Story About Us

About the Foundation

The Divine’s Children Foundation, DBA The Marela Children’s Foundation begun from a desire to give back and lend a hand to those in need. Incorporated in February 2018, Marela’s purpose is promoting health care and health education in the Dominican Republic. The possibilities to get access to proper health for underprivileged kids is very low and most health care centers lie in critical conditions. We made it our calling to help ease these families’ sufferings and grant vulnerable communities the hope of better health care.

The foundation is a registered non-profit 501(c)(3) tax exempt charitable organization. As such, donations are tax deductible. Join our mission to improve children’s health chances and empower their future.

Marlene Field, Founder

A mother and philanthropist, Marlene Field has been guided throughout her life by her devotion, strong family values, and a genuine call to help others throughout her life.

Marlene was born on April 20, 1976, in the Juan Lopez Arriba district of the city of Moca in the Dominican Republic. Raised by her grandmother, Mrs. Tila Arias, they moved to New York when Marlene turned 12 years old in search of their “American Dream.” Marlene later attended SUNY Oneonta College and studied fashion design at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Today, Marlene is married and resides in New York City with her husband, Ezra Field, and three daughters.

In 2018, Marlene rededicated herself to her birthplace, the Juan Lopez Arriba district, by founding the Marela Children’s Foundation with the goal of improving the health and welfare of the children, women, and disadvantaged individuals of the district, and throughout the Dominican Republic.

 Meet the team in the U.S

Board of Directors

Meet The Team

Marelene Field
Founder, Chair

A mother and philanthropist, Marlene has been guided throughout her life by her devotion, strong family values, and a genuine call to help others throughout her life. Marlene attended SUNY Oneonta College and studied at the Fashion Institute of Technology. With the founding of the Marela Children’s Foundation, Marlene is dedicated to improving the health and welfare of the children, women, and disadvantaged individuals of the Juan Lopez Arriba district of Moca, as well as throughout the Dominican Republic.

Jason Dodd
President

Jason is a principal at Tiziani Whitmyre, a strategic marketing agency working with technical B2B companies in Manufacturing and Life Sciences, building brand awareness and technical content for their products to deliver new sales opportunities for their brands. Jason also serves as a board member of the Financial Women’s Association of New York and is a member of Vistage Trusted Advisors, and the American Marketing Association Executive Circle.

Tina Anastasia
Director

Ms. Anastasio is a professional designer and partner at Mark P Finlay Interiors where she manages the firm’s residential and commercial interior design projects. As a designer, she is an American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) Professional Member, certified by the National Council of Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ), and registered and licensed in Florida and Connecticut. Her client work in Fairfield, Westchester, and the Hamptons is featured in numerous national publications.

Caroline Owens Crawford
Director

Caroline Owens Crawford is a not-for-profit development professional with strong personal ties to her hometown of Bridgeport, Connecticut. She is currently the Community Relations & Advancement Director at Pequot Library in, Southport. She serves on several advisory Boards including The Child & Family Guidance of Bridgeport, The John Patrick Flanagan Foundation, The Chad Jacobs Foundation, and the Randolph-Macon Woman’s College Association. Caroline lives in Fairfield with her husband, Alastair and three children Felix, Kitty and Harry.

Charles Cooper, M.D.
Director

Dr. Cooper is an international healthcare consultant who has developed and implemented health promotion and disease prevention programs in the U.S., Africa, Central America, and the Caribbean. He has facilitated initiatives with organizations ranging from the American Lung Association, American Cancer Society, and National Kidney Foundation, to the U.S. Dept. of Environmental Protection, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, and others. Dr. Cooper knows the Dominican Republic well, having earned his M.D. at the Universidad Central del Este, and lived in the DR for eight years.

Terry Flatley
Director

Terry founded and leads Highland Management, headquartered in Southport, CT, and which provides exclusive property management and executive business partner services for select clientele. Among the services provided by Highland Management are strategic planning, travel logistics, events management, office and business management, marketing program strategy and implementation, and administrative and personal assistance and consultation.

Nikole King
Director

Nikole is an executive with 20 years experience working in the media business. She is currently Chief Business Officer at We Are Destico, a consulting group that provides a diverse team of CXOs with proven executive experience in business strategy, marketing, product development, operations, and technology to help clients build business and drive growth. She is a mother of 2 young boys and passionate about helping children.

Tom Owens
Director

Tom, honored for his entrepreneurial and leadership success with awards ranging from “Entrepreneur of the Year” to “Best CEO Under Age 40,” has founded, managed, and financed a host of fast-growing companies in the technology, retail, health care, and hospitality industries. Over the past 20 years, he has served as Executive Chairman and Chairman and CEO of both publicly traded and privately-owned companies in North America. Tom is a co-founder of The CORE: club™ New York. During the Clinton administration, he served on the “Presidential Advisory Board on Technology in Healthcare.”

U.S. Doctors

  Teofilo Matos

Teofilo Matos Santana is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine. He is an Addiction and Consulting Psychiatrist and provides consultation to the Yale New Haven Hospital. His area of interest includes the evaluation and treatment of psychiatric and addictive conditions in patients with medical problems including HIV. He dedicates his time treating patients in crisis and providing education to trainees, patients and staff.

Teofilo Matos Santana is originally from the Dominican Republic, he is enthusiastic and passionate about improving access to care and improving the quality of health delivered to disadvantaged populations.

