Who We Are
The Ruth Sembrano Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of people from the poorest communities across the Philippines by increasing access to quality healthcare and education. Since our launch, we have empowered our Filipino partners. Together we have impacted the lives of hundreds of children through our healthcare and education intitiatives. 
A Mother’s Legacy
The Ruth Sembrano Foundation was started by Josh Sembrano as his way of thanking his mom, Ruth, for everything that she did for him and the rest of his family before her sudden passing in October 2014. Growing up in the Philippines, Ruth saw how education and healthcare could help her support her family. After she graduated from the Nursing School of Santo Tomas, she left the Philippines to work in Italy, and later in the United States as an RN where she would regularly send money back home to support her family. While in the US, she met her husband, Ruben, and together they had three amazing children: Josh, Kim, and Rebecca. It was then that she decided to dedicate her life to supporting her family as best she could. While Ruth was alive, she always made sure that her family had everything they needed to be successful, chase their dreams, and be happy. After she passed away, Josh started RSF as his way of giving underprivileged communities in the Philippines the same love that his mom gave him when she was alive.
Vision and Mission
Vision
To be the best non-profit organization solving problems within healthcare and education in impoverished communities throughout the Philippines. Being the best means providing solutions with lasting impact, building schools and hospitals, and be known for what we do.
Mission
The Ruth Sembrano Foundation improves access to quality education and healthcare in impoverished communities within the Central Philippines by providing crucial modern equipment and supplies to enable local schools and medical clinics to better serve their communities.
How We Work
To accomplish our vision and mission, we take a two-pronged approach: building strong community engagements and creating evidence-based solutions. First, we will partner with grassroots organizations, community leaders, healthcare workers, and educators to understand the barriers to quality education and healthcare in low-income areas. Then, we will work with experts to develop solutions that are tailored to the specific needs and context of our target communities. We will continue to collaborate with our local partners so that they have an active role in the development of these solutions. This ensures that we are providing them with services that will be truly beneficial for them and can be sustained in the long term. We will support youth leadership organizations, schools, and health facilities through improving infrastructure, providing resources, and delivering training. By improving baseline services, we hope to foster a generation of empowered youth who can leave a lasting impact on their communities, country, and the world.
Where We Work
The Ruth Sembrano Foundation will begin its work in the Philippines, particularly in the Province of Cebu. While Cebu is a bustling metropolitan classified among the country's wealthiest provinces, more than 490,000 individuals in the region continue to live in poverty. We aim to work with low-income communities in the province to provide essential education and healthcare support. Our goal is to eventually bring our programming to other parts of the country as well.
Founder
Josh Sembrano
Josh Sembrano founded the Ruth Sembrano Foundation and officially launched the nonprofit in August 2021. As a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, a US Army Veteran, and former Army Logistics Officer, Josh is using the skills that he honed throughout his Army career to help positively change the lives of people in poor communities in the Philippines. Driven by a deep love for his mother and a profound desire to honor her memory, Josh launched the foundation as a living tribute to Ruth’s legacy of compassion and generosity. Through this organization, Josh continues his own journey of helping others, carrying forward the values that his mother instilled in him.
Donations to The Ruth Sembrano Foundation will be used to deliver tailored assistance to our target communities in the Philippines, and to support our work with local youth leaders and youth-led organizations. By donating to our work towards improving education and healthcare services, you can help forge a more secure future for Filipino youth and empower whole communities.