Co-Founder/President

Meley Ghirmay was born and raised in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. She moved to the United States, along with her sister Milen after graduating high school. Meley has primarily resided in the Washington, DC metropolitan area ever since moving from Ethiopia.Meley has always possessed a strong desire for self-sustainability. She pursued her education at Fortis College, earning an Expanded Dental Assistant Diploma. After working in the field of dentistry for several years, she expanded her horizons by obtaining her real estate license from a reputable agency, learning from the best in the industry. Currently, she is passionately pursuing a bachelor's degree focused on counseling and theology. With her diverse background and commitment to personal growth, she is well-equipped to fulfill her calling in this new endeavor.

For Meley, growing up in Addis gave her a firsthand perspective of the devastation that poverty does to a community. She witnessed that many in Addis have the drive to succeed but lack the opportunity. Her purpose became providing people with those opportunities. Her parents, Ghirmay and Tisemie, were hardworking, smart, kind people who have helped countless individuals in their neighborhood. They gave whatever they had, from food to medicine to school supplies for neighborhood children. Meley never forgot their principal belief: "Kindness is learned." She continues to carry this lesson in everything she does.

So now, she has been inspired to give back to her fellow brothers and sisters. Meley is married and blessed with 2 children. She cannot imagine a life where her children’s needs were not provided. Thus, her primary goal and that of The Lazarus Mission Inc., is to minimize the burden on families by addressing immediate needs. Basic subsistence is first, but the long term objective is to guide the needy towards providing for themselves.

“If we all come together, the goal could be accomplished faster than alone.”

"Unity is strength" and it is in God's will for us to come together. If we work together, we can accomplish this goal faster. Any amount donated, large or small, will bring us closer to achieving this result. Meley and her team have taken the plunge without a safety net, and she encourages anyone interested to join the mission. We can eliminate global poverty, one community at a time.

Co-Founder/Chief Financial Officer

Matthew Dillon is a retired maritime shipping executive now residing in Naples Florida. As a young man he felt the call serve his country. He enlisted in the United States Navy and was a member of the armed forces for six years. Much of his career was spent at a remote outpost on the Philippine islands as well as several countries in Southeast Asia and East Africa. This experience gave Matt a bird’s eye view on the effects of poverty on our fellow human beings.

Matt launched direct impact philanthropical projects in rural villages in Central Mexico, Krabi, Thailand and Luzon & Leyte, Philippines. These projects are based on vocational education, coupled with the creation of local industries. The projects taught new farming methods, opened factories, raised livestock, and operated fishing fleets all due to his efforts.

Meley Ghirmay approached Matt Dillon about the Lazarus Mission, Inc which has similar objectives. He immediately recognized a fellow traveler in Meley in the desire to end global poverty. Matt joined The Mission as a key member of the leadership team. He now utilizes his business acumen and professional contacts to advance the cause.

Co-Founder/Director of Operations

Arthur is a visual media and information technology professional with over twenty years of experience. He is the child of Liberian-American immigrants, born and raised in Washington, DC and is a first generation American citizen. His father, also Arthur, was a former controller with the Liberian embassy, amongst his other accounting related positions. His mother Grace was an internationally trained surgical nurse for 33 years with education in Africa, Germany and England.

His parents moved his sisters from New York to Washington DC, where he was soon born. They were hard workers and instilled values of charity, faith-based support, and service to your community. Flashforward decades later and those basic tenants permeate in Arthur.

He envisions a training program for The Lazarus Mission, Inc which will provide workshops for at risk individuals in the realm of information technology and other vocational programs. The advent of online training and video conferencing lends itself towards ease of reaching individuals with a broad spectrum of resources. Even in remote regions if there is an internet connection.

Arthur has assembled a team of IT professionals that would start from basic computer skills to as far as system administration and networking. He has gathered more tactile educators in the arenas of sewing and clothing related manufacturing.

The Mission wishes to help at risk individuals to “learn how to fish.” Mr. Kparr intends to be at the forefront, implementing these programs within our global community.