Dana Brownell, MD

Medical Director is a Board-Certified physician. She has affiliations with the American Academy of Cosmetic Physicians, the American Academy of Aesthetic Medicine and the Aesthetic Practice Association. Dr. Brownell studied and received her Medical Doctorate (MD) from The Technion – Israel Institute of Technology and completed her medical residency training at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, NY.

     Supporting Doctors in DR

Dr. Wendy Tejada

Born in Juan Lopez Moca, Dominican Republic. From a very young age, Dr Wendy Tejada showed interest in people’s health and how the environment influences the diseases that affect them. She directed the social plan of the community of Juan Lopez to help the youth. She completed her medicine studies at UASD and specialized in Diabetes and Hypertension, as well as Tuberculosis.

Dr. Aidelina Jimenez

Aidelina was born in Juan Lopez, Moca, Dominican Republic. She studies medicine at UTESA and then specialized in Health Quality Management at UNIBE. Aidelina also specialized in Integral and Integrated Medicine at UASD. She worked as an assistant physician for 9 years to then become the coordinator of the primary care unit. Currently, Aidelina is the Director of the Carlos Maria Rojas Badia Diagnostics and Specialties Center.

Dr. Arnaldo Vasquez

Born in the Dominican Republic, Dr. Arnaldo Vasquez currently resides in Moca Espaillat Province. Doctor in general medicine, Diploma in basic Immunology, Medical Audit among others. Currently coordinator of Health Zone 6 of the Espaillat Health Area. Studied at UTESA University and participated in different programs for medical training.

Joel Camilo

I am Dr. Joel A. Camilo, a graduate of the Latin American School of Medicine ELAM-CUBA, where I was trained as a Comprehensive General Physician. I extend my words of gratitude to The Divines Children Foundation for their unconditional support and their attentive and prompt response whenever we need them. We thank God immensely for having joined our paths, and today a large number of People have an appropriate health center where to be treated, more quality of medical care, privacy to the modesty of the patient and greater diagnostic credibility. I hope that the mission and vision of the foundation will grow and benefit those who need it the most.

Dr. Nathaly Sanchez

Since she was little, Dr Natali Sanchez had a strong desire to help people. This encouraged her to study medicine at the University UTESA and got her degree as a general practitioner. She started working as a substitute doctor at the Torvino Bencosme Hospital in Moca, while also getting an internship in her hometown Juan Lopez where she is happy and hopeful to obtain a formal job position.

Dr. Griselda Rodriguez

Dr. Griselda Rodríguez Medina, is a general doctor graduated from the medical faculty of PUCMM. She has worked for the National Health Service (SNS) since 2014 as an assistant physician at the Center of First Level of Care, Higuerito. She also serves as a manager of the center serving her community by educating in prevention of diseases. She plans to get her Master’s degree in health management to have a broader perspective of her functioning as a public servant to health care.

Health Committee

The Health committee members are representatives of The Marela Children’s Foundation in the Dominican Republic. They carry out important functions such as delivering medical supplies to the children we are currently assisting, perform visits to underprivileged families to examine their health conditions, help increase awareness of health issues in impoverished communities, provide aid in response to emergency situations like the current pandemic, and more. We are proud to be working together to make a difference in the lives of kids who need us.

Meet the team in D.R

Pascual de Jesus Marte Ramos

I serve as the Pastor for the El Rosal, Manantial de Vida Church. I also serve as the President of the Health Committee in Juan Lopez and as President of the Damazco Diaz neighborhood council. I am the representative for the Marela Childens’ Foundation in the Dominican Republic and couldn’t be prouder to be part of such an amazing organization. I thank God for merging my path with Marelas to unite forces and help those in need.

Aneuris Camacho

I work as a Phys Ed teacher in Juan Lopez Arriba. I am the president of the sport & culture club and the secretary of the Sra. Lourdes neighborhood council. I’m also an active member of the Health Committee and look forward to continuing serving the underprivileged along with the Marela Foundation.

Cirila Pena Vasquez

I own a commercial business on my own and in my free time I like to help others in need. That is why I joined the Health Committee of Juan Lopez and supported by the Marela Foundation we have been able to assist a lot of children with different health issues.

Moises Ramos Sanchez

First of all I thank Marela for letting me participate in the work they are doing to help children with special needs. As a member of the Health committee I lovingly give my time and effort to help with such cause. I am also an agriculturist and currently reside in Juan Lopez.

Victor Junior Blanco

I thank God for giving me the opportunity to serve such an outstanding Foundation like Marela. I am a nurse and it has always been my passion to help people. I feel blessed to give a helping hand to those in need.

Ramon Edilio Rivas

I work as an electrician. In addition I serve as the Juan Lopez Major, treasurer of the Health Committee, and president of the Inmaculada church council. I am happy to be a participant of the great service that Marela is giving to the community of Juan Lopez.

Victor Grullon Garcia

I am the Vice President of the Health Committee as well as the President of the Board of Juan Lopez Neighborhood. I love to serve my community and congratulate the Marela Foundation on the amazing work they are doing for Juan Lopez.

Ana Trinidad

I am a business woman. I am a member of the Health Committee in Juan Lopez serving alongside the Marela Foundation to change the lives of the needy families with health conditions. I am very thankful to God for giving me the opportunity to be part of this great cause.

Herminia F Sanchez Rosario

I work as an executive secretary for the Moca Major. I proudly serve as a member of the Health Committee of Juan Lopez, the Mateos Foundation, and the Inmaculada church council. I am thankful to Marela for letting us serve along their side to the underprivileged of the community.

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