Rev. Brother Oliver Orjikwe was member of the Marist Brothers of the Schools, a male religious congregation that came to the town of Uturu in Abia State, Nigeria around 1929. He was a cousin of Father Isidore Orjikwe and inspired Father Isidore to become a priest. Brother Oliver died of cancer in Septmeber 2001 shortly after Fr Isidore had been ordained and his burial was the first one Fr Isidore performed as a priest.

In the beginning...

Because his cousin had died of cancer, Father Isidore decided to help cancer patients offset their hospital bills and other needs.

From this mind set the foundation has expanded to help even more people.

Originally all efforts were funded by Father Isidore. He had a plan to build a small medical dispensary/clinic in his village since most people there cannot afford to pay for medical care or needed medicines. In 2016 he started building the clinic.

Fast forward to 2020-2022

Father Isidore was transferred to the Archdiocese of Denver, Colorado in 2017. He started telling his friends and parishioners about his efforts in Nigeria. Thanks in large part to their generosity and by God's grace, the foundation's efforts grew and multiplied!

The number of school scholarships continued to increase and the foundation is helping students from seven different primary and secondary schools.

The small medical clinic turned into a full hospital including ER, Operating Room, Lab, doctor's housing with 1FT & 1PT doctor, 2 lab technicians and 15 nurses on staff as well as an emergency vehicle.

The people in Okigwe used to have to walk several kilometers to get water from an unclean source. Thanks to a well the foundation drilled in 2020, they now have several locations in the village with clean drinking water.

2023 was an exciting year!

In January 2023 the foundation had it's first Mission Trip of 14 people traveling from Colorado and Texas to attend the Grand Opening of the Divine Mercy Hospital, provide several days of free medical care, tour around to visit the scholarship students at their schools, and participate in the distribution of food and clothing.