Big hearts, big efforts turn dreams into reality in Guam

In 2016, Dennis and Lena Calvo Rodriguez were driving down a street in Guam when out of the blue Dennis said, “I’m going to buy a mobile clinic and help people who don’t have access to healthcare!” recalls Lena.

Thinking that this sounded like a pretty ambitious proposition, Lena replied, “Well, dreams are free, so just keep dreaming.”

And dream they did.

But the couple did more than just dream…They took action.

In spite of initially having no resources or funding, they began actively sharing their dream with likeminded friends in the community. They found many willing to donate their time, talents, and resources to help provide basic healthcare services to those in need.

Soon, a team of volunteers was organized, and it was time for Dennis and Lena to put their ideas into action.

They received permission to host a free clinic in the parking lot of Paradise Fitness in Hagatna on a day when the fitness center would be closed. Word was put out regarding the free clinic.

On the designated day in July, 2016, over 30 volunteers showed up to help over 100 people receive consultations, immunizations, and other services. The first free clinic was more successful and popular than anyone had anticipated.

Encouraged by the success of this first outreach, several more clinics were hosted over the next year. In 2017, the non-profit NGO Todu Guam Foundation was formally organized.

From this point on, Todu Guam Foundation became a rallying point, inspiring and enabling others to join in blessing and improving the community. It continues to expand its ability to find and serve those unable to obtain basic healthcare.

On Oct. 10, 2024 in a ceremony at the offices of Todu Guam Foundation, officers and directors of the non-profit NGO gratefully accepted a donation of two vans from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The vans will help expand the reach of the organizations volunteers in their quest to provide necessary healthcare services to community members with transportation or financial limitations.

The larger cargo van will be used as a mobile clinic which can travel to patients who are homebound. The smaller van will provide transportation to healthcare appointments for those with limited transportation options.

“Part of our mission is to help those with mobility and transportation issues get the healthcare services that they need,” said Dennis Rodriguez, co-founder of Todu Guam Foundation. “We consider donations like this as coming from the ‘angels among us.’”

He then emphasized that such donations have helped make the dream of providing quality healthcare for all Guam community members a reality.

The seeds for the Todu Guam Foundation and its ambitious outreach were planted while Rodriguez, as a senator in the Guam legislature, served as chairman of the Committee on Health. There he became aware of the deficiencies in healthcare accessibility that existed in the community and began developing a vision of how these disparities could be remedied.

“We look forward to working more with you in the future,” said Bill Davis, representing the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the ceremony. “We truly believe in the work that you are doing in the community. We offer our continued support in the future. We want to help people who are less privileged.”

Also present representing the church was president Fredivic Nicerio of the Guam Barrigada Stake and Brett Child, Welfare and Self-Relance manager for the church’s Micronesia Guam area. Zeny Asunción, CFO for the Todu Guam Foundation, and other community leaders were also in attendance. (PR)