Our Organization
About us
The Okaja Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit organization based in Santa Paula, CA, founded by Muji Kaiser in loving memory of her mother, Maggie Okaja Mbu-Abang.
It is our mission to provide critical support to Catholic organizations serving children who are orphaned, vulnerable, or experiencing poverty through the distribution of grants and disbursement of essential child-care items.
Our story
In 2017, Muji received a call from her aunt, Reverend Sister Mary Rita Abang, HHCJ, founder and Director of Divine Providence Home, a Catholic orphanage in Muji's home country of Nigeria, operated by the Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus (HHCJ). Sister Rita explained that the home was in danger of closing due to lack of financial support, with many children already relying on them for shelter.
Providentially, Muji was able to draw upon her professional experience in non-profit development to establish the Okaja Foundation. Donations made to our organization have covered all the home’s expenses since our founding, enabling it to serve as a refuge for the area’s orphaned, abandoned and vulnerable children.
Our Board
The Okaja Foundation is proud to have the governance of the following members on our Board of Directors:
Mr. Robert Bagdazian
Development Professional
Thomas Aquinas College
Fr. Aloysius Ezoenyeka
Pastor
Sacred Heart Parish
Mrs. Maria Grace Michael
Principal
St. Sebastian School
Mr. David Shaneyfelt
Attorney
The Alvarez Firm
Mrs. Maria Clemens
LCSW
Adjunct Professor
Mrs. Rosalind Grimm
Retired Teacher
St. Augustine Academy
Mr. Christopher Sebastian
Director of Advancement
Mother of Divine Grace School
A Timeline of our Impact
Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we have funded major improvements to Divine Providence Home throughout the years, enhancing the property and ensuring that all of the children’s needs are met.
2017
Divine Providence Home faces the danger of being closed. The Okaja Foundation is founded to keep their doors open.
2018
To remedy the nearly constant power outages and reliance on costly generators, the Okaja Foundation equips the entire orphanage with solar panels.
2021
Divine Providence Home's vehicle becomes inoperable; the Okaja Foundation raises funds for a new bus.
2023
In response to Divine Providence Home reaching near-capacity, the Okaja Foundation funded the construction of a new building to allow the admittance of more children.
2024
In response to Ogoja's child hunger crisis, the Okaja Foundation begins the Food and Formula Program to feed the area's malnourished children.
2018
Divine Providence Home lacks access to clean water. The Okaja Foundation equips the property with a solar powered well and indoor plumbing.
2019
The Okaja Foundation begins an in-kind donation program at Catholic Maternity Hospital to support mothers experiencing extreme poverty.
2022
The children at Divine Providence Home have experiences varying degrees of grief and trauma, so the Okaja Foundation funded regular counseling sessions at the orphanage.
2023
To help the orphanage accommodate its growing number of children, a second bus is purchased for Divine Providence Home.
What we believe
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