Mano a Mano has been guided by the simple yet powerful premise that groups of committed volunteers can reach across national boundaries to make a dramatic difference in the lives of others. The power of this premise has been demonstrated by the extent to which the organization’s scope and accomplishments have in such a short time expanded to exceed even our most ambitious dreams. 

For many years, one of Mano a Mano's founders carried small medical donations to his native Bolivia when making yearly visits to his family. Having extensive personal contacts with health care providers there, he could see first-hand the desperate need for these gifts and know how they were used. His contacts with Minnesota hospitals and clinics made it clear that many of them store and  then ultimately discard usable supplies, instruments and equipment because they cannot afford to pay staff to sort it for use or resale.

Over the years other interested persons began to assist in this effort to redistribute medical surplus. In October, 1994, that group of volunteers incorporated Mano a Mano (Spanish for Hand to Hand) as a non-profit, tax-exempt 501 (c)(3) organization and began to dramatically increase the scope of its activity.

Founders Segundo

and Joan Velasquez

The organization’s accomplishments have since grown to include building an infrastructure for health care, education and economic development in Bolivia that is constructed, supported, and ultimately run by Bolivians. Mano a Mano operates through a uniquely effective, largely volunteer network. Its administrative and fundraising costs remain at less than 5%.