when he was three. He is a senior finance major and has been president of Enactus at Monmouth University for the last three years. Enactus is a service oriented organization that provides its members an opportunity to make a difference and develop leadership, teamwork, and communication skills through learning, practicing, and teaching the principles of free enterprise.

Meneses traveled to the Philippines during his 2012 winter break for a three week medical mission sponsored by Enactus. He worked closely with volunteers Hazelle and Ruben Dongui-is, who he said were vital to the success of the mission. Hazelle Dongui-is is a nurse who put him in touch with a local medical team that determined what type of medications and supplies were needed.  Meneses and the team delivered the supplies and were able to treat people living in remote villages in the mountains. Throughout this mission they were able to treat 240 people, more than double what they had expected.

Meneses described the trip as “life changing” and the reason he decided to create his own non-profit called Life through Hope.  Through his non-profit, he will continue this type of work in the Philippines and is hoping to expand to Africa in the near future.  

Meneses offered the following advice to his peers, "I think every student should get involved in some way, shape, or form.  If I never joined Enactus, I wouldn't have had this tremendous opportunity. “

For more information contact Melross Meneses at melross.meneses@gmail.com or visit www.lthope.org.