ABOUt

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Frenz4hope is a small quasi-community service group comprised of several close friends from different home towns who met between two to nine years ago in Lingayen, Pangasinan. Their group members hold positions in public and private sectors including hospitality, tourism, e-commerce, telecommunication and government. The group's goal is to use their friendship as a way to help others in their community. Most of the members get together weekly to enjoy fun group activities such as playing online games, creating TikTok videos, singing karaoke, and cooking popular traditional Filipino dishes. The group plans to hold community support/service events at least two to three times per year.

MEMBERS

(* Denotes founding members)

SPONSOR AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Roberto Villanueva currently holds a position as an administrator at the world renowned Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City (NYC). He is also the Executive & Artistic Director of BalaSole Dance. He has 27 years of professional background in financial management, operations and strategic planning, as well 30 years of experience as an arts producer, administrator, educator, performer, choreographer, and adjudicator in North America, Europe and Asia. Mr. Villanueva previously served as program director and adjunct professor for the College of Mount Saint Vincent in NYC, the alma mater of the late and former Philippine president Cory Aquino. He also served as an arts education and community engagement administrator and as a sales manager for the iconic ballet company Dance Theatre of Harlem.

As a philanthropist, Mr. Villanueva has funded programs that help marginalized and overlooked artists, financially disadvantaged children, and under-served seniors citizens through his own non-profit organization BalaSole Dance, as well as donated funds to higher education and performing arts organizations in the United States. He provided free performances for The Outstanding Filipino American in New York (TOFANY) 2012 award ceremony and for Lani Misalucha's 2013 benefit concert in Manhattan for the Philippines' earthquake victims of the Bohol and Cebu provinces. He also took a mission trip to the Philippines in 2019 to provide free educational services and performances to higher education institutions like University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, and De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde.

Mr. Villanueva met several members of Frenz4hope two years ago in the Philippines and joined them on a vacation in the province of Zambales. During this vacation he was impressed not only by the strong bond amongst the members of the group, but also by their happy-go-lucky attitude and welcoming disposition-two very common traits of native Filipinos. This observation reminded Mr. Villanueva of his formative years in the Philippines and instantly made him felt connected to the group. When the idea about this upcoming special food relief pantry came up, he offered to fully sponsor/fund the entire initiative. According to Mr. Villanueva, Frenz4hope's community service falls well within his legacy of "giving back" and "paying things forward."