About Us
Welcome to Manolo Benitez Foundation, working to make a difference in the lives of people with disabilities living on a low income. Our mission is to provide essential supplies and resources to people in need so they can build a better life for themselves. The Manolo Benitez Foundation is a charity dedicated to helping disabled people in Mexico get the resources they need to lead a dignified and independent life. We provide wheelchairs and sanitary supplies to those in need, making a lasting and positive impact in their lives.
Our Mission
To provide wheelchairs to physically challenged people enabling them to regain their Independence and Dignity.
"We know only too well that what we are doing is nothing more than a drop in the ocean. But if the drop were not there, the ocean would be missing something."―Mother Teresa
Our Story
Founder Manolo Benitez
This mission started in 2008 when I was visiting my hometown in rural Sinaloa, Mexico. While visiting relatives, I happened to run across an old friend, Francisco, who had been disabled for 30 years due to a car accident. What stood out during this encounter was Francisco’s decrepit wheelchair, which he struggled just to move a few feet. When I asked why he didn’t have a better wheelchair, Francisco simply said, “It’s either this wheelchair or nothing.” Francisco lived in a small rural village where he survived on the humble store he ran from his home.
I immediately remembered how while working in construction, I had seen good electric wheelchairs being thrown away simply because they were old or needed minor repairs. Without hesitation, I promised to send Francisco an electric wheelchair. He thanked me and without mincing words said, “Thanks, however, I don’t believe you will follow through because many others before you have promised the same thing and never delivered.”
Determined to keep my promise, one week later, I called my father-in-law (Fernando) who knows the ins and outs of flea markets. I asked him to keep an eye out for a gently used electric wheelchair. Fernando happened to be at a yard sale that morning. I was surprised when he answered, “Guess what? I’m sitting on a wheelchair right now.” In search of a place to sit and take my call that Saturday morning, Fernando had unknowingly found the first wheelchair I would ever donate.
I quickly repaired and cleaned the wheelchair; made arrangements to have it transported to Francisco in Mexico where Francisco received the wheelchair a couple of days later. Upon receiving his wheelchair, Francisco went (on his own) to the only spot in the village that has a cell signal and sent me a picture of him with his new wheelchair and a huge smile on his face.
I realized how such a simple gift had significantly improved Francisco’s quality of life. Francisco had depended on others for mobility for 30 yrs!! He felt free again! From that point on, Francisco was a new man. He had gained his confidence back and spent time visiting friends and relatives on his own, something he had not been able to do for decades!!!
Every three to four years I was happy to replace his wheelchair since the village he lived in was very rural and has only dirt roads. Francisco passed away in 2018. His wife shared with me that the last 10 years of his life were some of the happiest she had ever seen him, having the freedom to move around on his own without depending on anyone for help gave him his dignity back.
Seeing how impactful a simple wheelchair was to Francisco’s quality of life, I decided to make it my mission to help every individual like Francisco live a better life by providing this life-changing wheelchair.
Future Vision
Since 2008 Manolo has executed this mission on his own using his own resources, however, the need is just TOO GREAT, it's time to take this mission to the next level and help even more people in need. We have recently fulfilled all the requirements to be classified as a Non-Profit Corporation in California (File # 5280546).
We hope to fund our Non-Profit through donations. Costs are increasing drastically and it is a challenge to make a meaningful impact with the thousands of people in need of a life-changing wheelchair. As this project matures, we see having paid positions (made up of disabled individuals); with a small team of two in Mexico and a team of three in California. The rest will be made up by volunteers.
Our Founder, Manolo, has worked on this project every day for 15 yrs. He considers it his responsibility to bring wheelchairs to all underprivileged people in need, helping them regain their Independence and Dignity.
With your generosity, we look forward to helping change the lives of many more people in need of wheelchairs in rural Mexico. Please take a moment to click Donate and help give someone back their independence and dignity.
"Service doesn’t have to be big and grandiose to be meaningful and make a difference." – Cheryl A. Esplin
What We Do
We provide life-changing wheelchairs to individuals who don’t have the means to purchase one on their own. Our current focus is rural Mexico, particularly the northern states of Sonora and Sinaloa because that is where we have established relationships with individuals that facilitate our mission.
Besides wheelchairs, we also provide crutches, canes, walkers and diapers for the disabled and elderly in need.
Why We Do It
In rural Mexico, it is challenging for low-income families to afford a lifesaving wheelchair. Resources or support from local government agencies are pretty much nonexistent; families are left on their own. The result is confining individuals to their homes or beds for years. We aim to change that and help these individuals regain their independence and dignity by providing life-changing wheelchairs.
How We Do It
Most people hear about our services through Facebook and word of mouth. We post pictures and videos of people we have helped, then others interested contact Manolo directly through messenger. For a person to qualify, they must be disabled and of low income and resources. Next, Manolo has an assistant in Mexico (who is also disabled) make a home visit to confirm the family needs the help, assistance is only given to the most needy.
Manolo looks for wheelchairs on his own, mainly through ads on websites like Offer Up or Craigslist. Manolo purchases them out of his own pocket and on occasion Manolo receives a donation of wheelchairs in need of repairs from businesses that know of Manolo’s noble work. Most wheelchairs we receive require two new batteries, chargers, wheels, and a thorough cleaning, and a test to ensure everything works before shipping them to their new owners. To keep costs down, Manolo purchases used equipment and performs all the repairs himself.
Manolo has established relationships with bus drivers. On Saturdays Manolo ships supplies along with wheelchairs to Mexico using a bus line that travels from northern California to Manolo’s hometown in Mexico where he has two friends that pick up the supplies and ensure the beneficiaries receive our donations.
